The Neurological Effect of Love on Pain

The Neurological Effect of Love on Pain

Learning Objectives

• At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand how feelings of love can act as a painkiller.
• At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain the different brain pathways that love and distraction act upon.
• At the end of the lesson, you will be able to describe the role of the nucleus accumbens in love-induced analgesia.

What do you already know about the neurological effect of love on pain?

The Study of Love's Effect on Pain

• Stanford University study
• Intense love can block pain
• Tested with photographs and mild pain
• Love-induced analgesia
• Activation of reward centers in the brain

The Role of the Nucleus Accumbens

• Key role in love-induced analgesia
• Associated with reward and addiction
• Activation by feelings of love
• Similar to opioids and cocaine

Comparison: Love vs. Distraction on Pain

• Both can reduce pain
• Act on different brain pathways
• Love-induced analgesia activates reward centers
• Distraction test diverts attention

Similarities to Addiction

• Nucleus accumbens involved in both
• Love and addiction activate similar brain regions
• Love-induced analgesia as powerful as drugs

Definitions

• Love-induced analgesia: The reduction of pain caused by feelings of love.
• Nucleus accumbens: A region in the brain associated with reward and addiction, playing a key role in love-induced analgesia.
• Distraction test: A method of reducing pain by diverting the brain's attention with simple mental tasks.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.