Thalamic microelectrode recording and microstimulation in central and deafferentation pain

Microelectrode recording and microstimulation (in 1 case macrostimulation) were used to localize stereotactic targets in 8 patients with central and deafferentation pain and 1 'deafferented control' patient without pain. Off-line study revealed two features commonly proposed as potential physiological factors for such pain, but they were present in both pain and control patients - somatotopographic reorganization and the presence of bursting cells. In all patients in whom stimulation induced pain referred to deafferented parts of the contralateral body, hyperpathia or allodynia were present instead of normal paraesthetic, sensorimotor or thermal responses.