Skip to Content
Uncategorized

Why Do We Scratch an Itch?

August 17, 2017

The science of itching is fascinating and strange. In 2008, Atul Gawande wrote what may be the definitive work of popular science journalism on the issue. In "The Itch," he wrote about the neuroscience of itching and its many causes—including remarkable cases in which some circuitry had clearly gone wrong, driving people mad with the need to scratch (the piece includes one unforgettable account of a woman who involuntarily scratched through her own skull and into brain tissue).

But the question is, which neural circuitry was going haywire, causing the pathological itching? Today, researchers report in the journal Science (abstract) that they may have found an answer. Using mice genetically modified to have light-sensitive neurons—a fascinating area of biotechnology known as optogentics—they shined lights into the animals' brains. The light switched off a circuit in an area called the parabrachial nucleus, a part of the brain stem, and stopped the mice from scratching after being presented with a itchy stimulus. Sweet relief—and hope, perhaps, for chronic scratchers everywhere.

Keep Reading

Most Popular

Geoffrey Hinton tells us why he’s now scared of the tech he helped build

“I have suddenly switched my views on whether these things are going to be more intelligent than us.”

ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it

The narrative around cheating students doesn’t tell the whole story. Meet the teachers who think generative AI could actually make learning better.

Meet the people who use Notion to plan their whole lives

The workplace tool’s appeal extends far beyond organizing work projects. Many users find it’s just as useful for managing their free time.

Learning to code isn’t enough

Historically, learn-to-code efforts have provided opportunities for the few, but new efforts are aiming to be inclusive.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.