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Pain and the Brain
While unpleasant, pain exists for a reason: it directs our attention to an injury so we can take care of it and prevent further damage.
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Your selections:
Pain
What Causes Brain Freeze?
An icy-cool summer delight like ice cream can quickly turn into pure pain, thanks to brain freeze. But why does this happen?
BrainFacts/SfN
Realizing the Benefits of Vagus Nerve Stimulation
A small battery-sized device implanted into the chest delivering small zaps of electricity to the vagus nerve can make a huge impact in a patient’s wellbeing.
BrainFacts/SfN
Painful Consequences
Chronic pain can cause severe cognitive effects, but relief may come from a surprising source.
BrainFacts/SfN
From Headache to Heartache
How much does it hurt? Researchers are examining the neuroscience behind emotional and physical pain.
BrainFacts/SfN
The Funny Bone: Butt Dialing Your Brain
Learn the basics of how neurons fire, and explore what we can learn from the feeling of banging our funny bone.
BrainFacts/SfN
5 min
Are Migraine and Seizure Related?
Michael Rogawski discusses the similarities between migraine attacks and epileptic seizures and what they might mean for treating the two conditions.
BrainFacts/SfN
Do Hurt Feelings Actually Hurt?
There’s no mistaking a broken heart for a broken bone — but our brains might look at both kinds of pain the same way.
BrainFacts/SfN
Virtual Neurons
How does the body know when it has been cut, or stung, or hit?
Brain U
Questions about Chronic Pain
Our expert answers your questions about chronic pain, its causes and its treatment.
BrainFacts/SfN
The Sense of Pain - Explained
Touch a hot pan and you’ll reflexively withdraw your hand. That’s because a special type of pain-sensing nerves transmits a jolt of pain, which acts like a warning signal to prevent further injury.
BrainFacts/SfN
Pain and the Brain
While unpleasant, pain exists for a reason: it directs our attention to an injury so we can take care of it and prevent further damage.
BrainFacts/SfN
5 min
The Science of Spiciness
When you take a bite of a hot pepper, your body reacts as if your mouth is on fire -- because that's essentially what you've told your brain!
TED
4 min
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