The four steps of pain, also known as the pain pathway, are:Transduction: The first step is the process by which noxious stimuli (such as tissue damage) are converted into electrical signals, or nerve impulses, by specialized nerve endings called nociceptors.Transmission: In this step, the nerve impulses generated by the nociceptors are transmitted via nerve fibers to the spinal cord and then to the brainstem and thalamus.Perception: The third step involves the brain’s interpretation of the incoming nerve impulses as pain. This is where the conscious experience of pain is generated, as the brain processes the information and creates a subjective experience of discomfort.Modulation: The final step involves the brain’s ability to modulate, or control, the pain experience through various mechanisms, such as the release of endorphins, the activation of descending pain pathways, or the use of analgesic drugs. This step can amplify or dampen the pain experience and also influence the body’s physiological response to pain.