The Placebo Effect: The Healing Powers of the Brain
Dr. Liron Rozenkrantz's research examines how beliefs and expectations affect our health, and how they can be harnessed to improve the effectiveness of medications
The placebo effect is a common human phenomenon where people experience an improvement in symptoms after receiving a dummy treatment. Dr. Liron Rozenkrantz, head of the Laboratory for Psycho-Biology of Beliefs at the Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, is studying the impact of placebos on the brain to better understand how our brain influences healing processes and general health. The conclusions of this research open up new possibilities for potential applications in improving drug efficacy and medicine in general.
"Our brain is much more than a passive information processor," explains Dr. Rozenkrantz. "Studies show that the brain actively generates predictions about what we are about to experience. This process affects not only our perception of the world but also the body's physiological responses, so our expectations and beliefs about what is going to happen to us directly influence how the brain processes information and how it responds to stimuli."
"For example, when a person expects pain relief, a process occurs in the brain even before receiving the actual treatment," describes Dr. Rozenkrantz. "The brain begins to release natural pain-relieving substances, known as endogenous opioids, and the pain decreases even before the drug has begun to take effect." According to her, research shows that placebo effects are not limited to pain sensation and that similar responses occur in a wide range of medical conditions. "This process demonstrates how expectations can lead to real biological changes in the body."
Research in the field of the placebo effect opens up exciting new horizons in medical and psychological applications. Dr. Rozenkrantz and her team are investigating how these insights can be harnessed beyond the traditional clinical context, and one promising direction is improving the efficacy of existing treatments. "We are examining how we can incorporate our understanding of the placebo effect to enhance the effectiveness of drugs," explains Dr. Rozenkrantz. "This could lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects."
Another research direction focuses on what is called "Open Label Placebo." "This innovative approach examines the possibility of providing patients with a placebo treatment with full knowledge that it is a placebo. The initial results are surprising and encouraging," says Dr. Rozenkrantz. "We see that even when people know they are receiving a placebo, it can still have a positive effect on their symptoms."
Beyond treating symptoms, the research is also expanding into areas of performance improvement and general well-being. "We are examining how beliefs and expectations can affect different body systems, such as the metabolic and immune systems," says Dr. Rozenkrantz. "We even have studies showing an impact on cognitive abilities like creativity."
Research in the field of the placebo effect emphasizes the importance of the close connection between mind and body and the enormous influence that beliefs and expectations have on our health. "We are approaching an era of personalized medicine, not just at the genetic level, but also at the psychological level," says Dr. Rozenkrantz.
The insights emerging from this research open up exciting possibilities for improving medical treatments and quality of life. They offer new ways to understand and harness our body's natural healing abilities, combining traditional medicine with a deeper understanding of the power of the mind. While there is still a long way to go, research in this field promises to change the way we approach health, illness, and healing. It highlights the central role each of us has in our own healing process and opens the door to a more holistic approach to health and well-being.