THEORIES OF PAIN: SPECIFICITY THEORY

Question 1

Who proposed the specficity theory?

Answer 1

VON FREY

Question 2

What is the MAIN IDEA that the theory proposes?

Answer 2

• There is a seperate (sensory) system for processing pain.

(pain has its own special system in the body that operates independently from other sensations)

Question 3

How does the specficity theory explain pain processes (simple)?

Answer 3

1. Specialised pain receptors DETECT harmful stimuli.
2. And CREATE nerve impulses
3. Which carry info to the brain, where the brain processes these NI as pain.

Question 4

What is the specficity theory?

Answer 4

• A theory that proposes there is a seperate sensory system that processes pain.
• It suggests specialised pain receptors detetc harmful stimuli and create nerve impulses. These NI send info the to brain and the brain processes these signals as pain

Question 5

How does the specificty theory explain pain responses? (Step 1 and 2)

Answer 5

1. Detection- Specialized pain receptors in the skin or tissues detect harmful stimuli. These specialised pain receptors convert this damage into electrical signals (nerve impulses).
2. Signal transmission- The nerve impulses travel along specific pathaways, up the spinal cord and into the brain. The brain processes this info and intrepts it as pain.

1. pain detection 2. Signal transmission

Question 6

How does the specificty theory explain pain responses? (Step 3)

Answer 6

• The brain QUICKLY RESPONDS with a motor response (to try to stop the pain)

Question 7

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the specificity theory/

Answer 7

• Strengths= Clarity/clear mechanism
• Weaknesses= Limited scope

Question 8

What is one strength of the specificity theory?

Answer 8

• CLEAR MECHANISM
• Provides a straightfoward explanation of how
• Pain is transmitted through specialised receptors +pathways.
• helps clarify that pain isn’t just a general sensation but a specialized sensory process with its own unique pathways.

Question 9

Pain is transmitted through…?

Answer 9

• Specialised receptors and pathways

Question 10

What is 1 weakness of the specificity theory?

Answer 10

• Limited scope
• Cannot explain why chronic pain PERSISTS (even when there is no ongoing injury)
• As itsuggest the pain should stop after the harmful stimulus is removed.

Question 11

pain isn’t just a general sensation but…

Answer 11

a specialized (sensory) process with its own unique pathways.

Question 12

What is the key assumption of the specificty theory?

Answer 12

There is a direct link between injury and pain.

The greater the damage, the more pain is felt.

Pain has its own separate sensory system (like vision or hearing).

Psychological or cognitive factors do not influence pain.