Pain and the brain/consciousness

  • Context: Medical 
  • Thread starter Thread starter bioquest
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Pain
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
1 reply · 3K views
bioquest
Messages
319
Reaction score
0
Does/can pain itself cause loss of consciousness- why?/how thanks
 
Biology news on Phys.org
Yes, you can have a vasovagal syncope in response to a pain stimulus. The cardioinhibitory or vasodilatory response results in a drop in heart rate or blood pressure, leading to fainting.

I don't really know why your body responds in such a way, my speculation is that it might be our evolutionary-left-over way of playing dead in a dangerous situation?