Celebrating Over 30 Years Serving the Tucson Community!
The last few posts have discussed where pain is located in the brain and how close it is to other inputs such as touch, sensation, temperature regulation, and spatial awareness. That’s why we can “trick” or distract the brain and lessen pain. Studies have also shown physical and emotional pain share similar pathways. The brain… Continue reading Anger and Pain
Last week we discussed the areas of the brain that are involved in how we process pain as they were identified on functional MRIs. Together they are known as the pain matrix: Primary somatosensory cortex Secondary somatosensory cortex Anterior cingulated cortex Insular cortex Prefrontal cortex Thalamus Not only are these different parts of the brain… Continue reading How We Can Impact the Pain Matrix
We are learning more and more about the origins of pain. And the more we learn, the more we can help understand and treat it. But we do know this, pain is personal. Each of us feels it differently. Why? Because it not only depends on what’s happening in the body but how the brain responds… Continue reading Pain Matrix
Pain is incredibly difficult to categorize. It’s meant to tell us when something is wrong. Yet, as described in multiple posts, it can persist long after the trauma or injury has passed. And our brains have impressive powers to modulate the perception of pain. It can exacerbate or minimize depending on what we are experiencing… Continue reading ASMR May Be An Option
Last week I discussed the role of the vagus nerve. It’s one of 12 cranial nerves in the body that help link the brain with the head, neck, torso, and the rest of the body. They originate in the brain and each has a different function that relates to sensation or movement. The vagus nerve… Continue reading 10 Ways to Activate Your Own Vagus Nerve