Seeing is believing: how observing others eases your pain

NCT ID NCT03897998

First seen Apr 24, 2026 · Last updated Apr 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at how watching someone else experience pain relief can actually reduce your own pain. Researchers used brain scans to see which parts of the brain are involved in this 'observational learning' effect. 211 healthy adults participated, and the goal was to understand the brain mechanisms behind placebo-like pain reduction, not to test a new treatment.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Maryland

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21201-1512, United States

Conditions

Explore the condition pages connected to this study.