In 1972, an eleven-year-old member of a tribe that inhabits the Fiji Islands walked on white-hot coals. He seemed to experience no pain. The gate-control theory of pain would explain this by maintaining that ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gate-control theory of pain suggests that pain signals are modulated by inhibitory and excitatory pathways in the spinal cord before being transmitted to the brain. According to this theory, sensory nerves in the spinal cord can block pain impulses from reaching the brain by closing a "gate." In the case of the Fijian boy walking on coals, it is likely that his sensory nerves effectively closed the gate, preventing the pain message from reaching his brain.

In 1972, an Eleven-Year-Old Member of a Tribe That Inhabits