system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: When you hurt your toe (for instance), why does holding the painful toe with your hands make the pain less?

Yes, I just hit my little to against the doorpost.
gpt
It’s due to what is called the “gate control theory.” Simply put, the “ouchie” signal and the “not-ouchie” signals meet in your spinal cord, and can only send one signal to the brain. The non-painful signal (holding or touching) always wins, dampening the pain signal.