Theories of pain Section 4

Question 1

specificty theory.

What is it about and who discovered that?

Answer 1

Rene Descartes 1664
-supports discovery of spinothalamus pathway

• Injury proportional to amount of pain experienced
• noxious stimuli->spinal cord->brain. Network of special “hollow tubes” allowing pain messages in form of animal spirits to glow through them

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Question 2

Henry Beecher discovery about the pain

Answer 2

• Observed soldiers during 2nd world war
• no dependable relation btw extend of pathological wound and pain experienced
• Impossible to make valid judgement if patient needs narcotics from the appearance of their wound
• Intensity of suffering dependant on what pain means to patient, cognition influance how much suffering experienced

Question 3

Gate Control Theory

Answer 3

Ronald Melzack & Patric Wall 1965

• phantom pain
• nerve impulses -> spinal cord-> influanced by other nerve cells act like neurological gates blocking or allowing pain signal when allowed it goes to the brain back down to spinal cord.

Question 4

what can close the “gate” and pain is being reduced?

Answer 4

• touch neuron

- activated by cognition