Newsletter – OC3 in Headache Matters

The neuroscientist, keen to follow up on the notion of reproduction and resolution (R&R) of head pain activating conditioned pain modulation (CPM), comments, “Well the prevailing perspective is that sensitisation of the Trigemino Cervical Complex (TCC) results from dysfunctional CPM.” “Yes, but the research is equivocal,” counters Watson’s colleague. Nociceptive Blink Reflex Watson then recalls

Well, Watson could hardly sleep that night, excited about what the morning was going to bring.  The neuroscientist barely had time to hang his coat before Watson started, “So if there is centrally driven central sensitisation (C-CS) it would be possible to reproduce typical headache when examining the upper cervical spine?” The neuroscientist nods. Reproduction

Back in the lab, Watson attempts to clarify the neuroscientist’s explanation to his colleague, but the neuroscientist’s frustration grows, and interjects: ‘Let me take you back to basics.’ The neuroscientist goes on to explain that this disharmony is comparable to what is seen clinically and that at the core of this situation is sensitisation of

At morning tea, Watson is eager to delve into the issue of disharmony arising from suboptimal performance of the braking mechanisms – either CPM, DNICs, or Serotonin (city dwellers), leading to a state of centrally driven Central Sensitization (CS). The neuroscientist, growing somewhat frustrated, reiterates that the research concerning headache and migraine is equivocal. Some

At the end of the evening, Watson and his research colleague had arrived at a restrained impasse (see Edition 5). Therefore, it was agreed that they discuss their thoughts with another researcher in the adjacent lab. A Prominent Neuroscientist and Researcher The next morning Watson and colleague wandered into the research lab next door. They introduced

Welcome back to the ‘dinner party’ (introduced in Edition 4), where after a harmonious start, some discord between the guests – DINCs, CPM and Serotonin – from ‘downtown’ (CNS), who are working hard to keep the peace, and Trigeminal Afferents and Cervical Afferents, the ‘out of towners’ (PNS), who can be, well… let’s say a