Correlation between skin thermal pain and noxious stimuli

Objective: The aim of this paper is to develop a holistic mathematical model to quantify the correlation between skin thermal sensation and noxious stimuli, since skin thermal pain is one of the most common problems in everyday life and the understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms is still not clear. Methods: The model is developed by considering the biothermomechanical behaviour of skin tissue and by incorporating the current understanding of biophysical and neurophysiological mechanisms of pain sensation. Results: The proposed model consisted of three interconnected sub-models: peripheral modulation of noxious stimuli, which converts the energy from a noxious thermal stimulus into electrical energy via nerve impulses; transmission, which transports these neural signals from the site of transduction in the skin to the spinal cord and brain; and modulation and perception in the spinal cord and brain. The model predictions agree well with existing experimental data. Conclusion: With this model, a direct relationship has been built between the level of thermal pain sensation and the character of noxious stimuli.