Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

What does the gate-control model of pain response suggest?

1. Pain perception is only psychological

2. Pain is solely a response relayed by the brain

3. Pain perception involves pathways in the spinal cord

4. Pain is experienced only in the presence of injury

The correct answer is: Pain perception involves pathways in the spinal cord

The gate-control model of pain response suggests that pain perception is influenced by both physiological and psychological factors through specific pathways in the spinal cord. According to this model, the spinal cord acts as a gate that can either allow or inhibit the transmission of pain signals to the brain. When nerves are stimulated by injury or other stimuli, the signals are transmitted to the spinal cord, where they can be modulated before reaching the brain. This modulation can result in either enhanced or diminished perception of pain, depending on various factors such as other sensory input, emotional state, and attention. Thus, the involvement of pathways in the spinal cord is central to how pain is perceived according to this model, making it the correct answer.