Our somatosensory experiences, influenced by context, state, and emotion, vary from the comforting touch of a loved one to the discomfort of pathological conditions. This variability underscores a complex integration of sensory, emotional, and social factors within our somatosensory system—a process not yet fully understood. Highlighting the pivotal role of neuromodulation, this talk explores how neuromodulators like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin sculpt these experiences. Focusing on the hypothalamus-spinal cord axis, we demonstrate that oxytocin modulates sensory perception across a valence spectrum, from pain to social touch. Through a series of experiments involving genetic identification, high-density recordings, and circuit mapping, we reveal how oxytocin influences spinal cord circuits, integrating multimodal sensory information to alleviate pain. By examining the interaction between excitatory and inhibitory networks, we propose a model explaining how oxytocin balances sensory input, suggesting a broader mechanism for encoding the valence of somatosensory stimuli. This research not only deepens our understanding of the somatosensory system's complexity but also opens avenues for novel therapeutic strategies targeting sensory modulation.
Victoria E. Abraira (Sun,) studied this question.