[thedoc (OP)]

Hi,  After a recent bout of gallstone pain, I got to thinking that it was strange that the pain I felt should be localized to the area of the inflammation. How does the brain know that inflammation, in an internal part of the body that I was not aware of before should be signalled in a place that corresponds to the real place?  For an internal pain or sensation, how does the body know that something physically placed where it is should signal pain in exactly the same place?  Does that make sense?  Anyway thanks for the great shows and for spreading the word on science so well.  Martin Fennell      

   
Asked by "martin.fennell.64


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[chapter podcast=1001476 track=16.10.04/Naked_Scientists_Show_16.10.04_1005752.mp3]  ...or Listen to the Answer[/chapter] or [download as MP3]

[evan_au]

Perhaps because you (or the doctor) prodded the general area, and that helped you mentally locate the actual source of the pain?

It doesn't always work that way - quite often pain can appear at a site remote from the actual damage - a phenomenon known as referred pain.