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Cell Biology of Tactile Afferents

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Affective Touch and the Neurophysiology of CT Afferents

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Abstract

This chapter reviews our current understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of sensory transduction and neurotransmission in mammalian tactile afferents. Recent advances from in vitro studies and rodent models have provided important insights into the cell biology of tactile afferents. The chapter covers fundamental mechanisms of mechanotransduction in cells, how these mechanisms relate to C-tactile afferents, and mechanisms of neurotransmission in these neurons.

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Acknowledgment

Research in the authors’ laboratories is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01NS073119 and 5R21NS084191).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3501 5th Ave, BST3 6058, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA

    Rebecca P. Seal Ph.D.

  2. Departments of Dermatology and Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1150 St. Nicholas Avenue, Room 302B, New York, NY, 10030, USA

    Ellen A. Lumpkin Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Rebecca P. Seal Ph.D.
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  2. Ellen A. Lumpkin Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ellen A. Lumpkin Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linkö** University, Göteborg, Sweden

    HÃ¥kan Olausson

  2. Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden

    Johan Wessberg

  3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linkö** University, Linkö**, Sweden

    India Morrison

  4. Research Centre for Brain & Behaviour, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom

    Francis McGlone

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Seal, R.P., Lumpkin, E.A. (2016). Cell Biology of Tactile Afferents. In: Olausson, H., Wessberg, J., Morrison, I., McGlone, F. (eds) Affective Touch and the Neurophysiology of CT Afferents. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6418-5_3

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