Perception and sensation are two separate processes that are closely related. Sensation refers to the input on the physical world that the sensory receptors obtain (Kumar & Elavarasi, 2016). On the other hand, perception is the process by which the brain chooses or selects, organizes, and interprets the sensations (Kumar & Elavarasi, 2016). Perception of similar senses differs among people but has a physiological basis on senses. The difference in perception of the same senses is because every person's brain interprets stimuli differently depending on their memory, learning, emotions, and expectations. Sensation happens when a sensory receptor detects sensory information, as the sensory receptors comprise specialized neurons which respond to particular stimuli types.
An excellent example of sensation is the chemical changes in cells lining back in the eye when the light that enters the eye causes a chemical reaction. When it comes to perception, it is mainly dependent on the organization, interpretation, and conscious experience of the sensory information since the sensory receptors are continuously collect information from the environment, with its interpretation significantly affecting how humans interact with the world Perception comprises both bottom-up and top-down processing. Perception depends on the interpretation of the sensations determined by one's experiences, thoughts, and knowledge. In a nutshell, the sensation is the process of stimuli detection such as light waves, chemical molecules, sound waves, heat, or pressure, while perception is the process of integration, organization, and interpretation of sensations.
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Detection of pain, such as through the touch of a hot stove, happens in a multi-step process. Such pain included from touching a hot stove gets the sensory receptors in the skin to send messages through the nerve fibers (A-delta fibers and C fibers), the nociceptor fibers (Dieën et al., 2017). These nociceptor fibers detect painful stimuli in the peripheral nervous system (internal organ). The receptors at the spinal cord's dorsal horn and brainstem then pick up the signals of pain and transmit them to the various parts of the brain as sensory information. The receptors transmit the signals through chemical messenger binding on the receptors. The electrical signals then flow through these receptors down the length of the cell. In other cases, the neurotransmitters bind to receptors to block the electrical signal, stop the message, and silence it. The neurotransmitters such as serotonin (5-HT), neurotensin, oxytocin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine, among others, are involved in transmitting signals to the central nervous system by carrying the nociceptive message to the brain (Hughes & Todd, 2020).
Pharmacologic pain management involves using pharmacologic actions to reduce the intensity and frequency of pain one experiences. One such pharmaceutical pain medication is the use of narcotics. Narcotics, which are also known as opioid pain relievers, are often used only in cases where there is severe pain, and the other types of painkillers are not helping in pain relief. The narcotics relieve pain through binding to receptors that in the brain, thus blocking the feeling of pain (Fahey, 2017). The narcotics interfere with neurotransmission of pain through increased analgesia, slowed respiration, decreased alertness, or neurotransmitter release inhibition. Some of the adverse effects of using narcotic analgesics in pain management include respiratory depression (trouble in breathing), chest pains, abnormal heartbeats, cardiac arrest, and in some cases, death.
An excellent example of alternative pain treatment that is non-pharmaceutical is the implanted electric nerve stimulation. It involves the implantation of a cord stimulator device in the spinal cord. It works by sending low levels of electricity directly into the spinal cord to relieve pain. The implanted electric nerve stimulation is often used after other nonsurgical options fail to give sufficient pain relief. Some of the advantages of the spinal cord stimulators in pain relief include its requirement of a small incision, covered by most insurance, and its high efficiency in reducing or ending the need of using addictive pain killers such as opioids (Garland et al., 2020). However, the method has its cons that include the risk of infection and bleeding that comes with every surgical procedure, possible spinal fluid leaks that could cause headaches, failure of the generator battery to work or leaking, scar tissue forming around the electrodes, and in cases of SCS one cannot undergo MRI.
Pain perception reflected in both unpleasant sensory or emotional experiences could be due to potential or actual damage. As a result, pain perception leads to costs, such as when the one experiencing pain seeks treatment for pain relief. The threat of damage also comes with negative survival connotations, and the perception comes with negative emotions that interfere with the day-to-day life of the victim (Hughes & Todd, 2020). Pain perception has the advantage of enhancing the body's defense system through enhancing motivation to accumulate resources like social support and uptake of calorie-rich foods (MacEwan et al., 2018). Additionally, pain perception can help detect a real threat to the body's wellbeing, which would otherwise lead to damage of the body's organs without detection.
References
Dieën, v., Jaap H, H. F., & Hodges, P. W. (2017). Low-back pain patients learn to adapt motor behavior with secondary adverse consequences. Exercise and sport sciences reviews, 45(4), 223-229.DOI: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000121.
Fahey, J. O. (2017). Best practices in the management of postpartum pain. The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing, 31(2), 136-136.https://doi.org/10.1097/JPN.0000000000000241.
Garland, E. L., Brintz, C. E., Hanley, A. W., Roseen, E. J., Atchley, R. M., Gaylord, S. A., et al. (2020). Mind-body therapies for opioid-treated pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA internal medicine, 180(1), 91-105.
Hughes, D. I., & Todd, A. J. (2020). Central nervous system targets: Inhibitory Interneurons in the Spinal Cord. Neurotherapeutics, 1-12, 1-12.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-020-00936-0.
Kumar, K. H., & Elavarasi, P. (2016). Definition of pain and classification of pain disorders. Journal of Advanced Clinical and Research Insights, 3(3), 87-90.DOI: 10.15713/ins.jcri.112.
MacEwan, M. R., Gamble, P., Stephen, M., & Ray, W. Z. (2018). Therapeutic electrical stimulation of injured peripheral nerve tissue using implantable thin-film wireless nerve stimulators. Journal of neurosurgery, 130(2), 486-495.https://doi.org/10.3171/2017.8.JNS163020.
