Neural mechanisms underlying sensory and motor control are not fully understood. Here authors identify two distinct neuron groups in the primary sensorimotor cortex (SM1) that mediate descending pain inhibition via brainstem-spinal circuits. Silencing these neurons disrupts motor-induced analgesia but not basic sensation, uncovering a motor-driven pain control pathway.
- Guo-Hong Wang
- Xin-Yu Hou
- Yu-Qiu Zhang
