Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Beulig, Alfred

Area of Concentration

Neurobiology

Abstract

This thesis examines the effects of chronic pain on neurophysiology and long term potentiation (LTP). In the first part, the thesis reviews the path of nociceptive signaling as well as the major pain processing centers within the brain. The second part delves into an overview of synaptic plasticity (i.e. LTP) and central sensitization including the roles of receptors, glial cells, inflammatory cytokines, and the ERK/MAPK pathway. The third part attends to the effects of chronic pain on memory and attention as well as the possible effects of current drug treatments on both. The final part examines the physical effect of chronic pain on morphology of the brain as well as the comorbidity with chronic stress. In conclusion, this thesis asserts that chronic pain has a negative effect upon neurophysiology of memory and attention. Moreover, research on pain requires more focus on the mechanisms involved in the stimulation and perpetuation of the chronic pain state such that a means of prevention or reversal can be formulated.

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