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On the Role of Endorphins in Pain Modulation

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The Neural Basis of Behavior

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Abstract

It is well known that reactions to pain, particularly in man, are modifiable by many factors such as social environment, cultural values, the significance of the painful stimulus, and the individual’s past history and biological predisposition. For example, some cultures encourage expression of discomfort while others favor a more stoic attitude. However, the differences in responsiveness to a painful stimulus appear to go beyond the level of expression. Certain states appear conducive to changes in pain sensation or perception. There are several striking examples of manipulations that lead to dramatic reduction in pain sensitiviy, such as hypnosis (Hadfield, 1917; Hilgard, 1967), acupuncture (Mau and Chen, 1972) or coping with a situation that threatens the survival of the organism. Among the most cited examples is a study by Beecher (1959) showing that soldiers who are injured at war appear to perceive their injuries as less painful, presumably because they signify the end of the war for these individuals.

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  1. Huda Akil
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  1. Alfred I. duPont Institute, Wilmington, Delaware, USA

    Alexander L. Beckman Ph.D. (Senior Research Scientist) (Senior Research Scientist)

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Akil, H. (1982). On the Role of Endorphins in Pain Modulation. In: Beckman, A.L. (eds) The Neural Basis of Behavior. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-6302-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-6302-6_16

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