When you stub your toe on a hard object, the lingering ache you feel after the initial sharp pain has worn off is caused by
A) pain messages traveling in A$\delta$ fibers.
B) input reaching the somatosensory cortex and then being processed in adjacent areas.
C) information being carried in slowly conducting unmyelinated fibers.
D) rapid adaptation occurring at spinal cord levels.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lingering ache is caused by information being carried in slowly conducting unmyelinated fibers. These fibers transmit pain signals more slowly than myelinated fibers, which transmit sharp, immediate pain. The slow transmission of pain signals is responsible for the lingering ache that is felt after the initial sharp pain has subsided.

When You Stub Your Toe on a Hard Object, the Lingering