Can a fake, non-functioning ‘Sham Brain Scanner’ enable children with eczema, impulsivity, migraines, ADHD, anxiety and other neurological conditions to alleviate their own symptoms?
This was the research question that Jay Olson and colleagues have been exploring for the past few years at McGill University. Their approach was to build up layers of medical credibility in the minds of their participants, using an inactive MRI scanner, as well as an array of support props—such as lab coats, face masks, stethoscopes, digital tablets. Of course, the experience also took place in an actual hospital, with all the stereotypical institutional features you’d expect—long corridors, white walls, cleaning stations, quiet waiting areas, etc.
The whole performance intended to create a kind of neuro-enchantment in the participants' minds—a theatre of medicine that helped the children take on the expectation that the process they were undergoing would cure them of their ailments.
THE RESULTS
So far, Olson’s work has proven to be remarkably effective in alleviating his patients' symptoms. Not only is the ‘Sham Brain Scanner’ working, but its impact on patient health seems to persist, even after only one procedure! And remember, the disorders being treated using the Sham Brain Scanner are some of the most detrimental issues facing young people today.
THE POWER OF PLACEBOS
The neuro-enchanting influence of the ‘Sham Brain Scanner’ feels like a surprising finding, but should it be?
Perhaps not, especially when you remember that one of the most consistent and stable effects in medicine is the placebo effect—the psychological effects induced by an inert version of a pharmacological treatment.
Think about that for a moment….
The influence of the mind in the healing process is so strong and consistent that controlling for its effects has become a foundational standard protocol for all formal medical research done around the globe. To not have a placebo control group is now considered bad science.
And yet, researchers still know very little about how the placebo effect operates or how to influence it.
AMPLIFYING THE PLACEBO EFFECT
What researchers do know is that procedures that are perceived to be complicated and expensive tend to work better than simpler looking procedures. So machines like the ‘Sham Brain Scanner’ tend to create more potent placebo effects than injections, which in turn tend to produce more substantial effects than capsules or sugar pills. Larger pills also appear to have stronger effects than smaller pills.
And of course, as Olson and his colleagues found, being treated as a trustworthy and credible practitioner enclothed in a white lab coat with a visible stethoscope also contribute to the theatre of medicine, within which the expectation of healing emerges.
Additionally, the placebo effect appears to be strongly influenced by the cultural trends of the time. An excellent example of this is the rapidly increasing faith that people are placing in the healing potential of modern medicine, as Michael Brooks pointed out in his book, 13 Things That Don't Make Sense:
“Skeptics might argue that pharmaceutical companies will fight anything that casts their products in a dubious light - especially if it results in people using lower doses across the board - but the truth is that, for many drug companies, reliable information on the placebo effect can't come soon enough. To pass muster, a drug must outperform placebo. But a 2001 study of antidepressant drug trials showed that while drug efficacy is rising, placebo rates are rising faster. It's almost ironic; the factors behind this are many and varied, but a significant contributor is our society's knowledge of - and belief in - the power of medicines. The pharmaceutical industry's palpable success means that unless something radical happens, it could soon be, like the Red Queen, running to stand still.”
PLACEBOS: FROM COMPETITOR TO COMPLEMENT
The growing strength of placebos creates an interesting challenge for pharmaceutical companies who constantly have to prove that their treatment is more effective than the placebo control it is evaluated against.
The rising power of placebos creates an interesting dynamic where pharmaceutical companies see placebos as a sort of arch-nemesis during the trial phase—a villain set on stopping them from achieving their quest. The plot then twists if a treatment is able to make its way through the medical trials and out into the commercial world. At that point, the placebo effect becomes a powerful complement that pharmaceutical companies try and leverage as much as possible through expectation-inducing marketing, PR, and smart packaging.
A BRIDGE BETWEEN WORLDS
I’m just scratching the surface here. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be diving deep into the world of placebos, expectation, suggestion and the mind’s incredible ability to heal. I’ll also be sharing some personal stories of healing and attempt to build a bridge between scientific naturalism and the profound spiritual experiences that have led to such incredible healing so many people around the world.
Take care,
David
Share the love: If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing or forwarding it to family members, friends and colleagues. Are you that family member, friend or colleague? You can sign up for free here.
Let’s start a conversation: If you have any questions or thoughts on the content discussed in this post, let’s start a conversation. If you’re in your inbox, you can reply directly to this email. If you are on the Substack post, you can add a comment below.