Theory 61/Itching/Rate lens
Itch Follows Firing Rate
The claim
Itch intensity is set by the firing rate of a dedicated population of pruriceptors, not by the number recruited, so a small persistent signal itches more than a large brief one.
01Mechanism
Itch is coded in frequency rather than in population size; the rate determines the percept.
02Prediction
Intensity should track firing rate.
03Refutation
Intensity tracking recruitment would remove the rate code.