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Another type of pain, known as neuropathic pain, is caused by a direct problem or disease that affects the nerves in the central nervous system. [11] The sensory pathways the WDR neurons can play a role in. A subset of this neuropathic pain, known as chronic neuropathic pain, is characterized by its long lasting and high pain intensity.
Descending pathways also activate opioid receptor-containing parts of the spinal cord. [citation needed] Afferent pathways interfere with each other constructively, so that the brain can control the degree of pain that is perceived, based on which pain stimuli are to be ignored to pursue potential gains.
Lateral lemniscus is the first point of integration of sound and pain information. [16] Inferior colliculus (IC) aids in sound orienting to pain stimuli. [17] Superior colliculus receives IC's input, integrates visual orienting info, and uses the balance topographical map to orient the body to the pain stimuli. [18] [19]
' pain receptor ') is a sensory neuron that responds to damaging or potentially damaging stimuli by sending "possible threat" signals [1] [2] [3] to the spinal cord and the brain. The brain creates the sensation of pain to direct attention to the body part, so the threat can be mitigated; this process is called nociception .
The neural pathways that go to the brain are structured such that information about the location of the physical stimulus is preserved. In this way, neighboring neurons in the somatosensory cortex represent nearby locations on the skin or in the body, creating a map or sensory homunculus.
A neuroanatomical review of the pain pathway, "Afferent pain pathways" by Almeida, describes various specific nociceptive pathways of the spinal cord: spinothalamic tract, spinoreticular tract, spinomesencephalic tract, spinoparabrachial tract, spinohypothalamic tract, spinocervical tract, postsynaptic pathway of the spinal column. [1]
Noxious stimuli activate the endings of nociceptive C and A delta nerve fibers, which carry the signal to neurons in the dorsal horn of spinal cord. DNIC refers to the mechanism by which dorsal horn wide dynamic range neurons responsive to stimulation from one location of the body may be inhibited by noxious stimuli (such as heat, high pressure or electric stimulation) applied to another ...
Pain also causes a behavioral change in the body, which is proportional to the intensity of the pain. The feeling is recorded by sensory receptors on the skin and travels to the central nervous system , where it is integrated and a decision on how to respond is made; if it is decided that a response must be made, a signal is sent back down to a ...