Perceiving pain in conjunction with the mind and bodyPerceiving pain in conjunction with the mind and bodyPain is something that connects us all. From birth to death we can identify the idea and arguably the perception of it. We all know we experience it, but the most important thing is how we perceive it. We know that there are people with “high” pain tolerance and others with “low” pain tolerance, but what is the difference between them? We also know that pain is an objective response to certain stimuli, that there are neurons that sense pain, and that there are nerve impulses that send these “pain” messages to the brain. What we don't know is where the pain actually comes from. Naturally, we know that pain occurs or is felt in the brain, but is it a true controllable mechanical response or is it just a sensation the brain feels. There are several theories and possibilities as to why there may be such separation and divergence between people who can apparently tolerate painful events and those who cannot. Three important assertions related to pain are: first, pain is actually a perception, second, the brain mediates pain suppression through the spinal cord "gate" and third, the mind may be capable to decide when the “door” can open and how far the “door” will be open. There is much controversy over whether pain is biological and we have no control over its severity or how much we feel, or whether pain is mind or body dependent and can influence the perception of pain. Pain has a known purpose. ; it is present to protect the body from further damage to... middle of paper ......a more comfortable position to lie down, or to relieve some pressure on the area that feels pain, but Other than by changing what we are physically doing at that moment, we could not remove the pain. I think if you asked someone how they control their pain, they might tell you, somehow, something they do that can help relieve it. http://www.howstuffworks.com/pain.htmPatterson, DR, Everett, JJ, Burns, GL, & Marvin, JA (1992). Hypnosis for the treatment of burns. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 60, 713-7.Unknown 2007 “ISAP Pain Terminology” retrieved February 12, 2010 from http://www.iasp-pain.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/CM /HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=1728#Pain