Glossary

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Placebo response

    A therapeutic effect achieved by the administration of a fake treatment. In the case of pain, placebo responses are reductions of pain sensation caused by proce¬ dures that don’t contain active principles. Placebo responses can be achieved by suggestion, expectation, or conditioning.  

  • Pattern theory of pain

    A theoretical interpretation that proposes that pain is a result of the pattern of activation of peripheral sensors and central-nervous-system neurons and not of a chain of specific pain-related neurons. The emphasis of the pattern theory is on how brain neurons are activated by pain-producing stimuli rather than on what specific neurons are activated.  

  • Noxious stimulus

    A stimulus that is damaging or potentially damaging. Most stimuli are defined by their type of energy (for instance, mechanical, thermal, or chemical). However a noxious stimulus is qualified by its capacity to produce an injury, regardless of the form of energy. Noxious stimuli are also called nocuous.  

  • Nociceptor-specific neurons

    One of the two types of neurons in the central nervous system that receive and transmit injury-related signals. Normally nociceptor-specific neurons are activated only by nociceptors and therefore by painful or potentially painful stimuli. During persistent pain states, however, they can also be activated by less intense stimuli. Though distributed throughout the central nervous system,…

  • Functional pain

    Pain in the absence of an apparent cause (in contrast with organic pain, for which definite causes always can be found). Chronic pain states in which this occurs include those of irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and fibromyalgia.  

  • Healthcare team

    A set of individuals with special expertise who provide healthcare services or assistance to clients. They may include nurses, physicians, psychologists, social workers, nutritionists/dieticians, and various therapists. Healthcare providers also may include service organizations and vendors. A team is comprised of a number of persons associated together in work or activity.  

  • Wind-up

    Consecutive stimuli causing increased sensitivity of spinal cord neurons.  

  • Tactile resolution

    The ability to detect fine differences in the size of an object.  

  • Stimulation-produced analgesia

    Stimulation of brain regions aimed at reducing pain.  

  • Spinal cord stimulation

    Electrical stimulation of the spinal cord that aims to reduce pain.  

Got any book recommendations?

Get In Touch