What type of sensory loss is associated with a spinothalamic lesion?

What type of sensory loss is associated with a spinothalamic lesion?

• A. Pain
• B. Vibration
• C. Proprioception
• D. Tactile discrimination

Answer: (A)

A spinothalamic lesion is primarily associated with the loss of pain and temperature sensations. The spinothalamic tract conducts sensory information regarding pain, temperature, and crude touch from the periphery to the brain. When there is a lesion in this pathway, individuals experience a decrease or complete loss of the ability to perceive painful stimuli, as the information is not transmitted effectively to the brain. In contrast, the other types of sensory modalities listed—vibration sensation, proprioception, and tactile discrimination—are primarily mediated by different pathways. Vibration sensations are carried mainly through the dorsal columns and the dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway, while proprioception also follows this pathway. Tactile discrimination, which involves the ability to discern between different textures and shapes, is similarly transmitted through the dorsal columns. Therefore, a spinothalamic lesion would not impact these modalities, focusing instead on impairments related to the perception of pain.

A spinothalamic lesion is primarily associated with the loss of pain and temperature sensations. The spinothalamic tract conducts sensory information regarding pain, temperature, and crude touch from the periphery to the brain. When there is a lesion in this pathway, individuals experience a decrease or complete loss of the ability to perceive painful stimuli, as the information is not transmitted effectively to the brain.

In contrast, the other types of sensory modalities listed—vibration sensation, proprioception, and tactile discrimination—are primarily mediated by different pathways. Vibration sensations are carried mainly through the dorsal columns and the dorsal column-medial lemniscal pathway, while proprioception also follows this pathway. Tactile discrimination, which involves the ability to discern between different textures and shapes, is similarly transmitted through the dorsal columns. Therefore, a spinothalamic lesion would not impact these modalities, focusing instead on impairments related to the perception of pain.