Nociception is the sense of feeling pain, which warns the body of danger. It is achieved through specialized nerves called nociceptors, which send messages to the brain when exposed to unpleasant stimuli. Lack of nociception can be dangerous, as people may not be aware of injuries.
Nociception is a sense that allows people to feel pain; the term comes from the roots of “harmful” or “unpleasant” and “sensation”. While people don’t usually enjoy painful stimuli, being aware of pain can be very important, as it warns the body that a situation is dangerous or an existing problem that needs to be addressed. In some individuals nociception can be impaired, and this can lead to very serious problems because they cannot interpret painful stimuli when exposed to them.
This sense is achieved with a network of specialized nerves called nociceptors. Nociceptors are found in great abundance just under the skin, and are also found within the body, everywhere from organs to joints, so they can relay information about painful experiences to the brain. When these nerves are exposed to unpleasant stimuli, such as heat, cold, or cutting sensations, they send a message to the brain that something unpleasant is going on.
The brain often reacts by trying to avoid the painful situation, such as when someone flinches when being cut by a knife as the body responds to the pain. It can also trigger the secretion of analgesics which will reduce the pain. People become aware of the brain as the body responds to it, so they can make informed decisions that could end up reducing or ending the pain. For example, visceral pain could indicate a problem with one of the abdominal organs, and by going to the doctor, the problem could be addressed.
Nociceptors in the body are less widely distributed, because the precise pain reception observed at the skin surface is not as critical in the body. The brain lacks nociceptors altogether, which the researchers believe is because circumstances that could cause pain in the brain could also presumably be fatal, rendering nociception rather useless.
The nociception process can be blocked with medications, as is the case when people take pain management medications or are placed under general anesthesia for surgical procedures. Some people are born without nociception, which might sound pretty nice to anyone with an injury, but it can actually be extremely dangerous. Without the ability to receive noxious stimuli, people may not be aware that they are injured by something such as a burn or cut, and may develop very serious injuries or even die due to their lack of pain sensitivity.
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