Ion channels support synaptic transmission and underlie excitability of neurons in the spinal cord and trigeminal nuclei, where sensory and nociceptive information relayed from the periphery is first subject to modulation and integration. Because short- and long-term modulation of ion channel activity underlies synaptic plasticity and abnormal brain function, modern pain research has focused on their molecular properties, subcellular localization, and changes in their physiological behavior in spinal and trigeminal regions. Advances in understanding mechanisms of ion channel modulation in these CNS regions are expected to lead to improved approaches for management of chronic pain.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that are focused on ion channel modulation in the spinal/trigeminal pathways. We are particularly interested in articles that describe ion channels in synaptic transmission and plasticity in normal or pathological (acute and chronic) conditions. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

In the spinal cord and trigeminal nuclei under normal or pathological conditions:

• Modulation of ion channels mediating excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission
• Induction of short-term/long-term synaptic plasticity by ion channel modulation
• Physiological roles of voltage-gated ion channels in synaptic plasticity
• Changes in neuronal excitability involving ion channel modulation
• Roles of G-protein-coupled receptors and protein kinases in ion channel modulation
• Interaction of ion channels
• Ion channels as drug and therapeutic targets

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/np/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/author/submit/journals/np/ion/ according to the following timetable: