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the brain that can act on them. Pain messages are sent to three areas: the somatosensory cortex, which is responsible for physical sensation; the frontal cortex, which is in charge of thinking; and the limbic system , which is linked to emotions. These three areas all react to pain. The person who

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

The nervous system is the body’s collection of nerves. A nerve is a little like an electrical wire. It transmits signals from the body to the brain and back. The nervous system starts with the brain and runs through the spinal cord. From there, nerves branch out through the rest of the body. Interestingly enough, the brain itself cannot feel pain. People who have brain surgery have their nerves deadened with medicine so they won’t feel painful incisions in their scalp or bone, but the brain itself does not need such treatment. The peripheral nerve systems outside the brain and spinal column can be broken into two groups. The somatic nervous system transmits sensations, such as hot, cold, hard, soft, and more. This is where pain is generated. The autonomic nervous system controls muscle movement. Autonomic nerves control breathing, blinking, heartbeats, and other body actions like lifting an arm or moving eyes back and forth to read these words. The autonomic system causes a hand to jerk away from something that is burning hot.

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Alternative Treatments for Pain Management