Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Gate Control Theory
- Idea proposed by Melzack and Wall (1965)
- Pain is transmitted to the spinal cord by large A Delta and smaller C fibres
- These fibres terminate on inhibitory interneurons in the
substantia gelatinosa (laminae in the dorsal horn or the
spinal cord)
- Cells in the substantia gelatinosa act as a
gate, regulating transmission impulses to the
CNS
- Stimulation of the non-nociceptive A fibres, such as
touch, vibration or thermal stimuli, cuase the cells in
the substantia gelatinosa to 'close the pain gate'.
- This diminishes pain perception
- Small fibre input inhibits cells in
the substantia gelatinosa to
'open the pain gate'
- This enhances pain perception
- The CNS through efferent pathways, may also close, partially close or open the gates
- GCT is inadequate to explain some chronic pain
problems such as 'phantom limb pain' instead the
Neuromatrix theory was proposed to explain
this.
- The perception of pain is called
nociception and depends on
specifically dedicated receptors and
afferent pathways that detect and
transmit noxious or damaging
stimuli
- The experience of pain by Gate Control
Theory emphasises the activation of
non-nociceptive afferent input coming into
the dorsal horn of the spinal cord to inhibit
pain signals as well as the dynamic role of
the brain in modulating the pain process