Two brain pathways identified that govern the urge to itch

Two distinct brain pathways responsible for itch have been identified in mice. Future therapies targeting these neural circuits could improve treatments for chronic skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Two types of stimuli trigger itching: mechanical, such as hair tickling your neck, or chemical, such as an allergic reaction. Previously, Martyn Goulding at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences in San Diego, California, and his colleagues had identified the brain mechanism underlying chemical itch, but it …