New Books in Science, Technology, and Society cover image

Ginny Smith, "Overloaded: How Every Aspect of Your Life is Influenced by Your Brain Chemicals" (Bloomsbury, 2021)

New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

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Activating Downward Pathway to Treat Pain

When you're under treme stress, your brain activates this descending pathway. This releases chemicals into your spinal cord that block the pain signals from coming back up. Scientists are now king at ways of activating this descending pathway to treat pain. You can also activate it by stimulating the area of the brain that is in control of it. If you ever stub your toe and then swear, that might actually be reducing the amount of pain that you're feeling.

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