In the 1960s, Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall theorized that the spinal cord possesses a neurological gate that stops pain warnings.
The Gate-Control Theory of pain perception was developed by Melzack and Wall's who indicated that the spinal cord contains a type of neurological "gate" which opens and closes to either allow or block pain signals to travel to the brain.
gate-control theory
spinal chord
choices to choose from smell pain pressure touch
pain gate theory
try your best
The Gate Control Theory of Pain, proposed by Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall in 1965, suggests that the experience of pain is influenced by both sensory and psychological factors. According to this theory, sensory information is processed through a "gate" in the spinal cord, which can be opened or closed by factors such as attention, emotions, and beliefs. By understanding and manipulating these factors, it may be possible to modulate the perception of pain.
Distraction techniques that attempt to block neurological gates stopping pain signals from communicating with the brain.
Melzack and Wall's gate control theory is essentially the idea that there are large myelinated fibers that synapse onto the projection neuron. When pain is sensed, this projection neuron normally has increased activity, which activates a C fiber (an unmyelinated type of fiber that is responsible for the transmission of prolonged, dull pain). If the large myelinated fibers are stimulated, though, causing an increase in their activity, they activate an inhibitory interneuron which inhibits the activity in the C fiber and the projection neuron, cutting of the signal of pain. So, the idea is, if the large fibers remain unstimulated, the pain signal will be propagated, but if they are activated, they act as an electrical gate, blocking the transmission of pain up the C fiber.
the gate control theory states that peripheral nerve fibers carrying pain to the spinal cord can have their input modified at the spinal cord level before transmission to the brain. synapses found in the dorsal horns acts as gates that close to keep impulses from reaching brain or open to allow impulse to pass. small diameter fibers are the ones carrying pain impulses while large diameter fibers carry nonpainful impulses. applying touch to area of pain decreases pain because touch stimulates the large fiber diameters which in turn closes the 'gate'
choices to choose from smell pain pressure touch
Nerve fibers are the type of fibers that can close the pain gate. I know it sounds strange because nerves are what pick up pain but that's why they can close it.