Han says overactivation of the CGRP spinothalamic pathway may contribute to these conditions by making the brain misinterpret or overreact to sensory inputs.

Salk Institute scientists identified a brain circuit that gives pain its emotional intensity. This CGRP-linked spinothalamic pathway connects to the amygdala, triggering distress and avoidance.

Pain isn't just a physical sensation-it also carries emotional weight. That distress, anguish, and anxiety can turn a fleeting injury into long-term suffering.

A class of spinothalamic tract neurons is selectively excited by stimuli that cause itch, suggesting that this sensation is mediated by distinct peripheral and central pathways.