explain
pain
section
2
page
32
A closer look at alarm signals
continued
S
o, how do sensors and sensor activity relate
to pain?
This book is about pain, but we don’t actually have ‘pain
receptors’, or ‘pain nerves’ or ‘pain pathways’ or ‘pain
centres’, despite what youwill read elsewhere. However,
there are some neurones in your tissues that respond to all
manner of stimuli, if those stimuli are sufficient to be
dangerous to the tissue. Activation of these special
neurones sends an alarm signal to your spinal cord, which
may be sent on towards your brain. Activity of this type in
these nerves is called ‘nociception’, which literallymeans
‘danger reception’ and danger reception is neither sufficient
nor necessary for pain. We all have nociception happening
nearly all of the time – but only sometimes does it end in
pain. For example, the pressure on your bottom from sitting
and reading this bookwill send dangermessages to your
spinal cord. It is unlikely to hurt, though now that we have
reminded you, youwill probably wriggle a bit!
Nociception is themost common but by nomeans the only
precursor of pain. For example, some thoughts and places
can activate alarm signals right inside your brainwithout
nociception occurring anywhere. Remember the sham
stimulator on page 21.
Remember, nociception is neither sufficient nor
necessary for pain.
