Which feature is characteristic of central sensitization?

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Multiple Choice

Which feature is characteristic of central sensitization?

Central sensitization means that after persistent nociceptive input, neurons in the central nervous system become more excitable. This heightened responsiveness lowers the threshold for activation and can broaden the area that responds to painful input, leading to increased pain perception (hyperalgesia) and pain from normally nonpainful stimuli (allodynia). Mechanistically, this involves changes in the dorsal horn and higher pain pathways, including enhanced synaptic efficacy, NMDA receptor–mediated plasticity, and reduced inhibition, along with glial activation that sustains the sensitized state. This is not confined to peripheral nerves, and it is not a decrease in excitability. It also doesn’t imply peripheral nerve degeneration. The key feature is increased excitability of CNS neurons after persistent nociceptive input.

Central sensitization means that after persistent nociceptive input, neurons in the central nervous system become more excitable. This heightened responsiveness lowers the threshold for activation and can broaden the area that responds to painful input, leading to increased pain perception (hyperalgesia) and pain from normally nonpainful stimuli (allodynia). Mechanistically, this involves changes in the dorsal horn and higher pain pathways, including enhanced synaptic efficacy, NMDA receptor–mediated plasticity, and reduced inhibition, along with glial activation that sustains the sensitized state.

This is not confined to peripheral nerves, and it is not a decrease in excitability. It also doesn’t imply peripheral nerve degeneration. The key feature is increased excitability of CNS neurons after persistent nociceptive input.

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