Your brain modules at work
People with chronic pain were able to influence the pain by controlling activity in one of the pain centers of the brain. With new technology called real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging, or rtfMRI, researchers arranged for the people to watch "live" action images of an area of the brain responsible for processing pain. They used various mental strategies in a (successful) effort to influence the activity in that area and to alter their perception of the pain.
"We believe these subjects and patients really learned to control their brain and, through that, their pain," said Sean Mackey, MD, PhD, assistant professor of anesthesia and co-author of the study to be published in the Dec. 12 online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mackey said extensive controls were used in the study to make sure the results reflected a direct correlation between brain imaging and pain control. He warns that much more work is needed before the procedure can be used clinically.
Science Daily
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Earlier work had identified the particular region of the brain as important in processing pain. What this research showed is that “mental strategies” can influence this processing and thus the perception of pain. The research did not show that any particular “mental strategies” were generally effective. The people were apparently using the information about brain activity to tailor strategies to suit their needs. So this study will not provide any legitimate basis for people to market books and tapes that offer “mental strategies” to cure whatever ails you.
But there are more general implications for understanding brain modules. When people think of mental experiences as materializing from nothing, they may reasonable suppose that nothing can be done to influence them. But, as this study illustrates, mental experiences correspond to particular parts of the brain. Like muscles, those brain parts can warn up, get tired, operate without your attention, and change with practice. Unlike muscles, you can’t see them operate. You do see them operate in your mental experience, but you may not recognize their work.
Like muscles, you brain modules will do a reasonably good job with no special attention. And, like muscles, you can get somewhat better use out of them with a little special attention. You can think of that special attention as your collection of “mental strategies.”
How would you gather that collection of mental strategies? How do you know what to eat? You watch what other people eat. You notice their reactions. You smell it. You taste it. If you like it, you eat it. If you don’t like it you try something else. The Thinkerer has a starter set of strategies in the Tools venue. Free. Some of them are quick and easy. A brain buffet. Ready for sampling. Think of it as a “mental strategy” for exploring what works for your brain modules.
"We believe these subjects and patients really learned to control their brain and, through that, their pain," said Sean Mackey, MD, PhD, assistant professor of anesthesia and co-author of the study to be published in the Dec. 12 online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Mackey said extensive controls were used in the study to make sure the results reflected a direct correlation between brain imaging and pain control. He warns that much more work is needed before the procedure can be used clinically.
Science Daily
-----
Earlier work had identified the particular region of the brain as important in processing pain. What this research showed is that “mental strategies” can influence this processing and thus the perception of pain. The research did not show that any particular “mental strategies” were generally effective. The people were apparently using the information about brain activity to tailor strategies to suit their needs. So this study will not provide any legitimate basis for people to market books and tapes that offer “mental strategies” to cure whatever ails you.
But there are more general implications for understanding brain modules. When people think of mental experiences as materializing from nothing, they may reasonable suppose that nothing can be done to influence them. But, as this study illustrates, mental experiences correspond to particular parts of the brain. Like muscles, those brain parts can warn up, get tired, operate without your attention, and change with practice. Unlike muscles, you can’t see them operate. You do see them operate in your mental experience, but you may not recognize their work.
Like muscles, you brain modules will do a reasonably good job with no special attention. And, like muscles, you can get somewhat better use out of them with a little special attention. You can think of that special attention as your collection of “mental strategies.”
How would you gather that collection of mental strategies? How do you know what to eat? You watch what other people eat. You notice their reactions. You smell it. You taste it. If you like it, you eat it. If you don’t like it you try something else. The Thinkerer has a starter set of strategies in the Tools venue. Free. Some of them are quick and easy. A brain buffet. Ready for sampling. Think of it as a “mental strategy” for exploring what works for your brain modules.
posted by Selby Evans at 8:40 AM
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