Chapter 19, Problem 46TS

Two different types of neurons transmit pain signals to the central nervous system. The faster type transmits signals at

25 m/s. The slower type transmits signals at 0.5 m/s. The distance from your hand to your central nervous system is

about 1 m. suppose that you touch a hot stove. Show that

you become aware of the first type of pain in 0.04 s, and

that you become aware of the second type of pain after only

2 s. (You may have noticed that when you do something like touch a hot stove, you fell a flash of sharp pain first, fol-

lowed by a slow throbbing pain.)