Deep brain stimulation: the future of chronic pain relief?

A new study from researchers at the University of Texas Arlington (TX, USA) has demonstrated that electrical stimulation of midbrain structures leads to reduced nociceptive signaling in the spinal cord of rats, indicating a possible new direction for the treatment of chronic pain. Current treatment options for chronic pain center on opioid prescription. However, concern over the rates of opioid addiction and overdose has led to an increased demand for new treatment options. This new study, published in Experimental Brain Research recently, investigated electrical stimulation of midbrain structures involved in pain regulatory pathways as an alternative treatment option for chronic...