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Fortunately, when pain gets too extreme, it flips a breaker of sorts in your brain and you stop feeling it so much. Happens during really catastrophic trauma, presumably to keep the pain from distracting you too much from your (at that point probably necessary) fight or flight reactions.
Adrenaline is part of it, but I don't think it's solely responsible, as its not always present in accounts. Sometimes people can be very calm.
That's why psychological torture is preferred by a lot of "advanced interrogators".
Keep someone locked in the same uncomfortable position for days while you're blasting aggressive disorienting sounds and randomly flashing blinding lights in a room with mirrors.
Once in a while, take them and do a few hours of water boarding. Make sure they're constantly sleep deprived and can never get more than a few minutes of sleep.
Then when you do want to inflict physical pain, focus on the feet very slowly. Feet is one of the most sensitive areas. Slowly start peeling the skin or stick nails through the toes, or practice some electroshock therapy.
Honestly torture is terrifying. I recently read a long form article about it. Worst part is, our "civilized" governments still do this with some amount of regularity. Would be more civilized to put a bullet in the head.
Then think about near future where we can read thoughts (like 1984 where the "advanced interrogator" reads the protagonists mind to figure out what his greatest fear is) or even worse implant thoughts. They could implant images of you murdering your family or something. There's a lot of potential for some horrifying stuff.
Where did you get to know this? I want to read about it
That's why in some science fiction, see Warhammer 40K, they have technology that let you keep on feeling that pain long after you should be well and thoroughly dead. Honestly I'm not sure who's better at it, the Imperium or the Dark Eldar.
The cartel kinda did this in Funkytown, they hooked the guy up to an adrenaline IV so he would remain conscious while they skinned him.
So perhaps the most painful death would be just before that threshold.
I've seen some nasty videos I'd rather forget where they scream and cry all the way through it.
Calm is just a shock response to stop you from spurting out all your blood. It's the exact opposite of an adrenal reaction
That's also different than your brain dumping a bunch of neurotransmitters as you're dying. There's no advantage to that, it's just what happens as your brain dies.
Sure, makes sense. My postulation is that adrenaline is not the sole cause of decreased pain sensation during severe trauma, despite often getting the credit. Is that likely accurate in your estimation?
No, it's the dumping of neural transmitters as the brain dies.
Adrenaline is a painkiller, but you're not going to be juiced on adrenaline and calm. The calm is after
Is adrenaline the only pain-killing mechanism the brain has at its disposal?
What?
I just said it wasn't...
There's a whole bunch. Oxytocin, dopamine, really every endorphin is a painkiller.
I was just looking for clarification on how likely it is that adrenaline bears sole responsibility. Reading your earlier answers did not directly address this in a way I could understand. I think we've resolved it now though.