SKIN SENSES

Skin senses Skin is our largest sense organ We have skin receptors for PRESSURE, PAIN, AND TEMPERATURE

Responding to stimulus The brain draws on multiple sources of information in responding to TACTILE stimulation It’s not just what you feel, it’s what you expect or anticipate also Example: you can step on a pebble on purpose and it won’t hurt much, but if you step on one accidentally, it hurts more

Receptors The face and fingertips are the most sensitive areas Skin receptors also undergo sensory adaptation: you get used to cold water in a swimming pool; you don’t notice an IV needle after a while

PAIN Pain is a warning signal—we need it People vary in pain tolerance and thresholds

Pain tolerance theories GATE CONTROL THEORY: suggests that a neurological gate in the spinal cord controls pain impulses to the brain. If the gate is open, we feel more pain Large nerve fibers close the gate, small ones open it up. Larger fibers = high pain tolerance

BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL THEORY Biological, psychological, and social variables interact in the perception of pain Biology: underlying injury or disease, nervous system pathways Psychology: Beliefs about pain, motivation Social: personality, believing you can overcome pain, positive thinking