Pain is classified by its pathophysiology in to two major types. Nociceptive and neuropathic. Nociceptive pain: normal processing of pain that occurs when free nerve endings are activated by tissue inflammation. Neuropathic pain involves the abnormal processing of stimuli from the peripheral CNS Perception, the conscious experience of pain, involves both the sensory and affective components of pain. Clinical research in recent years has yielded greater understanding of the limbic system at the area of the anterior cingulated gyrus and its role in the emotional response to pain. The final nociceptive process -- modulation -- results from activation of the midbrain. Multiple types of neurons from this area that have a variety of neurotransmitters.
