In Our Time Pain
20 snips
Jul 22, 1999 Neurologists discuss the subjective experience of pain and its connection to human consciousness. Rethinking pain theories from Descartes to modern dynamic views. Exploring the complexities of pain perception, including cases of pain without physical damage. Delving into phantom pain, the placebo effect, and cultural influences on pain perception. Exploring physical causes of pain, phantom limb pain, and the interconnected nature of sensations and perception.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Classical Pain Theory Is Wrong
- The classical theory of pain as a direct response to injury is incorrect.
- Pain depends on many circumstances including situation, attitude, and type of injury.
Pain Is Real, Even Without Damage
- Saying "pain is all in the mind" wrongly blames patients for their pain.
- Many pains lack visible tissue damage but are real due to nervous system instability.
Pain Without Cortex Involvement
- Pain can exist without the cortex; deeper brain regions can generate agonizing pain alone.
- Removing parts of the cortex does not eliminate pain, unlike vision loss.