Barry Sessle

Research Synopsis

Keywords : Neuron / Glia/ Brain/ Orofacial Pain / Motor Control/ Electrophysiology/ Cortical plasticity/ EMG/ Sensory systems/ Sleep

Detailed Description:
Electrophysiological and related neuroanatomical techniques are used to clarify:

1. neural and non-neural mechanisms underlying the initiation and control of pain, in particular oral-facial pain; and

2. reflex and higher centre control mechanisms of oral-facial sensorimotor functions such as chewing and swallowing.

METHODS USED

Cell and Tissue Cultures: Brain Slice, Neurons

Procedures: Behavioural tests, electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, in vitro electrophysiology, in vivo electrophysiology,

EQUIPMENT USED

Amplifier, digital microscope, dissecting microscope, electrophysiology rig, motorized micromanipulator, stimulator, vibratome, water baths.

PRESENT TRAINEES

PRESENT COLLABORATIONS

Within the Department of Physiology:

Jonathan Dostrovsky
John Peever
Mike Salter

Outside the Department of Physiology:

Karen Davis (Toronto Western Hospital, Canada)
Greg Murray (Dentistry, U. Sydney, Australia)
Koichi Iwata (Oral Physiology, Nihon, U. Japan)
Atsushi Yoshida (Oral Anatomy, Osaka U. Japan)
Lars Arendt-Nielsen (SensoryMotorInteraction, Aalborg U, Denmark)
Peter Svensson (Dentistry, Aarhus U, Denmark)
Callum Ross (Anatomy, U. Chicago, USA)

Gilles Lavigne (Dentistry, U. Montreal, Canada)

Adriana Rolim Campos (Experimental Biology, U. Fortaleza, Brazil)

Dongyuan Yao (Neurology, Nanchang U, China)

Ye Cao (Stomatology, Peking U, China)

 

Recent Publications

 

Sessle B. J., Adachi, K., Yao, D., Suzuki, Y., and Lavigne, G. J. Orofacial pain and sleep. In : CONTEMPORARY ORAL MEDICINE. Eds. C. S. Farah, R. Balasubramaniam, and M. McCullough. Springer, Germany, pp. 2213-2239, 2019

Shah F., Stål P., Li J., Sessle B.J., Avivi-Arber, L. Tooth extraction and subsequent dental implant placement in Sprague-Dawley rats induce differential changes in anterior digastric muscle fibre size and myosin heavy chain isoform expression. Arch Oral Biol 99:141-149, 2019

Sessle, B.J.  Can you be too old for oral implants?  An update on ageing and plasticity in the  orofacial sensorimotor system. J.Oral Rehab, 46: 936-951, 2019

Amzica, F., Chouchou, F. and Sessle, B.J.  Sleep Neurobiology, In SLEEP MEDICINE FOR DENTISTS. Eds, G.L. Lavigne, P. Cistulli and M. Smith, Quintesseince, Chicago,  2019

Iwata, K. I. and Sessle, B. J. The Evolution of Neuroscience as a research field relevant to Dentistry.  J. Dent. Res.98:1407-1417, 2019

Iida, T.; Komoda;Y., Kothari; M., Ikuta; M., Komiyama; O., Sessle; B. and Svensson, P Combination of jaw and tongue movement training influences neuroplasticity of corticomotor pathways in humans. Exp. Brain Res., 237, 2559–2571, 2019

Melo L.T., Panchalingam V., Cherkas P., Campos, A.R., Avivi-Arber, Sessle, B.J.  (-)-α-bisabolol, reduces nociceptive behaviour and trigeminal central sensitisation in a rat model of acute orofacial neuropathic pain induced by infraorbital nerve injury. Life Sci.,, 227:122-128, 2019

Léonard, G., Choinière, M., Lavigne, G. and Sessle, B.J. The Canadian Pain Society: A historical perspective, Can. J. Pain 4: 247-251, 2020

Palla, S., Klineberg, I, and Sessle, B.J. Occlusion, neurocognition and neuroplasticity Réalités cliniques 31: 4-7, 2020

Nogueira, A.,  Vieira Neto, A.E., Albuquerque de Melo Júnior, J.M.,  Barros Mamede Vidal Damasceno, M.,  Quintans Júnior, L.J., Sessle, B. J., Alves Magalhães, F.E., Rolim Campos, A. Orofacial antinociceptive effect of nifedipine in rodents is mediated by TRPM3, TRPA1, NMDA and NO processes. J. Oral & Fac Pain and Headache, 34: 174-186, 2020

Unno, S., Shinoda, M., Soma, K., Kubo, A., Sessle, B.J., Matsui, T., Ando, M., Asaka, J., Otsuki,K.Yonemoto, H., Onose, Sakanashi, K., and Iwata, K. ​Properties of heat-sensitive neurons in ihe premotor cortex of conscious monkeys. J Oral Sci. 62: 382-386, 2020

Yao, D. and Sessle, B.J. NMDA and purinergic processes modulate neck muscle activity evoked by noxious stimulation of dura. J. Oral Path & Med., 49: 547-554, 2020

Sessle, B., Léonard, G., Choinière, M., Lavigne, G. Histoire de la Société canadienne de la douleur. Douleur analg. 33:S1-S4, 2020

Filippini, H.F., Molska, G.R., Avivi-Arber, L, Arudchelvan, Y., Gong, S-G., Campos, M.M.,  Sessle, B.J. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) involvement in nociceptive processes in rat medullary dorsal horn in dental nflammatory pain model. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14:643. Doi 10.3389/fnins.2020.00643. eCollection, 2020

Herrero Babiloni, A., Beetz, G, Dal Fabbro, C, Martel, M.O., Huynh, N., Masse, J.F.,   Sessle, B., Lavigne G.J.. Dental sleep medicine: Time to incorporate sleep apnea  education in the dental curriculum. Europ  J Dent Ed, 24: 605-610, 2020

Sessle, B. J.   Dental Pain Mechanisms.  In: THE SENSES, 2nd edn. Vol V: Pain, Eds. E. Pogatzki- Zahn and H.G. Schaible. Elsevier, London, pp. 550-570, 2021

Sessle, B,J. Chronic orofacial pain: models, Mechanisms, and genetic and related environmental influences. Int J Mol Sci. 22(13):7112, 2021

Chaves, H. V.,  Lopez Gross, J., Sessle, B. J., Avivi-Arber, L. Clarity: Imagem 3D através do clareamento e transparência de tecidos.  In:  HISTOLOGIA INTERATIVA : ROTEIROS DE PESQUISA. Eds.V..C.C. Girão-Carmona, A. S. R. Silva, and A. C. R. de M. Leite. GETS: LAEMA, Fortaleza.  pp. 350-388, 2021

Tang, J.-S., Chiang, C.-Y., Dostrovsky, J.O., Yao, D. Sessle, B.J. Responses of neurons in rostral ventromedial medulla to nociceptive stimulation of craniofacial region and tail in rats Brain Res. 1767:147539, 1-10, 2021

Sessle, B.J., Baad-Hansen, L. Exposto, F., Svensson, P.  Orofacial pain.  In: CLINICAL PAIN MANAGEMENT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE.2nd edn. Eds. M. Lynch, K. Craig, and P. Peng. Wiley-Blackwell, New York,  2022

Makar, D, Nazemi, A, Gong, SG, Bhardwaj, N,  De Guzman, R, Sessle, B.J., Cioffi, I.  Masticatory muscle structural and sensory changes induced by ischaemia in  Sprague-Dawley rats. Arch. Oral Biol. 2023 Feb;146:105602. doi:  0.1016/j.archoralbio.2022.105602. Epub 2022 Dec 7

Mo, S., Xu, X., Bai, S., Liu, Y., Fu, K. Y., Sessle, B., Cao, Y., Xie, Q-F.  Neuronal activities in the rostral ventromedial medulla associated with experimental occlusal interference-induced orofacial hyperalgesia. J. Neurosci., 42 (27) 5314-5329, 2022

Santos, S.A.A.R. Damasceno, M.B.M.V., Magalhães, F. E. A., Sessle, B.J., de Oliveira, B.A., Batista, F.L.A., Vieira-Neto, A.E., Campos, A.R. Transient receptor potential channel involvement in antinociceptive effect of citral in orofacial acute and chronic orofacial pain models. Excli J. 21:869–887, 2022

Rocha Barreto, R., Lima Veras, P.J., de Oliveira Leite, G., Vieira-Neto, A.E, Sessle, B.J, Villaça Zogheib, L., Campos, A.R.  Botulinum toxin promotes orofacial antinociception by modulating TRPV1 and NMDA receptors in adult zebrafish. Toxicon. 210:158-166, 2022

Mo, S., Bai, S.S., Xu, X.X.,  Liu, Y., Fu,  K.Y., Sessle, B.J., Cao, Y., Xie, Q.F.. Astrocytes in the rostral ventromedial medulla contribute to the maintenance of orofacial hyperalgesia induced by late removal of dental occlusal interference. J. Oral Rehab. 49(2):207-218, 2022

Arce-McShane, F.I., Takahashi, K., Sessle, B.J., Hatsopoulos, N., Ross, C.R.. Encoding  properties of neurons in the orofacial sensorimotor cortex during bite force generation at varying gapes. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience,  Sep 22;17:1213279. doi:  10.3389/fnsys.2023.1213279. eCollection 2023

Mo, S.-Y., Bai, S.-S., Xu, X.-X., Liu, Y., Fu, K.-Y., Sessle, B. J., Cao, Y. and Xie, Q.-F. Descending serotonergic modulation from rostral ventromedial medulla to spinal trigeminal nucleus was involved in experimental occlusal interference induced chronic orofacial hyperalgesia,  J. Pain and Headache,. 2023 May 10;24(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s10194-023-01584

Peever, J.H., Lee, H.H., Sessle, B.J. Sensory and motor processing during sleep and wakefulness. In: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF SLEEP MEDICINE, 7th edn., Eds. M. H.  Kryger, C. A. Goldstein,T. Roth. Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2023

Bushnell MC, Ren K, Sessle BJ. In memoriam. Ronald Dubner: 1934 to 2023. Pain.  164(9):1931-1934, 2023.

Davis, K.D. and Sessle, B.J. A  PAIN supplement commemorating the 50th anniversary of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Pain.164(11S):p S2, November 2023

Sessle, B. J. Fifty years of development of neuroscientific insights into oro-facial pain and its control. J. Oral Rehabil. 2023 Sep;50(9):860-876. doi: 10.1111/joor.13523

Sessle, B J. Introduction and a brief historical overview of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Pain 164(11S):p S3-S5, November 2023. | doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003057

Sessle, B.J. Modulatory processes in craniofacial pain states. In: OPIOIDS, FROM INSIDE OUT: BASIC SCIENCE AND CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF ENDOGENOUS OPIOID RESEARCH. Eds. P.I.Kerr, C. Sabu, J.M. Gregg, Springer Nature, London, 2024

Murray, G. M. and Sessle, B. J.  Orofacial pain-sensorimotor interactions: New perspectives and a new model. Neurobiol Pain. 2024 Jan 20;15:100150. doi: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2024.100150

Sessle, B.J. The Implications of changing demographics and brain plasticity to Prosthodontics. J. Prosthod Res, 2024;68(2):vi. https://doi.org/10.2186/ jpr.JPR_D_24_00046

Nanci, A. and Sessle, B. J. The mastication apparatus. In: TEN CATE’S ORAL HISTOLOGY, Ed. A. Nanci, Elsevier, London, 2024

McCloy, K., Herrero Babiloni A., Sessle,B.J. The Relationship between orofacial pain and sleep disorders. Aust. Dental J (Special issue: Dental Sleep Medicine), 69:S5-S20, 2024

Ravichandra, J., Guru, M O, Balasubramaniam, R, Sessle, B.J. Pathophysiology of orofacial pain In: PATHOLOGICAL BASIS OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL DISEASES, Eds. S R Prabhu, S. A. Khurram, O. Kurjan, M. S. Tekkesin,Wiley Blackwell, New York, pp.613-618, 2025 

Santos, S.A.A.R,, Damasceno, M.B.M.V., Sessle, B.J., Vieira-Neto, A.E, de Oliveira, Leite, G, Magalhães, F.E.A., Tavares, K.C.S, Benevides, S.C., Campos, A.R. Sex differences in the orofacial antinociceptive effect of metformin and the role of transient receptor potential channels. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol.398(4):3775-3788, 2025

Blanchet, P. J.., Avivi-Arber, L., Sessle, B..J., Lavigne, G.L. Chronic orofacial pain and movement disorders in old age and frailty. In: ORAL HEALTH AND THE FRAIL ELDER, 2nd Edition. Eds. F.Müller, M. Thomson, P. Owen, M. MacEntee., 2nd edition, Wiley-Blackwell, New York, 2025

Lima, J. L.S , Amaral, A.R. , de O. Cavalcante, A.M,  Chagas, A. K. O., Nunes Oliveira, D., Melo, J. C. , de O. Leite, G. , Sessle, B.J., Campos, A. R. Anxiety- and nociception-like behaviours in mature adult mice induced by audiovisual overstimulation during infancy, Brain  Res. Bull. 224, 2025, 111314, ISSN 0361-9230, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111314

Sessle BJ. Ronald Dubner: pioneer in pain research, founding member of the International Association for the Study of Pain, and Former Editor-in-Chief of PAIN. Pain. 2025 Feb 25. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003548. Epub ahead of print

Sato, F.,  Tsutsumi, Y., Oka, A.,  Furuta, T., Sohn, J., Oi, Y., Amano, M.,  Morita, A.,  Uchino, K., Kato, T.,  Bae, Y.C., Tachibana, Y.  Sessle, B.J., Yoshida, A.  Projections from regions of the cerebellar nuclei receiving jaw muscle proprioceptive signals to trigeminal motoneurons and their premotoneurons in the rat pons and medulla. Cerebellum .2025 Jun 12;24(4):113. doi: 10.1007/s12311-025-01862-7

Sessle, B.J. Towards a paradigm shift in prosthodontics: Response to comments on  The implications of changing demographics and brain plasticity to prosthodontics’. J. Prosthodont  Res. 2025;69(2):x-xii.  doi: 10.2186/jpr.JPR_D_25_00054

Ortug, A., Galor,  N.R.A., Valdes-Arias, D., Karakoleva, E., Talbert C.,  Pondelis, N.J., Pattany, P., Felix, E., Holmes, S.,  Zurakowski,D., Sessle, B.J.,  Takahashi, E., Moulton. E.A. Microstructural alterations of the trigeminal ganglion in chronic ocular surface pain patients: A diffusion MRI study. Neuroimage, 2025 Aug 15:317:121309 doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121309. Epub 2025 Jun 18

Reviews:

Chichorro, J., Porreca, F.and Sessle, B.J. Mechanisms of craniofacial pain. Cephalalgia 37: 613-626, 2017.

L. and Sessle, B. J. Jaw motor function and neural control in old age: A review. J. Oral Rehab. 45: 50-80, 2018.

Iwata, K. I. and Sessle, B. J. The Evolution of Neuroscience as a research field relevant to Dentistry. J. Dent. Res.98:1407-1417, 2019.

Book.

B. J. Sessle (Ed). OROFACIAL PAIN: RECENT ADVANCES IN ASSESSMENT, MANAGEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF MECHANISMS, IASP Press, Washington, DC, 509 pp, 2014

Awards

ISI Citation Classic, for R. Dubner, B.J. Sessle, and A.T. Storey “THE NEURAL BASIS OF ORAL AND FACIAL FUNCTION”, Plenum Press, New York, 1978, 483 pp.

Distinguished Career Award, Canadian Pain Society,1999.

CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis Quality of Life Research Award, 2005.

Canada Research Chair (Tier 1), Government of Canada; 2001-2014.

Honorary Member, International Association for the Study of Pain, 2005.

Honorary Member, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, 2007.

Outstanding Mentorship Award, Canadian Pain Society, 2013.

Award of Distinction, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, 2013.

Honorary Life Membership, Canadian Pain Society, 2016.

Distinguished Service Award, The American Academy of Orofacial Pain, 2019.

UNIFOR Global Fellow, University of Fortaleza Foundation (Brazil), 2019-2021.

Gold Medal, International Association for Dental Research, 2020.

 

Appointments

Dentistry