Brain Pathway Involved in Placebo Pain Response Mapped in Mice

Scientists from the University of North Carolina, Stanford University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute have identified brain networks responsible for the placebo effect. Using mouse data, the researchers identified that the cingulate cortex, the pons region of the brainstem, and the cerebellum were activated during pain relief, suggesting that the placebo effect may be a framework to investigate brain-cell interactions and effects. The research could form the basis of alternative treatment methods for chronic pain.