From StarTalk.

The conversation explores the scientific effort to reconstruct the brain’s sensory pain circuitry using lab-grown neurons, enabling researchers to observe how pain is processed and why some people are hypersensitive or entirely insensitive to it. They used CRISPR to replicate patient mutations and observed how neurons behave differently depending on pain sensitivity. The discussion also touches on the two distinct neural pathways for pain: sensory recognition and emotional response. Finally, they consider the potential of developing non-addictive pain treatments through a better biological understanding of these pathways.

From ‘Groundbreaking Studies Recreate Human Brain Circuits in a Dish": https://youtu.be/HEBjpYCEiBo?si=Ci00h3sxRvhF0-V6

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