Summarize the principles of the gate-control theory of pain

What will be an ideal response?


The gate­control theory of pain suggests that there is a neural "gate" in the spinal cord that regulates the transmission of pain information to the brain. The "gate" is not a physical structure as such. It refers to a pattern of neural activity that can either block pain or let pain signals through. A "bottleneck" may occur at the gate if too many signals are present. Dull and throbbing pain is transmitted via thin and slow nerve fibers. Other skin sense information travels via thicker, faster fibers. If this information reaches the "gate" first, it may prevent the pain information from getting through, thereby reducing the experience of pain.

Psychology

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Marie goes to her doctor several times a month. She insists that she has pain in her lower abdomen and believes that her appendix is about to burst. After several visits that showed no signs of physical disorder, Marie’s doctor believes that she might suffer from ____

a. ?obsessive-compulsive disorder b. ?generalized anxiety disorder c. ?conversion disorder d. ?illness anxiety disorder

Psychology

Dr. Suvok says, "If we are going to resolve a person's problem with depression, we have to make the person aware of the thought processes behind the problem. Dr. Suvok probably practices a type of:

a. consciousness therapy b. behavioral therapy c. insight therapy d. biomedical therapy

Psychology

Which of the following is FALSE of the sensorimotor stage?

a) It is in this stage that children understand their world via movements and actions. b) The early behaviors during this stage are mostly innate but become more cognitively advanced as the stage progresses. c) It contains the mastering of the law of conservation. d) The major accomplishment during this stage is the eventual development of object permanence.

Psychology

Will is holding his newborn son while grocery shopping. As he loads his groceries onto the checkout line, he props his son up so that his feet are on a small counter near the register. How is his son likely to respond?

A. He will begin stepping on the counter in a walking motion. B. He will grasp onto his father's arm until his father lifts him up again. C. He will begin sucking even though his mouth is empty. D. He will keep his eyes shut until his father lifts him up again.

Psychology