Brain Stimulation for the Suppression of the Intractable Pain

　The suppression of the intractable pain in human by electrical stimulation of the septal area was reported by Heath and Mickel in 1960¹¹⁾. Other subcortical areas were subsequently explored, such as the median forebrain bundle⁵⁾, and the caudate nucleus⁶⁾, but little attention was paid to these sporatic clinical efforts. It would appear probable that the suppression of pain or analgesia resulting from stimulation in these areas of the brain is related to the rewarding properties of the stimulation.