A computational model of acute pain

Abstract

In 1965 Melzack and Wall proposed the influential gate control theory of pain. This theory postulates that the substantia gelatinosa, located within the spinal cord, acts as a gate control mechanism which can influence the flow of information to the brain and thus impact on the pain experience. Subsequent research has, in general, supported this theory. The theory presented is very explicit and the fact that pain is a poorly understood phenomenon suggests it is an ideal candidate for modelling. Despite this, the utilisation of such techniques has been very limited. This paper successfully replicates the mathematical model presented by Britton and Skevington, and expands on their work to make the model more biologically plausible and provide a basis for further work with this model.