Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Why the lightest touch can cause burning pain

‘Crossed wires’ in the spinal cord explain how a brush of the skin can lead to severe pain.
Computer illustration of red and blue nerve cells

Neurons (artist’s impression) in the spinal cord have been implicated in a form of chronic pain called mechanical allodynia. Credit: KTS Design/SPL

Researchers have mapped the neural circuits that can cause even a gentle touch to feel painful1. This response, known as mechanical allodynia, is a common feature of chronic nerve pain, which affects up to 10% of the population of the United States.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 610, 609 (2022)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-03280-9

References

  1. Cao, B., Scherrer, G. & Chen, L. Neuron https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.027 (2022).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Subjects

Latest on:

Nature Careers

Jobs

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing

Search

Advanced search

Quick links