Summary: A new study shows that the rubber hand illusion can reduce the intensity of pain caused by heat. Researchers found that when participants viewed a rubber hand being illuminated…
Tag: pain
Nature’s Painkiller: How Virtual Scenes Ease Pain in the Brain
Summary: Viewing natural scenes can significantly reduce how people perceive pain, a new neuroimaging study has found. Researchers discovered that participants reported less pain and exhibited altered brain activity associated…
How CBD Modulates THC’s Impact on the Brain
Summary: Researchers have identified how CBD interacts with cannabinoid receptors to mitigate the negative effects of THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. Unlike THC, which fully activates the receptor and…
Empathy Peaks in Young Adults
Summary: A new study reveals that young adults show the strongest empathic responses to others in physical or social pain, compared to adolescents and older adults. Researchers measured brain activity…
Why does it hurt when you get a scrape? A neuroscientist explains the science of pain
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]. “How come you feel pain…
Depression Linked to Increased Menstrual Pain
Summary: Depression may increase the risk of menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea, through mechanisms such as sleep disturbances. Using genetic analysis, researchers found that depression likely causes period pain, rather than…
Opioid-free surgery treats pain at every physical and emotional level
The opioid crisis remains a significant public health challenge in the United States. In 2022, over 2.5 million American adults had an opioid use disorder, and opioids accounted for nearly…
Listening to Music After Surgery Lowers Pain and Anxiety
Summary: A new study suggests that listening to music after surgery can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, and even heart rate, aiding recovery. An analysis of 35 studies found that patients…
Endometriosis pain leads to missed school and work in two-thirds of women with the condition, new study finds
More than two-thirds of women with endometriosis missed school or work due to pain from the condition, in a study of more than 17,000 women between the ages of 15…
Morphine’s Pain Relief Mechanism Unveiled
Summary: Researchers have uncovered how morphine relieves pain by activating a specific group of neurons in the brain, termed the ‘morphine ensemble.’ These neurons, located in the rostral ventromedial medulla…
