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Two brain pathways identified that govern the urge to itch

Two distinct groups of neurons underlie different types of itching sensations in mice, and both work together to fuel chronic itchiness

By Grace Wade

14 April 2023

Chronic itching is associated with skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema

Shutterstock/Kaspars

Two distinct brain pathways responsible for itch have been identified in mice. Future therapies targeting these neural circuits could improve treatments for chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Two types of stimuli trigger itching: mechanical, such as hair tickling your neck, or chemical, such as an allergic reaction. Previously, Martyn Goulding at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences in San Diego, California, and his colleagues had identified the brain mechanism underlying chemical itch, but it …

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