Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 28/10/2016 13:53:01

Title: How does the brain decode between different types of pain?
Post by: thedoc on 28/10/2016 13:53:01

Paul Hicks asked the Naked Scientists:
   When you touch something hot it is painful and you knew it was hot,when you pick your finger it is painful and you knew you had touched something sharp, so how does the brain decide the difference between the pain you feel when you are burning and when you get pricked,and the feeling difference Afterwards?, after all it's just a simple electrical signal up to the brain
What do you think?

Title: Re: How does the brain decode between different types of pain?
Post by: Bored chemist on 29/10/2016 00:30:25

Typically two signals arrive. One from  the pain sensors and one from, for example,  the heat sensors or the strong pressure sensors.
It considers that pain is, in the first case due to burning, and the second case to cutting or bruising.

Title: Re: How does the brain decode between different types of pain?
Post by: evan_au on 29/10/2016 02:55:42

There are different kinds of nerves that are sensitive to different types of pain.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nociceptor#Types_and_functions