Like Mind, Like Body What a Pain in the Brain! (Neuroscientist Tor Wager, PhD)
Aug 23, 2017
Dr. Tor Wager, a renowned neuroscientist and director of the Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab at CU Boulder, takes us on a mind-bending journey exploring the link between thoughts and physical pain. He reveals how placebo effects can dramatically alter pain perception, even triggering the brain's natural painkillers. With anecdotes from rock climbing, he illustrates how environmental context can suppress pain responses. Plus, he discusses the importance of positive engagement and growth mindsets in managing chronic pain. Tor’s insights truly highlight the incredible power of the mindbody connection.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Placebo Triggers The Brain's Pharmacy
- Placebo treatments can trigger endogenous opioid release in the brain, acting like an internal pharmacy.
- The brain uses these internal chemicals to decide how much pain one should feel given the situation.
Pain Is Context‑Dependent
- The brain weighs context: meaning, attention, and demands determine whether to amplify or suppress pain.
- This contextual evaluation helps the brain prioritize behavior over raw nociception.
Rope Burn Without Immediate Pain
- Tor Wager recounts a climber who caught a falling partner and felt no pain until he later saw his rope-burned hands down to the bone.
- The story illustrates how immediate environmental demands can suppress pain dramatically.
