研究：看戀人照片可減輕疼痛
Photographs of loved ones have the power to dull pain, scientists have discovered。
Researchers found that an image of a romantic partner dulls activity in the pain-processing areas of the brain, to the same degree as paracetamol or narcotics such as cocaine。
A study by Stanford University found direct evidence linking feelings of emotional attachment with the soothing of pain。
The brains of lovestruck students were subjected to MRI scans as they focused on photographs of partners while varying levels of heat pain were applied to their skin。
Neuroscientist Jarred Younger found, on average, pain was reduced by between 36 and 44 per cent, with intense discomfort eased by up to 13 per cent。
In a study published in the US journal Public Library of Science, the post-doctoral scholar said: 'The reduction of pain is associated with higher, cortical parts of the brain。
'Love-induced analgesia is much more associated with the reward centres。
'The region tells the brain that you really need to keep doing this. This tells us that you don't have to just rely on drugs for pain relief。
'People are feeling intense rewards without the side effects of drugs.'
In a separate analysis, psychologists studied 25 women and their boyfriends of more than six months, subjecting them to different levels of pain, using a sharp, prickling sensation。
During the various 'stimulations', the women either held their boyfriend's hand or the hand of a male stranger, both of whom were hidden behind a curtain。
In other cases, the women were asked to view a photograph of their boyfriend, or a picture of a male stranger while being subjected to discomfort。
Researchers at the University of California, where the study took place, discovered the women showed significantly reduced pain experience while holding their partner's hand。
But surprisingly, the photograph of their romantic partner provided equally effective pain relief, and both cases were far greater than when a stranger was involved。科學家發現，戀人的照片有減輕疼痛的功效。
研究人員發現，戀人的照片可以減弱大腦中疼痛處理區的活動，起到類似於撲熱息痛片或者可卡因等麻醉劑的作用。
斯坦福大學的一項研究發現了證明情感依戀和減輕疼痛有關的直接證據。
在研究中，研究人員在熱戀中的學生皮膚上進行不同程度的燒灼刺激，要求他們集中精力看他們戀人的照片，同時用磁核共振成像拍攝了他們大腦的活動情況。
神經系統科學家賈雷德•雅戈爾發現，平均來說，這些學生的疼痛感降低了36%到44%，而強烈的不適感減輕了約13%。
在一項發表在美國《公共科學圖書館》期刊上的研究中，博士後學者雅戈爾說：“疼痛感的減輕與大腦皮質上層有關。
“愛情的鎮痛作用更多地和獎勵中樞有關。
“獎勵中樞會告訴大腦將當前的行爲繼續下去，這說明我們不一定只能依靠藥品來鎮痛。
“人們可以強烈地感受到獎勵，而不需要承擔藥品的副作用。”
在一個獨立研究中，心理學家研究了25位女性和她們的男朋友，這些戀人交往的時間都超過了6個月。研究人員讓這些人經歷了不同程度的尖銳的刺痛感。
在不同的疼痛刺激中，研究人員要求她們握着男友或是一位陌生男人的手，與此同時男人們都藏在簾子後面。
而在其他的實驗中，研究人員要求這些女性在承受疼痛的同時，看着她們的男友或是一名陌生男子的照片。
該研究是在加州大學進行的，該大學的研究人員發現女性在握着她們戀人的手時，疼痛感明顯減輕了。
但是令人驚訝的是，看着她們戀人的照片也能起到同樣的鎮痛效果，不過如果對方是個陌生男性，則無論是握手還是看照片，效果都遠不及此。
