Pain

Question 1

Give the nature and locations of nociceptors.

Answer 1

Nociceptors are specialised sensory receptors that respond to noxious stimuli, sending signals to the spinal cord and brain to initiate a pain response.

Skin, joints and muscles

Question 2

Know key facts about theories of pain processing.

Answer 2

Specificity theory - pain is a distinct sensation, detected and transmitted by specific receptors and pathways to distinct ‘pain areas’ of the brain

Convergence theory - pain is an integrated, plastic state represented by a pattern of convergent somatosensory activity within a distributed network (neuromatrix)

Pain perception is dependent on complex interactions between a number of brain areas