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Pain Threshold

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Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine

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Definition

Pain threshold is defined as the minimum intensity of a stimulus that is perceived to be painful. Previously, this threshold was believed to be uniform across individuals, such that given intensity of a stimulus was thought to produce a given pain response. However, it is now understood that the experience of pain is a subjective phenomenon, which is influenced by a complex interaction of biopsychosocial factors.

Historically, Specificity Theory and Pattern Theory posit that pain results from the direct transmission of peripheral stimuli to the brain, and stimulus response occurs in a reproducible relationship. However, limitations to these theories became evident after observing divergent responses to pain across individuals despite objectively similar physical stimuli or trauma. Consequently, Melzack and Wall proposed the Gate Control Theory of pain, which revolutionized our understanding of this phenomenon.

According to this theory, peripheral small diameter nerve fibers...

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References and Readings

  • Melzack, R. (1999). From the gate to the neuromatrix. Pain (Suppl. 6), 82, S121-S126.

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  • Melzack, R., & Wall, P. D. (1965). Pain mechanisms: A new theory. Science, 150, 971–979.

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  • McMahon, S. B., & Koltzenburg, M. (Eds.). (2006). Melzack & Wall’s Textbook of Pain. London: Elsevier.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 N Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1220, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Dr. Michael James Coons

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Psychology Division, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 N Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1220, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Jeremy Steglitz MPH

Authors
  1. Dr. Michael James Coons
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  2. Jeremy Steglitz MPH
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Correspondence to Michael James Coons .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Medicine Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    Marc D. Gellman

  2. Cardiovascular Safety, Quintiles, Durham, NC, USA

    J. Rick Turner

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, New York

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Coons, M.J., Steglitz, J. (2013). Pain Threshold. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_1160

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_1160

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1004-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1005-9

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