Referred itch is also known as mitempfindungen. It is the phenomena in which scratching an itch on one region of the body results in subsequent itches on other parts of the body. Certain patterns have been found between the location of the original and referred itch, suggesting a consistent neural link between the different bodily regions. Research on the stimuli and brain regions responsible for the phenomenon is ongoing and we aim to survey such studies, summarizing the most prevalent findings. Another focus of our wiki page will be a link between referred itch and histamine. Studies have found a specific mutation inhibiting histamine breakdown could be responsible for this sensation. The following is a preliminary list of topics that our page will cover:
- introduction, history, and general information about what it is (prevalence) (Micah)
- neurobiology of itching (Mike)
- brain region(s) responsible for the phenomena (cerebral cortex, sensory regions of thalamus) (Micah)
- differences between normal and pathological (Mike)
- stimuli, stressors, exercise (Danny)
- histamine breakdown, genetic mutation associated (methylation) (Danny)
- treatment (Danny)
- areas of the body linked commonly affected (relationship between original itch and referred itch location (patterns in phenomena) (Mike)
- synaesthesia and referred itch link (Micah)
- conclusion (Mike)
The name next to each topic refers to the group member that will be working on that section of the project.
References
Bernstein JM. Cutaneous-Evoked Tinnitus: First Reported Case Without Preceding Posterior Fossa Surgery. Int Tinnitus J. 2007;13(2):159-160.
Burrack, A., D. Knoch, and P. Brugger. "Mitempfindung in Synaesthetes: Co-incidence or Meaningful Association?" Cortex 42.2 (2006): 151-54.
Evans PR (October 1976). "Referred itch (Mitempfindungen)". Br Med J 2 (6040): 839–41
Ikoma A, Steinhoff M, Ständer S, Yosipovitch G, Schmelz M. “The Neurobiology of Itch”. Nat. Rev. Neuroscience. 2006 Jul;7(7):535-47.
Pearce JM (June 2006). "Referred Itch (Mitempfindung)". Eur. Neurol. 55 (4): 233–234.
Richter, Curt P. (Oct. 1977). “Mysterious Form of Referred Sensation in Man”. National Academy of Sciences. Vol. 74, No. 10, Oct., 1977: 4702-4705
Schott GD. “Distant referral of cutaneous sensation (Mitempfindung). Observations on its normal and pathological occurrence.” Brain. 1988 Oct., Vol. 111, Issue 5: 1187-1198.
Won-Sik Shim and Uhtaek Oh (July 2008), Histamine-induced itch and its relationship with pain, BioMed Central Ltd., doi: 10.1186/1744-8069-4-29