If a descending inhibitory pathway from the brainstem is damaged, which consequence follows regarding nociceptor activity in response to a peripheral stimulus?

💡 Explanation

Damage to descending inhibitory pathways impairs the descending modulation of pain signals because this removes the inhibition of nociceptor activity at the spinal cord level, leading to enhanced pain signal transmission. Therefore, pain perception increases rather than decreases because descending pathways normally suppress nociceptive input.

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