Patrick D. Wall

Patrick D. Wall was a British neuroscientist and pain researcher best known for developing the Gate Control Theory of pain in 1965. This theory explains how the nervous system processes pain messages, suggesting that the spinal cord acts like a gate that can either transmit or block pain signals to the brain. Factors like touch, emotions, and mental state can influence this gate, thereby affecting how pain is perceived. Wall's work significantly advanced our understanding of pain mechanisms and has influenced approaches to pain management and treatment.