1) According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), pain is “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such lesions.” In addition to this definition, the IASP has also added a long list of supporting notes to help clarify what pain is. The list includes: Pain is subjective. For this reason, this definition does not link pain to the stimulus. Different people react to a stimulus in different ways. Likewise, the same person may respond differently to the same stimulus under different emotional circumstances. Individuals learn what to associate the word “pain” with through childhood experiences. Pain can therefore be influenced by culture. Stimuli that cause pain are likely to damage tissue. Pain is also an emotional experience. People experience pain without any physical trauma, so pain is also a psychological concern. If someone claims to be in pain, even without physical signs, they should be treated as if they are in pain. (Merskey and Bogduk, 2012) Although considered an unpleasant experience, pain can be very beneficial: it acts as a warning mechanism to alert us to danger, whether of external or internal origin. source. By being aware of the danger, we can respond accordingly to avoid or limit damage to the body.2) When tissue is damaged, it is registered by pain receptors (nociceptors) in the skin. Pain receptors form one end of a neuron which is connected to the other end in the spinal cord via the axon. When activated, nocioceptors send an electrical signal along the neuron to the spinal cord. In the part of the spinal cord called the dorsal horn, chemical transmitters (neurotransmitters)...... middle of paper ...... pain (nociception) occurs. This overrides the inhibitory neuron and the signal is sent to the brain (the door is opened). Information from the brain can travel down projection neurons and inhibit pain perception (close the door). This theory explains why if you rub or squeeze your hand after a minor injury, you can reduce the perception of pain. Merskey, H. and Bogduk, N.IASP Taxonomy - IASPIn-text: (Merskey and Bogduk, 2012)Bibliography: Merskey, H. and Bogduk, N. 2012. IASP Taxonomy - IASP. [online] Available at: https://www.iasp-pain.org/Education/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=1698 [Accessed: April 1, 2014].Mydr.com.au.Pain and how you feel it - myDr. com.auIn the text: (Mydr.com.au, 2007)Bibliography: Mydr.com.au. 2007. Pain and how you feel it - myDr.com.au. [online] Available at: http://www.mydr.com.au/pain/pain-and-how-you-sense-it [Accessed: April 1 2014].