Health Psychology Review for Test 2 (Chapter 7: Understanding and Managing Pain)

Flashcards covering key concepts from Chapter 7 about understanding and managing pain, including physiological aspects, interventions, and various types of pain.

Somatosensory Cortex

The part of the brain that receives and processes sensory input from the body.

Afferent Neurons

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

Efferent Neurons

Motor neurons that convey impulses away from the brain.

A-beta Fibers

Myelinated large sensory fibers involved in rapidly transmitting sensation and possibly inhibiting the transmission of pain.

A-delta Fibers

Myelinated small sensory fibers involved in the experience of “fast” pain.

C-fibers

Unmyelinated small-diameter nerve fibers that provide information concerning slow, diffuse, and lingering pain.

Dorsal Horns

Structures in the spinal cord that play an important role in the perception of pain by receiving sensory input.

Substantia Gelatinosa

The 1st and 2nd layers of the dorsal horns of the spinal cord that receive sensory input from the A and C fibers.

Thalamus

Structure in the forebrain that acts as a relay center for incoming sensory information and outgoing motor information.

Opiate-like Neurochemicals

Chemicals such as enkephalins, endorphins, and dynorphin that appear to decrease pain.

Glutamate and Substance P

Neurotransmitters that sensitize or excite the neurons that relay pain messages.

Acute Pain

Pain that is sharp and immediate, usually a direct response to injury or illness.

Chronic Pain

Pain that lasts longer than the usual healing time, can be classified into types such as chronic benign pain, recurrent acute pain, and chronic progressive pain.

Gate Control Theory of Pain

Suggests that structures in the CNS are involved in pain modulation and control the flow of pain stimulation to the brain.

Pain Management Interventions

Techniques such as drug therapy, surgery, mindfulness meditation, and biofeedback applied to alleviate acute or chronic pain.

Opiates

Substances like morphine and oxycodone that help relieve pain but are addictive.

Nonnarcotic Analgesics

Drugs that relieve pain without causing loss of consciousness, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen.

Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy

Therapeutic approaches, such as pain inoculation intervention, aimed at helping patients cope with pain.