Exam 4 Flashcards
(378 cards)
electromagnetic spectrum
continuum of electromagnetic energy that extends from very-short-wavelength gamma rays to long-wavelength radio waves. Visible light is a narrow band within the spectrum.
Nociceptive pain
pain caused by activation of receptors in the skin called nocicpetors
Nociceptors
specialized cell receptors that respond to tissue damage or potential damage
What is the direct pathway model of pain? What evidence led researchers to question this model of pain perception?
This model says that pain occurs when specific nociceptor receptors in the skin are stimulated and send their signals directly from the skin to the brain. Researchers started questioning this when pain was noted to be affected by factors in addition to stimulation of the skin.
What is the gate control model of pain?
In this model there are additional pathways that influence the signals sent from the spinal cord to the brain. Nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and central control impact the transmission cell that “creates” pain.
How do nociceptors impact the gate control model of pain?
They send excitatory signals to the transmission cell (causing pain). Excitatory signals from the neurons in the dorsal horn “open the gate” and increase the firing of the transmission cells (more pain).
Presbyopia
the inability of the eye to accommodate due to hardening of the lens and a weakening of the ciliary muscles. It occurs at people get old.
How do mechanoreceptors impact the gate control model of pain?
When activity in the mechanoreceptors reach the dorsal horn inhibitory signals “close the gate” and decrease the firing of the transmission cells (less/no pain).
Central control
information related to cognitive functions such as expectation, attention, and distraction
How does central control impact the gate control model of pain?
Similar to mechanoreceptors, activity coming down from the brain also closes the gate and decreases transmission cell activity, thus decreasing pain.
Give an example of when expectation influenced pain
the placebo effect makes a patient expect some sort of medical relief, thus creating relief completely or partially. An interesting fact about placebos is that they can attach themselves to particular parts of the body (meaning your hand can be in pain while your foot is impacted by a placebo)
Give an example of when shifting attention influenced pain
not feeling pain until you see the blood, or playing a video game while changing the bandages of burn victims.
Isomerization
change in the shape of the retinal part of the visual pigment molecule that occurs when the molecule absorbs a quantum of light. Isomerization triggers the enzyme cascade that results in transduction from light energy to electrical energy in the retinal receptors.
Pain matrix
subcortical structors (hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus, and areas of the cortex: somatosensory cortex/S1, anterior cingulate cortex/ACC, the prefrontal cortex/PFC, and the insula)
Describe the multimodal nature of pain
Pain is made up of both sensory (throbbing, dull, prickly) and emotional/affective (torturing, annoying, sickening) experiences
Pain
an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience
Opiods
chemicals such as opium and heroin that impact pain perception and attach themselves to receptor sites. These receptor sites are the same receptors that are activated by endorphines
Endorphines
endogenous (naturally occurring) morphine
Explain how people are impacted by watching other people being touched/hurt/etc.
Empathetic people are more likely to experience more pain while watching someone else in pain than people who are not classified as highly empathetic
What is the relation between heat and cold receptors–do we use the same receptors to sense both heat and cold?
We use thermo-receptors to feel temperature. They do not respond to anything other than temp. And there a different receptors for each. These receptors can feel radiant and touched temp.
Visual pigment bleaching
the change in the color of a visual pigment that occurs when visual pigment molecules are isomerized by exposure to light.
Where do the heat receptors project to? Where do the cold receptors project to?
Heat is projected to S1 and cold is projected to SII.
As the temperature increases, what happens to the response of a heat receptors? As the temperature decreases, what happens to the response of a cold receptors?
1) increase firing rate as temperature rises or falls ( at least to a certain extent)2) continue to fire so long as high/low temperature remains3) decreases firing rate as temperature decreased/increased
What is naloxone? How is it used in relation to pain?
A medical drug that is often injected into a person who has overdosed on heroin. It can almost immediately reverse the effects because it attached to the receptor sites that are usually occupied by heroin and blocks the action of the drug.