Photographs Relieve Physical Pain

Viewing a photograph of a loved one can relieve physical pain sensations, according to a new study published in Psychological Science. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that under certain circumstances, looking at the photo can be more effective in reducing pain than actually having the person present.

The psychologists brought in 25 women with steady boyfriends and had them rate the pain they experienced from a tool that applied heat to their forearms. The women also rated their pain while holding the hand of a stranger hidden behind a curtain, and as they held their boyfriend’s hand or a squeeze ball.

When the women looked at photographs of their boyfriends, they rated the pain the lowest. Sarah L. Master, the lead author of the study, said that looking at the photo could trigger the release of endogenous opioids, chemicals in the brain that have pain-relieving effects.

AUTHOR: Annette Hulbert