One of the brainstem regions responsible for this is the periaqueductal gray of the midbrain, which both relieves pain by behavior as well as inhibits the activity of the nociceptive neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Then, there are also the descending pathways for the modulation of pain sensation. Some of the known parts for the ascending pathway include the thalamus, hypothalamus, midbrain, lentiform nucleus, somatosensory cortices, insular, prefrontal, anterior and parietal cingulum. Neural coding and modulation Īctivity in many parts of the brain is associated with pain perception. A neuroanatomical review of the pain pathway, 'Afferent pain pathways' by Almeida, describes various specific nociceptive pathways of the spinal cord: spinothalamic tract, spinoreticular tract, spinomesencephalic tract, spinoparabrachial tract, spinohypothalamic tract, spinocervical tract, postsynaptic pathway of the spinal column. Once stimuli are received, the various afferent action potentials are triggered and pass along various fibers and axons of these nociceptive nerve cells into the dorsal horn of the spinal cord through the dorsal roots.

These receptors are commonly found in the skin, membranes, deep fascias, mucosa, connective tissues of visceral organs, ligaments and articular capsules, muscles, tendons, periosteum, and arterial vessels. Perception of pain Sensory input system įrom a stimulus-response perspective, the perception of physical pain starts with the nociceptors, a type of physiological receptor that transmits neural signals to the brain when activated. 6 Evolutionary hypotheses for the relationship between pain and pleasure.5.2.1 Asymmetry between pain and pleasure.5.2 Arguments against pain and pleasure on a continuum.5.1 Arguments for pain and pleasure on a continuum.4 Opioid and dopamine systems in pain and pleasure.3 Psychology of pain and pleasure (reward-punishment system).

Painful pleasure