Final answer:
One becomes aware of pain after a reflex response due to the time it takes for sensory neurons to communicate the pain signal to the cerebral cortex. Initially, a reflex arc allows for a quick withdrawal before the full sensation of pain is experienced once the brain processes the signal.
Step-by-step explanation:
One becomes aware of pain even after the initial reflex response because the signals related to the pain are eventually communicated to the brain, after they are first processed at the spinal cord level. This processing time can result in a delayed conscious perception of pain due to the time it takes for sensations to travel along the neurons to the cerebral cortex. Sensory neurons in the skin register the pain and send a signal through the spinal cord to the brain, where the perception of pain becomes conscious.
The presence of reflex arcs allows for a quicker, involuntary reaction to painful stimuli, circumventing the need to send signals all the way to the brain. This is crucial for protective responses, but the full pain experience, including its emotional and cognitive aspects, occurs after the brain processes the information. For instance, pulling your finger away from a hot stove is a reflex, but the aching you feel afterward is due to signals reaching your brain.
Moreover, the propagation of the axon potential is the mechanism by which electrical signals travel down the neuron. This process influences the speed at which sensory information, like pain, reaches the brain for perception.