According to Melzack and Wall's "gate theory" of pain, why does rubbing your elbow after you bump it help reduce the pain?
A) Rubbing produces an increased release of endorphins.
B) Rubbing produces a refractory period in nociceptors, preventing their further activation.
C) Input from rubbing competes with ascending pain messages.
D) The act of rubbing has a placebo effect on the pain.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gate theory of pain suggests that non-painful input can close the "gate" to painful input, preventing it from being transmitted to the brain. Rubbing the affected area after a painful stimulus competes with the ascending pain messages and provides non-painful input, closing the gate and reducing pain.

According to Melzack and Wall's "Gate Theory" of Pain, Why