Pain essay

Question 1

Intro - pathways

Answer 1

-Singer (2004)
-pain receptors - spinal cord - brain
-1st pathway (physical pain) afferent neurons - ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus - somatosensory cortex
(Allows withdrawal, escape and pain memories)
-2nd pathway (emotional pain) medulla - nuclei of thalamus - amygdala - hippocampus - cingulate cortex

Question 2

Overlapping systems

Answer 2

• Eisenberger (2005): parts of the same system
• Detection of pain, examples and importance (detect and avoid danger)
• evolutionary necessity
• Nelson (1998): social attachment system based on pain system

Question 3

Neural underpinnings

Answer 3

• Riva (2014): share neural underpinnings

- observation: similar experience e.g. social loss/rejection supported by neuroimaging

Question 4

Reducing pain

Answer 4

• Social support
• Paracetamol and Tylenol
• Panskepp (1998): opiate drugs
• Herman (1978): young animal distress vocalisations

Question 5

Hypnosis

Answer 5

• Rainville (1997): Half hypnotised to believe they would not experience pain from ice water (fMRI showed less activity in cingulate cortex)
• Zubieta (2005): placevo drugs reduce emotional pain not physical pain (endogenous opioids)

Question 6

fMRI

Answer 6

• Singer (2004)
• physical pain = somatosensory/sensori motor cortex
• emotional pain = cingulate cortex

Question 7

conclusion

Answer 7

• Evidence suggests processed in separate areas of the brain
• pathways overlap as treatments work for both
• distinction is important for maintaining attachment etc.