Itch and motivation to scratch: an investigation of the central and peripheral correlates of allergen- and histamine-induced itch in humans.

@article{Leknes2007ItchAM,
  title={Itch and motivation to scratch: an investigation of the central and peripheral correlates of allergen- and histamine-induced itch in humans.},
  author={Siri Leknes and Susanna Bantick and Carolyn M. Willis and John D. Wilkinson and Richard G. Wise and Irene Tracey},
  journal={Journal of neurophysiology},
  year={2007},
  volume={97 1},
  pages={
          415-22
        }
}
Intense itch and urge to scratch are the major symptoms of many chronic skin ailments, which are increasingly common. Vicious itch-scratch cycles are readily established and may diminish quality of life for those afflicted. We investigated peripheral and central processing of two types of itch sensation elicited by skin-prick tests of histamine and allergen solutions. Itch-related skin blood flow changes were measured by laser Doppler in 14 subjects responsive to type I allergens and 14… 
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147 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
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Methods Citations
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Results Citations
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147 Citations

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Agreeableness and self‐consciousness were shown to be associated with induced itch and scratching in patients with chronic skin diseases, while neuroticism was linked to induced itch in healthy subjects.
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To understand the cerebral mechanism of itch perception and how this mechanism differs between healthy subjects and chronic itch patients is important for advancing the understanding on the pathophysiology of chronic itch.
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Recent findings regarding the basic mechanisms of itch transmission from the skin to the brain are described and the neuronal changes that occur both peripherally and centrally under conditions of chronic itch are described.
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The behavioral test showed that the visual stimuli induced increased feelings of itchiness in patients with AD relative to HCs under the tapping and scratching conditions, and this phenomenon might be related to enhanced mu rhythm suppression in sensorimotor areas of the brain in these patients.
Addiction and the itch‐scratch cycle. What do they have in common?
  • Y. Ishiuji
  • Psychology, Biology
    Experimental dermatology
  • 2019
TLDR
It is proposed that similar neuroadaptations exist in addiction and chronic itch patients, showing that addiction and itch share a common neurobiological foundation could have important mechanistic and therapeutic implications.
Nocebo-induced modulation of cerebral itch processing – An fMRI study
Recent Progress in Unraveling Central Nervous System Processing of Itch Sensation
TLDR
This article shows and updates the development and approaches of central nervous system investigation of itch and demonstrates that itch sensation in healthy volunteers is processed by a network of brain regions contributing to the encoding of sensory, emotional, attentional, evaluative, and motivational aspects of itch.
The brain circuitry mediating antipruritic effects of acupuncture.
TLDR
Greater itch reduction following acupuncture was associated with greater reduction in putamen response, a region implicated in motivation and habitual behavior underlying the urge to scratch, specifically implicating this region in acupuncture's antipruritic effects.
Brain mechanism of itch in atopic dermatitis and its possible alteration through non-invasive treatments.
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References

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TLDR
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TLDR
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TLDR
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