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When in pain...keep your fingers crossed?

This story about a research study in the United Kingdom is interesting...it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "keep your fingers crossed." According to the article, the test subjects were exposed to a phantom pain sensation known as thermal grill illusion, and asked to cross their fingers, and uncross their fingers.  It is believed that crossing of the fingers causes brain confusion and helps to reduce pain like sensation.

Thermal Grill
Image source: Flickr


What does this mean for future pain sufferers?  It's not really clear but the concept of using finger crossing or select body postures to relieve pain may come in handy!

Here is an excerpt about thermal grill illusion--you can read in entirety by clicking here.


"The ‘thermal grill illusion’ refers to paradoxical sensations of heat and pain, resulting from simultaneous application of interlaced warm and cold stimuli to the skin. It provides an interesting model of integrative mechanisms in the nervous system, supposed to be relevant in explaining the hypersensitivity found in chronic pain of unclear etiology...."  

Sources: NHS News (UK); ScienceDirect;Flickr



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