BENGALURU: Stress can cause neurons in our brains to activate and suppress the sensation of itching, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The team of researchers mapped a neural circuit in the brain that reveals the complex relationship between stress and itching, unearthing the little-understood process behind the psychosomatic response. The focus of the study lay on the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), a brain region known to regulate stress, motivation and emotional states. “We ran some pilot experiments, and saw that surprisingly, acute stress was able to suppress acute itching,” said Jagat Narayan Prajapati, a PhD student at the Centre for Neuroscience (CNS), IISc. A short-term chemically induced itch and a psoriasis-like chronic itch model were observed after activating the stress neurons, and both models showed signs of abatement.

Source: Indian Express February 24, 2026 02:31 UTC