Domestic researchers have revealed that the cerebellum plays a key role in pain regulation, marking a new turning point in pain research.
A joint research team, including Professor Kim Seon-gwang from Kyunghee University and Professor Kim Sang-jeong from Seoul National University, identified a new mechanism for processing pain through cerebellar neural-glial circuits. The findings of this study were published online in the international journal "Nature Neuroscience" on the 2nd.
Previous pain research focused on the spinal cord and certain areas of the brain. In this study, the researchers discovered that the cerebellum is crucial for pain regulation, which overturns previous theories. They employed advanced experimental methods, including optogenetics and two-photon microscopy, to analyze the pain processing mechanisms in the cerebellum in depth.
According to the study, when pain stimuli are applied, norepinephrine is released from the locus coeruleus neurons into the cerebellum, activating the cerebellar glial cells and triggering pain behaviors. This circuit is particularly mediated by the cerebellar glial cells’ "α1 adrenergic receptors." The researchers confirmed that blocking this receptor's activity suppresses pain responses, and found that this mechanism operates not only for simple acute pain but also for neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage.
Professor Kim Sang-jeong, the corresponding author of the paper, noted, "This paper has significant implications, as it elucidates the pain information processing and regulation mechanisms of the cerebellum, an area previously unknown, thus providing a new turning point in pain research." Co-corresponding author Professor Kim Seon-gwang said, "Based on this research, we have opened possibilities for developing innovative pain therapies targeting cerebellar glial cells. It is expected to provide important clues for understanding the fundamental pathological mechanisms of various neurological diseases."
Reference materials
Nature Neuroscience (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-024-01807-z