Brian banged his shin against a desk and grimaced with pain. He quickly bent over and began rubbing his leg where he'd banged it and the pain he was experiencing started to subside a bit. This phenomenon can best be explained by __________
A) the gate-control theory.
B) the absolute-threshold theory.
C) the opponent-process theory.
D) the volley theory of pain control.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gate-control theory states that pain can be lessened by the activation of non-painful stimuli that compete with and override pain signals before they reach the brain. When Brian rubbed the spot where he banged his shin, it likely activated touch receptors that competed with the pain signals, reducing the pain he was experiencing.

Brian Banged His Shin Against a Desk and Grimaced with Pain