The gate-control theory of pain suggests that
A)the perception of pain determined by the interplay between small pain fibres and larger inhibitory fibres in the spinal cord.
B)for pain to be perceived,it must have a high-enough intensity to open mechanical channels (gates)in the skin.
C)pain is contagious and seeing someone else in pain leads to the perception of pain in our own bodies.
D)in patients with phantom limb syndrome,the best treatment is to surgically insert a gate into the patient's spinal cord to block the pain.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gate-control theory of pain proposes that the perception of pain is not solely determined by the presence of pain signals from small pain fibres, but also by larger inhibitory fibres in the spinal cord that can block those signals. Therefore, the interaction between these two types of fibres can be viewed as a "gate" that controls the perception of pain. This theory has been supported by research indicating that various factors, such as distraction or the release of endorphins, can influence the opening or closing of this gate, leading to changes in pain perception. The other options (B, C, and D) are incorrect because they either do not accurately describe the gate-control theory or present false information about pain perception and treatment.

The Gate-Control Theory of Pain Suggests That