12. Managing pain and behavior guidance

Question 1

What is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage

Answer 1

Pain

Question 2

How is pain perception modified according to the gate theory of pain?

Answer 2

large-fiber activity closes gate and can modify pain perception along the descending pathway

Question 3

Why are infants and young children more sensitive to pain?

Answer 3

• ascending pathways are intact, not “closed”
• descending pathway poorly developed to modify pain
• less cognitive skills to modulate pain