2006-12-02 03:30:47 · 6 answers · asked by mrkittypong 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Most pain is nothing of the kind. It is a neurophysiological effect that involves the peripheral and central nervous system, as well as the barin. There is nothing imagined about pain - its effects on the brain can be mapped and measured.
However, some pain is psychosomatic - it exists only in the mind.
2006-12-02 03:36:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
speaking about physical pain. you can't accurately say that it is imagination. it is a physical reaction of your body to danger. because say 4000 yrs ago if you dropped your flint hatchet on your foot and chopped your toe half off you were pretty well dead (from infection). It is also a learning mechanism, you can tell your child "do not touch that pan it is hot" 200 times but they will touch it anyway but it causes pain then the next day when you tell them "donot touch that pan it is hot" they will leave it alone (depending of course on how stubborn they are. it seldom takes more than 3 times) "pain is the best teacher"........ "ignore it and it will go away" this one is true. you can ignore pain and "forget" about it you just have to focus your attention on something else. however if you do so and someone asks so how is that burn on your arm or if you bump the injury you "remember" the pain, and it hurts just as bad as it ever did. this is because the nerves send constant signals indicating damage as long as the signal is constantly of the same intensity your mind can adjust to it and repress it but if your attention is actively called to it your brain stops repressing those receptors as it were. the amptee's ghost pain i think is because the nerves that are supposed to end in the amputated limb aren't sending the signal for all is well they are just blank (the same as happens with 3rd degree burns the nerve ends are damaged and cease operating correctly) the brain automatically interprets that as critical (life threatening) damage and has a "pain reaction" for that body area. even if it is no longer attached to the body, the other sensations i think are the brain experimenting trying to get some kind of feed back from those "endless" nerves as part of the healing process.
2006-12-02 15:33:59 · answer #2 · answered by P W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only as debate, in reality, pain is an eventuality, no one goes through life without pain. Of course, a few drinks and most are feelin' no pain!
2006-12-02 03:40:02 · answer #3 · answered by relaxed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually the one who isn't in pain is saying that. But then there is mind over matter. physical pain or emotional pain ? Both can be real and very painful.
2006-12-02 03:36:16 · answer #4 · answered by Marti 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pain is real and is not a figment of our imaginations, would you laugh if I smack you, or would you be angry for real?
2006-12-02 03:39:19 · answer #5 · answered by spir_i_tual 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How else would you explain the phantom pains and feelings of amputees?
These people "feel" all sorts of things in their amputated limbs.
*random thought*
2006-12-02 04:59:20 · answer #6 · answered by sassy_cheesesicle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋