Authors
Sandy Lam, Nathan T. Fried (faculty)
Introduction
As chronic pain is a worldwide health concern, studies have been done to observe how pain is regulated by the circadian rhythm. The circadian clock is self-sustaining and self-regulated through the transcription-translation feedback loop (TTFL). It has been noted that disruptions to the circadian and pain systems, especially those in the descending pain modulatory system including the opioid, endocrine, and immune systems.
Purpose: We will adopt a thermal nociception assay in adult Drosophila melanogaster to understand the relationship between nociception and the circadian cycle.
Hypothesis: Different times of the day will affect the nociceptive response to thermal assay in Drosophila melanogaster