The scientific fact is that the human brain can independently control the intensity of pain sensations or completely turn them off. This may sound unbelievable and unbelievable to many ordinary people, but the human body has its own functionality, working to get rid of pain in moments when it is necessary for survival.
The study of these functions and mechanisms in our time is occupied by many scientists. The main goal of specialists is the knowledge of these processes and their controlled use. Already, scientists have identified those parts of the brain that are involved in the process of counteracting pain. The global scientific race continues, at the finish line of which we are waiting for technologies and methods that allow us to replace opioids with human resources.
The essence of research on the self-production of painkillers
The study of this possibility of the organism is based on the ability of the human cranial cortex, which is defined as a “critical decision-making center”. Evolution has developed human instincts in such a way that pain is perceived as a very negative feeling, which they try to get rid of by any means and as quickly as possible. Most likely, this sensation developed in the past and brought the body to the current state in order for the human species to survive. An example of a useful property of the phenomenon is pain after any injury to the body. A person has to recover and lie down instead of getting up and walking, not allowing the damaged body to gain strength. It is thanks to the presence of a sense of pain that people survive, instead of reckless death. Plus, the saved energy will be spent only on the most important recovery processes at the time of injury. Because of this feature, pain can sometimes be called “healthy”.
But on the other hand, in situations where a feeling can harm a person and cause even more complications, the human body has the ability to completely or partially suppress this feeling.
Recently, scientists conducted a very interesting experiment: 20 subjects who did not suffer from any health problems and did not feel any pain, probes were attached to the body in turn, which gradually heated up to a rather painful state (it did not lead to a burn). The test subject could turn off this device, but not everyone was told about it. During the experiment, magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed to assess the human response to changing conditions.
The most interesting data showed the statistical results of the experiment. A direct relationship has been proven between the level of a person’s pain sensations and the time until the moment when he learned about the possibility of turning off the source of pain. The most interesting thing is that the feeling of pain weakened immediately after receiving information that the probe could be turned off. The person did not even need to do something, although the device worked at the same level of intensity.
The main result of the experiment is the conclusion of scientists about the need to understand the work of the part of the brain that gives such a reaction and muffled pain. The development of research in this direction will provide an opportunity to professionally and quickly treat chronic pain. Pain relief is not a core function of a part of the brain and is for further study.