[Physiology of pain].

Pain research is based broadly on physiological disciplines and its development follows the methodological progress of the era, from classical psychophysiology to electrophysiological investigations at peripheral and central nociceptive systems, single cells and ion channels to modern imaging of nociceptive processing. Physiological pain research in Germany has long been part of an interdisciplinary research network extending beyond all political boundaries, and this situation has continued since molecular techniques started to dominate all biomedical research. Current scientific questions, such as intracellular nociceptive signal mechanisms, interactions with other physiological systems including the immune system, or the genetic basis of epidemic and chronic pain diseases can only be solved interdisciplinary and with international collaboration.