The gate control theory re-revisited

Gate Control Theory of Pain

The gate control theory of pain, put forward by Ronald Melzack (a Canadian psychologist) and Patrick David Wall (a British physician) in 1962, and again in 1965, is the idea that the perception of physical pain is not a direct result of activation of nociceptors, but instead is modulated by interaction between different neurons, both pain-transmitting and non-pain-transmitting. The theory asser...

The gate control theory of pain.

For example, you will probably be aware that there are times when, even though you have pain, you are only dimly aware of it. This may happen when you are really engrossed in doing something interesting or having to face a situation which demands all of your attention. A very good example of this is the stories you might have heard about wounded soldiers who, despite being seriously injured, wi...

Gate Control Theory Springs a Leak

Sun and colleagues (2017) find that individual Grp+ spinal interneurons can respond to and distinguish between stimuli that provoke itch or pain. The nociceptive response is limited by enkaphalin-expressing interneurons that are connected synaptically to the Grp+ neurons.

Testing the gate-control theory of pain in man.

According to the gate-control theory of pain, the electrical stimulation of large nerve fibres should stop the pain induced when only C fibres are active. This kind of pain was induced by pressure, repeated pinprick, cold and heat in the ischaemic limb. The peripheral nerves were electrically stimulated in the same way as is done by patients treating their chronic pain by electrical stimulation...

Gate control theory of pain stands the test of time.