Wednesday, 20 October 2010
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Study Shows Love Relieves Pain
Sometimes it feels like there's nothing worse than heartbreak. However, love can also be the cure to physical pain according to a recent study.A Stanford graduate, along with a team of researchers conducted a study in which they tested 15 subjects who were in the first nine months of their relationship. Each subject was asked to bring in six photos: three of their loved one and three of an attractive acquaintance. The subjects' hands were heated in order to cause some degree of pain and they then were asked to look at the photos.
Because distractions are also said to relieve pain, the researchers compared the results of distracting the students with the results of showing them a photo of their loved one. They found that the distraction and the photo reduced pain by the same amount of 36% to 45% for moderate pain and 12% to 13% for high pain. They also observed that the photo of their acquaintance had no effect. The findings were published online in the journal PLoS ONE.
However, it was noted that the pain relieving effects of distraction and love happened in two different areas of the brain. "Love-induced analgesia was associated with the brain’s reward centers, while the pain relief resulting from distraction occurred mostly along cognitive pathways, the researchers said," according to The New York Times. It was also noted that the findings could lead to alternative treatments for people suffering from chronic pain.
No wonder so many people are in love with being in love!
What do you think? Are you buying this? Will you go find a new and exciting romance to relieve your pain?
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About the Author
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- From: JazmineGray@lovelyish
- About Me: I'm a 21 year old college student who is still learning about life. I have a passion for shopping, love and all things writing.
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Comments (11)
No, I feel as if I should somehow repair my love... . But that's not in my hands now is it :(
i believe that's true. it's like how whenever you're in love, or whenever you see someone in love, you're glowing and happy and can handle other situations better. the world seems brighter, and pain has no place in that light.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAME8GDRTfI&ob=av3e
desperately. It mustn't be.
I think its true.
Interesting, if I'm ever in pain for anything, I'll whip out a photo of my loved ones:)
Interesting but honestly, studies and statistics don't impress me too much. Sure they are interesting but that's really all. I wouldn't really take it to heart too much. Then why is my wisdom tooth still hurting then? lol jk
I've found that when my boyfriend kisses the area: my migraines hurt less, or my cramps hurt less, or my burned finger hurts less. In fact the pain can temporarily subside completely for up to 10 minutes, which in the case of minor injuries is all they last anyway. Is the affect permanent and definitely healing? No but distracting and most definitely appreciated.
And love is mentally healing as well. It is capable of lifting a person out of depression, random irritability, moodiness from a bad day, etc.