Circuits for affective touch sensation
Short description
How can tactile signals give rise to a feeling of pain, pleasure or relief? With, among other things, optical methodology, we look at activity in brain circuits that convey affective aspects of touch.
Our research
Our research revolves around two of the most fundamental experiences in life - pain and pleasure.
By studying how touch and pain are processed in the nervous system, we seek to understand why the same touch can be both pleasant and painful. Pain is one of the leading causes of human suffering, while touch plays a central role in our well-being and social interactions. We believe that a deeper understanding of how these systems interact is crucial for developing new strategies for pain relief and improving the quality of life for individuals suffering from chronic pain.
In our laboratory, we use advanced methods such as in vivo calcium imaging, chemogenetics, and behavioral studies in mice to map the neural mechanisms underlying touch, pain, and pain relief. We have a strong translational focus and actively work to transfer our fundamental scientific insights into clinical applications.
How can touch both relieve and cause pain?
Touch is one of our most fundamental sensory experiences and can have a deeply calming effect. At the same time, touch can also be a source of pain, as seen in mechanical allodynia, where even a light touch on the skin can be perceived as intensely uncomfortable. This condition, often resulting from nerve injuries, is one of the central questions in our research.
We study calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-expressing neurons in the spinal dorsal horn and brain, which have been identified as key players in various aspects of pain signaling. These neurons transmit nociceptive signals and may link touch and pain in chronic pain conditions. By studying the activity of these neurons in real time using advanced imaging techniques, we aim to understand how prolonged pain alters the brain’s processing of touch—and what mechanisms underlie the paradoxical experience of touch both relieving and intensifying pain.
Traditionally, pain and touch have been viewed as separate systems in the nervous system, but we aim to understand how these circuits interact. By studying C-tactile (CT) afferents- a group of unmyelinated nerve fibers specialized in signaling soft and pleasant touch- we seek to understand how these signals interact with pain pathways in the brain and spinal cord. CT afferents are crucial for the affective dimension of touch and are believed to play a central role in social interactions and emotional regulation.
The importance of touch for health and well-being
Touch is essential for human well-being throughout life. To better understand how different forms of touch affect health and psychological well-being, we are expanding our research to include clinical populations. A key question is why touch from another human has such a profound effect. CT afferents play a unique role in this context, as they are particularly sensitive to slow, gentle touch—the type of touch that is often the most comforting in social interactions. Our studies investigate how social interactions and emotional factors can modulate pain perception.
By combining advanced neuroscience techniques with behavioral studies and clinical insights, we strive to contribute to a deeper understanding of pain and touch that may pave the way for new treatment strategies.
Group members
Principal Investigator
Line ³¢Ã¶°ì±ð²Ô, Associate Professor
- Sara Simfors, Doctoral Student in Basic Medicine
- Mika Evert, MD Specialist
- Aaisha Almasri, Teaching Assistant
- Alexander Stjernvall, Teaching Assistant
- Martin Hezsö, Teaching Assistant
Financiers
Current grants
The Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) Project Grant
Previous grants
±áÂáä°ù²Ô´Ú´Ç²Ô»å±ð²Ô
Ã…ke Wiberg Foundation
Key publications
Line Sofie ³¢Ã¶°ì±ð²Ô, Helena Backlund Wasling, HÃ¥kan Olausson, Francis McGlone, Johan Wessberg.
Journal of neurophysiology 2022; 127 (2), 463-473
Roger H. Watkins, Mariama Dione, Rochelle Ackerley, Helena Backlund Wasling, Johan Wessberg, Line Sofie ³¢Ã¶°ì±ð²Ô
Journal of neurophysiology 2021; 125 (1), 232-237-
Line Sofie ³¢Ã¶°ì±ð²Ô, J. M. Braz, A. Etlin, M. Sadeghi, M. Bernstein, M. Jewell, M. Steyert, J. Kuhn, K. Hamel, I. J. Llewellyn-Smith, A. Basbaum
Elife 2021; 10, 27, e59751
Line S. ³¢Ã¶°ì±ð²Ô, Eugene P. Duff and Irene Tracey.
J Neurophysiol 2017; 118: 3360–3369
Line Sofie ³¢Ã¶°ì±ð²Ô, Johan Wessberg, India Morrison, Francis McGlone, HÃ¥kan Olausson
Nature neuroscience 2009; 12 (5), 547-8
