NURS 6501: Week 7 Quiz:
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Question 6
The “gate control theory” of pain suggests that:
Group of answer choices
- Pain intensity is directly proportional to the extent of tissue damage
- Pain perception is unaffected by psychological factors
- Pain signals bypass the central nervous system and directly affect the brain
- Pain perception can be modulated by non-painful stimuli through inhibitory mechanisms in the spinal cord
Correct answer:
Pain perception can be modulated by non-painful stimuli through inhibitory mechanisms in the spinal cord
Explanation:
The Gate Control Theory of Pain, proposed by Melzack and Wall in 1965, is a foundational concept in understanding how pain perception is modulated.
Key Concepts:
- The spinal cord contains a “gate” mechanism in the dorsal horn that can either allow or inhibit pain signals before they reach the brain.
- Non-painful stimuli, such as touch, pressure, or vibration, can close the gate, thereby reducing the perception of pain.
- For example, rubbing a bumped elbow can reduce the pain because the touch fibers (A-beta fibers) activate inhibitory interneurons that “close the gate” on pain fibers (C fibers and A-delta fibers).
Why the other options are incorrect:
- Pain intensity is directly proportional to the extent of tissue damage
Not always true; minor injuries can cause severe pain, and major injuries can sometimes cause little pain. - Pain perception is unaffected by psychological factors
Psychological factors (e.g. attention, emotion, context) play a major role in how pain is perceived. - Pain signals bypass the CNS and directly affect the brain
Pain signals are processed in the spinal cord and brainstem before reaching the brain’s pain centers.