Which of these findings casts doubt on the specificity theory of pain?
A) Researchers have failed to find specific skin receptors devoted to relaying pain.
B) Phantom limb pain occurs in 70% of amputees.
C) Injury can occur without pain, such as that experienced by the soldiers at Anzio beach.
D) All of these are challenges to the validity of the specificity theory of pain.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The specificity theory of pain states that specific receptors in the skin are solely responsible for transmitting pain signals to the brain. However, research has failed to find specific skin receptors for pain (A), phantom limb pain occurs in amputees who no longer have the supposed pain receptors (B), and injury can occur without pain (C). Therefore, all of these findings challenge the validity of the specificity theory of pain.

Which of These Findings Casts Doubt on the Specificity Theory