Modulation of the pain circuitry to affect chronic pain

摘要

The present invention relates to methods of affecting chronic pain by electrically and/or chemically stimulating target sites of the pain circuitry associated with chronic pain. Such target sites include cerebral target sites, including limbic structures, associated with the emotional and suffering components of chronic pain, as well as deep brain target sites associated with the affective and sensory components of chronic pain. Also provided is a method of affecting chronic pain by stimulating a target site of the pain circuitry associated with chronic pain to stimulate the synthesis or release of endogenous opioids.