Nerve injury triggers time-dependent activation of the locus coeruleus, influencing spontaneous pain-like behavior in rats.

In the short term, activation of the LC following CCI attenuates spontaneous pain-like behaviors via projections to the SC while increases nociception via projections to the rACC. In the long term, only the projections from the LC to the rACC contribute to modulate pain-like behaviors in this model.