Is it possible to control pain by closing the pain gate in the spinal column before the pain reaches the brain? The answer is yes, first introduced by Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall in their “gate control” theory of pain. 1965 “Pain Mechanisms: A New Theory”. Using fingertip tracing of textures on a Brainpaths board, touch, pressure, and vibration are applied to 3000 mechanoreceptors in fingertips to control pain.
Melzack and Wall proposed both thin nerve fibers (pain) and large diameter nerve fibers (touch, pressure, vibration) carry information from the site of injury to two destinations in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Transmission cells carry the pain signal up to the brain, while inhibitory interneurons impede transmission of cell activity before reaching the brain.
Activity in both thin and large diameter fibers affects transmission cells traveling to the brain. Thin fiber activity impedes the inhibitory cells (allows pain transmission cell to fire in the brain) while large diameter fiber activity excites inhibitory cells (inhibits pain transmission cell). Thus, the more large fiber activity compared to thin fiber activity, the less pain is felt. This accounts for the common practice of rubbing an injured site to temporarily relieve pain. Pain is lessened when the area is rubbed because rubbing inhibits the firing of pain neurons in the brain. Non-painful input closes the “gates” to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the brain. Therefore, stimulation by non-noxious input such as touch, pressure, and vibration is able to suppress pain.
Fingertip tracing controls pain before it reaches the brain by applying touch, pressure and vibration to the mechanoreceptors in fingertips
Brainpaths devices provide a non-invasive method and fingertip-tracing device to close the pain gate without using electrodes. Brainpaths’ medical devices are registered with the FDA as a method and apparatus for fingertip movement to touch 3000 mechanoreceptors located under the skin of each fingertip. Provides touch, pressure, and vibration necessary to close the pain gate, as discussed by Neurologist Dr. Norman Thomas in the 2015 Brainpaths youtube.com video “Improving Memory”. Also visit: Brainpaths.com.
Brainpaths has opened the door to controlling pain using non-invasive fingertip tracing for pain control.
