Pain as A Multidimensional Integrative System: Neurophysiological Foundations and Implications for Medical Education
Mustakimova Fatima Alifgatovna , Tashkent State Medical University, Tashkent, UzbekistanAbstract
Pain is a fundamental biological phenomenon serving both as a protective mechanism and a major clinical challenge. Despite decades of research, a significant gap persists between our understanding of pain neurophysiology and the quality of clinical pain management. This review examines pain as a multidimensional integrative system, synthesizing knowledge from peripheral nociception to cortical processing. It analyzes the historical evolution of pain theories, the specialized anatomy of nociceptive pathways, and key phenomena like peripheral and central sensitization. Drawing on International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) standards, the paper presents original data on the current state of pain education in Uzbekistan and proposes a competency-based framework for integrating pain neuroscience into the medical curriculum at Tashkent State Medical University. This integrated, biopsychosocial curriculum aims to graduate physicians equipped to manage pain effectively across diverse clinical contexts.
Keywords
Pain, nociception, central sensitization
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