How Do Neurons Respond to Placebos? - Schooled by Science
Doctors found a way to use placebos to harness the power of expectation to reduce the amount of medication needed to treat Parkinson’s disease.
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Expectation is a powerful force in the brain. Pavlov’s dogs, for example, were conditioned over time to expect food any time they heard the ringing of a bell. Their brains signaled their bodies to respond to the bell in the same way they would respond to food – with increased salivation.
Now, the power of expectation is being harnessed to reduce the amount of medication needed to treat Parkinson’s disease. Scientists have discovered they can train patients’ neurons to respond to placebos the same way they respond to the dopamine-stimulating drug apomorphine, which is used in the treatment of the disease. (Click the link above to keep reading).
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