THE GATE THEORY OF PAIN III: Learning and the Brain
In Part 1 and in Part 2 of The Gate Theory of Pain we learned how pain is a multi-modal sensory experience that takes time to develop. In this part we will explore an interesting fact: why re-focusing the mind helps to develop a deeper “good-pain” experience: the altered state of consciousness.
Sensory neurons (which detect pain), motor neurons (which guide movement), and sympathetic neurons (which regulate fight-or-flight responses) all share interconnected neural pathways. As the saying goes, “neurons that fire together, wire together.” This is where the Gate Control Theory shines: it explains how the body can still produce a powerful biochemical “high” - driven by sympathetic activation - even when the pain itself no longer feels sharp or overwhelming. That’s because the sensory input has been modulated, while the underlying physiological systems remain active.
It also reveals a key principle of impact play:
Mitigating the feeling of pain doesn’t lessen the effect—it deepens the experience.
When pain is managed well - through trust, pacing, rhythm, and meaning - you can go harder and deeper without compromising safety. But go too fast, or misjudge the intensity, and the nervous system will quickly switch priorities - from connection to protection.
Impact Play as an Art Form
Finding the right balance of sensation, emotion, and neurological rhythm is what makes impact play an art form. It requires sensitivity, skill, and tuning in with your partner. The goal is not to simply create pain - but to build an experience that allows the body to transform it into something else: pleasure, catharsis, release, or connection.
