European Salon de News, Discussion et Klatsch - 1 October | 174 comments (173 topical, 1 editorial, 0 hidden)

Religious belief can help relieve pain, say resear (4.00 / 4)

The Guardian | 1.10.2008

Scientists have uncovered an ancient and elaborate source of pain relief that is based purely on the power of the mind, according to research published today.
Brain scans of volunteers who were subjected to electrical shocks revealed that Roman Catholics felt less pain than atheists and agnostics when they were shown a painting of the Virgin Mary.

They also tested them with the Mona Lisa. I wonder what would have happened with a picture of Darwin?

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Wed Oct 1st, 2008 at 04:28:33 AM EST
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Re: Religious belief can help relieve pain (none / 1)

gk:

electrical shocks

I read that as 'electoral shocks'.

Isn't this research just slightly odd? Someone must have thought 'I know - we'll plug Catholics into the mains, show them pictures of the virgin mary, and see if they feel less pain.'

Okay.

Even stranger is that there may have been grant money for it.

More seriously, it seems to be evidence for just how deep symbolic imprinting can be.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Oct 1st, 2008 at 06:38:00 AM EST
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Re: Religious belief can help relieve pain (none / 1)

Even stranger is that there may have been grant money for it.

I don't know what the convention is in this field, but the abstract doesn't list any funding agencies. Two of the authors are from medical departments, two are theologians, and two are philosphers.

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Wed Oct 1st, 2008 at 06:50:43 AM EST
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European Salon de News, Discussion et Klatsch - 1 October | 174 comments (173 topical, 1 editorial, 0 hidden)