Scratching Induces Overactivity in Motor-Related Regions and Reward System in Chronic Itch Patients

Scratching evokes a rewarding and pleasurable sensation, particularly in chronic itch patients. To date, no study has investigated the cerebral activity during scratching in chronic itch patients and whether it differs from that in healthy subjects. Using arterial spin labeling functional magnetic resonance imaging, we analyzed and compared the cerebral mechanism of self-scratching and its correlation with pleasurability in 10 patients with...