PSYC 2275 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Substance P, Spinothalamic Tract, Acupuncture
8 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Primitive quality that has affective and emotional components. No stimuli that is purely pain; sensory stimuli that invariably elicit the perception of pain in all individuals. Adaptive purposes: short-lasting causes withdrawal from a source, long-lasting can promote healing, recuperation like rest, sleep, grooming, expression of pain (like yelling) can provide danger cues to others. Sensory neurons of pain information (nocieptors) have either a-delta (rapid conduction) or c-type axons (slower conduction) Histamines spread through the tissue so the pain (and swelling) spreads away from the source: action potentials travel back to the spinal cord triggering synaptic transmission to the 2nd order pain neurons. Suppression in pain sensation - endogenous pain control: descending pain modulation pathways carry signals from the brain down to the spinal cord. These signals suppress incoming pain information and release endogenous opioids (endorphins) High jacking suppression - exogenous pain control: opioid drugs mimic endogenous opioids and stimulate neurons.
