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The ‘Itch-to-Brain’ Circuit, Neural Change and Depression

Santos Mishra

May 4, 2026

Here’s Why Your Face Doesn’t Perceive Itchiness the Same Way Your Body Does

For Immediate Release Tracey Peake tracey_peake@ncsu.edu In a new study, researchers from North Carolina State University show that itch sensations in the face are perceived differently from those in the body due to differences in signaling between trigeminal (located in the brain) and spinal pain pathways. The work could lead to the development of specific…
Dr. Santos Mishra in a black shirt and tan sports coat stands in front of an animal skeleton at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine.

Mar 4, 2026

The ‘Itch-to-Brain’ Circuit, Neural Change and Depression

People who suffer from chronic itching in the form of atopic dermatitis (AD) are seven times more likely to develop a major depressive disorder. This link is well-established, but the “why” remains elusive. Are the depressive symptoms simply due to inflammation, sleep disruption and the psychological distress of living with chronic illness? Or is it…