A possible neurophysiological basis for psychological pain.
There is some evidence that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) contains nociceptive neurons, and other neurons which respond to conditioned aversive stimuli. It is not implausible that nociceptive input and conditioned aversive input converge onto common neurons in the ACC. Following from this hypothesis, the psychological pain which occurs in circumstances that arouse disgust or aversion may involve the same mechanisms that give rise to referred pain.
Koyama
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Department of Anesthesiology, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan.
D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology