gate control system
Quick Summary
The gate control system is a theory that describes how the perception of pain is modulated within the spinal cord. It proposes that a neural mechanism in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord acts as a "synaptic gate," controlling the transmission of pain signals from peripheral nerve fibers to the brain.1
This gate can be influenced by various factors, including the intensity of the pain stimulus and input from other sensory pathways. For instance, non-painful stimuli, like rubbing an injured area, can activate inhibitory neurons that close the gate, reducing the sensation of pain. Conversely, certain conditions can lead to the gate remaining open, resulting in chronic pain. The brain also plays a role through descending pathways that can inhibit or facilitate pain signals.12
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- painTheories of pain
…in 1965 proposed the so-called gate control theory of pain. According to gate control theory, the perception of pain depends on a neural mechanism in the substantia gelatinosa layer of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The mechanism acts as a synaptic gate that modulates the pain sensation from…
Read More…in 1965 proposed the so-called gate control theory of pain. According to gate control theory, the perception of pain depends on a neural mechanism in the substantia gelatinosa layer of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The mechanism acts as a synaptic gate that modulates the pain sensation from…
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human sensory receptionTactile psychophysicsAccording to one theory, a gate control system in the spinal cord modulates sensory input from the skin to determine whether the input is perceived as painful. This theoretical formulation also may account for moment-to-moment fluctuations in the intensity of perceived pain despite the absence of any stimulus change. Such…
Read MoreAccording to one theory, a gate control system in the spinal cord modulates sensory input from the skin to determine whether the input is perceived as painful. This theoretical formulation also may account for moment-to-moment fluctuations in the intensity of perceived pain despite the absence of any stimulus change. Such…
Read More