Thalamic Bursts Down-regulate Cortical Theta and Nociceptive Behavior

We tested the relation between pain behavior, theta (4-8 Hz) oscillations in somatosensory cortex and burst firing in thalamic neurons in vivo. Optically-induced thalamic bursts attenuated cortical theta and mechanical allodynia. It is proposed that thalamic bursts are an adaptive response to pain that desynchronizes cortical theta and decreases sensory salience.