Theories of Pain

Original Editor - Venus Pagare

Top Contributors - Venus Pagare, Kim Jackson, Andeela Hafeez, WikiSysop, Jasrah Javed and Admin  

Introduction

Several theoretical frameworks have been proposed to explain the physiological basis of pain, although none yet completely accounts for all aspects of pain perception. A number of theories have been postulated to describe mechanisms underlying pain perception. These theories date back several centuries and even millennia (Kenins 1988; Perl 2007; Rey 1995)

1. Specificity Theory 

This theory considers pain as an independent sensation with specialised peripheral sensory receptors [nociceptors], which respond to damage and send signals through pathways (along nerve fibres) in the nervous system to target centres in the brain. These brain centres process the signals to produce the experience of pain.

Von Frey (1895) argued that the body has a separate sensory system for perceiving pain—just as it does for hearing and vision and this system contains its own special receptors for de:ecting pain stimuli, its own peripheral nerves and pathway to the brain, and its own area of the brain for processing pain signals. But this structure is not correct. 

2.  Pattern Theory

This theory consider that peripheral sensory receptors, responding to touch, warmth and other non-damaging as well as to damaging stimuli, give rise to non-painful or painful experiences as a result of differences in the patterns [in time] of the signals sent through the nervous system.

References