Convergent state-control of endogenous opioid analgesia
Blake A. Kimmey, Lindsay L. Ejoh, Lily Shangloo, Jessica A. Wojick, Samar Nasser Chehimi, Nora M. McCall, Corinna S. Oswell, Sandra J. Poulson, Jacqueline Wu, Raquel Adaia Sandoval Ortega, Malaika Mahmood, Lite Yang, Vijay Samineni, Charu Ramakrishnan, Karl A. Deisseroth, , Gregory F. Corder
The paper identifies a functional dichotomy in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, showing that micro opioid receptor neurons encode nociceptive states while enkephalin-releasing neurons drive pain relief in various contexts.
Journal of Pain · Mar 1, 2026Peer-reviewedNeuroscience