PSCI 103H Chapter 7 Key Terms

Somatosensory system

The system that conveys sensory information from the body to the brain and contain three different types of neurons.

Afferent neurons

Sensory neurons that relay information from sense organs towards the brain.

Efferent neurons

Motor neurons that result in the movement of muscles.

Interneurons

Neurons that connect sensory to motor neurons.

Nociception

The process of perceiving pain.

What two factors contribute to the experience of pain?

• The experience of pain includes the sensory and emotional experience

  • Somatosensory cortex and insula cortex tell you how much a certain pain bothers you

What are the three main theories of pain?

• Specificity theory

• Gate Control theory

• Neuromatrix theory

Specificity theory

The theory of pain that states that pain is experienced through specific pain fibers and pathways and travels to a “pain center” within the brain.

Phantom Limb Pain

The experience of chronic pain in absence of a body part.

Gate Control Theory

The theory of pain that involves the spinal cord acting as a gate that regulates pain signals that reach the brain.

Neuromatrix theory

The theory of pain that states that different parts of the brain are involved in the increasing or decreasing experience of pain.

What are the types of pain?

• Acute pain

• Chronic pain

• Pre-chronic pain

Acute pain

The type of pain that is adaptive but lasts for a short period of time.

Chronic pain

The type of pain that extends beyond the normal time of healing.

Pre-chronic pain

The type of pain that sits between acute and chronic pain – it goes away or becomes chronic.