Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Queretaro, Qro., Mexico.
Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Queretaro, Qro., Mexico.
Adv Neurobiol. 2024;39:193-212. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-64839-7_8.
Astrocytes play an active role in the function of the brain integrating neuronal activity and regulating back neuronal dynamic. They have recently emerged as active contributors of brain's emergent properties such as perceptions. Here, we analyzed the role of astrocytes in pain perception from the lens of systems neuroscience, and we do this by analyzing how astrocytes encode nociceptive information within brain processing areas and how they are key regulators of the internal state that determines pain perception. Specifically, we discuss the dynamic interactions between astrocytes and neuromodulators, such as noradrenaline, highlighting their role in shaping the level of activation of the neuronal ensemble, thereby influencing the experience of pain. Also, we will discuss the possible implications of an "Astro-NeuroMatrix" in the integration of pain across sensory, affective, and cognitive dimensions of pain perception.
星形胶质细胞在大脑功能中发挥着积极作用，整合神经元活动并调节神经元的动态。它们最近作为大脑涌现特性（如感知）的积极贡献者出现。在这里，我们从系统神经科学的角度分析了星形胶质细胞在疼痛感知中的作用，方法是分析星形胶质细胞如何在大脑处理区域内编码伤害性信息，以及它们如何成为决定疼痛感知的内部状态的关键调节剂。具体来说，我们讨论了星形胶质细胞和神经调质（如去甲肾上腺素）之间的动态相互作用，强调它们在塑造神经元集合的激活水平方面的作用，从而影响疼痛的体验。此外，我们还将讨论“星形胶质细胞-神经基质”在整合疼痛感知的感觉、情感和认知维度方面的可能影响。
