コロラド大学ボルダー校の研究チームは、急性疼痛を慢性疼痛へと切り替えるスイッチの役割を果たす「尾側顆粒状島皮質（CGIC）」という脳領域を特定した。動物実験において、この回路を無効化することで慢性疼痛の発症を予防し、また発症後の症状を消失させることに成功した。この研究成果は『ジャーナル・オブ・ニューロサイエンス』誌に掲載され、オピオイドに代わる新たな治療法への道を拓くものである。
コロラド大学ボルダー校で行動神経科学の特別教授を務めるリンダ・ワトキンス氏率いる研究チームは、坐骨神経損傷を負ったラットを用いてCGICの研究を行った。チームは高度な化学遺伝学的手法と蛍光タンパク質を用い、特定のニューロンの追跡と抑制を行った。CGICの経路を遮断したところ、損傷が治癒した後も持続する疼痛信号が止まり、軽い接触でも痛みを感じる「アロディニア」などの症状が消失した。ワトキンス氏は「この重要な決定を下す部位を沈黙させれば、慢性疼痛は発生しない。たとえ慢性疼痛がすでに進行していても、それが消失する」と述べている。
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