This is not surprising to me given that classical conditioning can produce a "placebo effect" in rats. In fact, now that I'm thinking about it, why can't any (classically) conditioned stimulus but regarded as a placebo?
Ed Sham pills may help us—even without the sham Sham pills, known as placebos, have been used in countless medical studies for decades. By comparing their effects to those of real medicines, researchers can discount the possibility that the true drugs work merely because the idea of having been treated makes us feel better. But researchers say they now seem to have made a surprise discovery. Not only do the fake pills truly make some patients feel improved—that much was already known—but they can even work when the doctors drop any pretense that this is real medicine. For more see http://www.world-science.net/othernews/101222_placebo.htm Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D. Department of Psychology West Chester University of Pennsylvania http://home.comcast.net/~epollak/home.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Husband, father, grandfather, biopsychologist, & bluegrass fiddler...... in approximate order of importance. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=7630 or send a blank email to leave-7630-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
