Superstition, which dulls the pain – fingers crossed – The Jewish Times

2015-03-30 20:25

Tatiana Luzianskaya

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The researchers decided to look at next popular superstition – fingers crossed. It turned out this gesture not only “saves from the evil eye,” but also dulls the pain.

British scientists have proved that fingers crossed allow people to dull the sensation of pain. A new study by researchers from University College London shows that not all superstitions are unscientific. It turns out that the Christian tradition helps to confuse the brain and reduce pain. British researchers advise: next time, hitting myself with a hammer on the fingers, simply their scratches. This study, according to scientists, can alleviate the plight of the chronically ill.

Supervisor Patrick Haggard believes that “pain sensations can be manipulated by moving some parts of the body in relation to the others.” Remembered classic trick “illusion grill” the famous Swedish doctor Thunberg. He invented the illusion of a century ago, causing a sense of phantom pain. The essence of the “focus”: take two container – with hot and cold water, asked the participants to experience blindfolded and lowered his index and ring fingers in warm liquid and the average – in the cold. A short time later people will start to feel the searing pain of the middle finger.

An improved method: take a hot and cold meat products and, alternating with each other, gently put on the table. Then ask participants to experience put his hand on sausages and wait until he cry out from the harsh and unpleasant pain. The same feeling we experience when a frost my hands under cold water. Painful sensations arise because brain is tricked difference temperature signals.

Scientists have attached to the fingers experiment participants special equipment to create the feeling cold and warmth. The effect was like a trick “grill illusion.” The subjects felt pain not related to physical damage to the skin.
researchers found when participants experience crossed the middle finger with the index or ring, feeling the pain disappeared. Back pain, if researchers cooled the ring and index fingers of the subjects.

Conclusion authors of the study is simple and fabulous at the same time. The brain is not only processes the temperature data from each finger, and thus allows for more of their position in space, and the order or arrangement of the arm. Bottom line – crossing fingers frees no phantom, but from a real pain.