A patient with chronic back pain undergoes a spinal cord stimulation trial. If the gate control theory explains the therapy's efficacy, which mechanism is most likely?

💡 Explanation

Spinal cord stimulation modulates pain via the gate control theory; it activates non-nociceptive A-beta fibers, which inhibit nociceptor signal transmission in the dorsal horn because this closes the 'gate' to pain signals. Therefore, stimulation inhibits pain, rather than opioid receptor activation or other mechanisms.

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