Placebo Effects: Neurological Mechanisms Inducing Physiological, Organic, and Belief Responses-A Prospective Analysis.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) November 20, 2024 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12222314 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Addictions Belief systems Organic changes Placebo trials Randomized control trials Real-world evidence Therapeutic applications |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key findings | The placebo effect involves specific brain regions and can produce organic changes, with implications for understanding neurotransmitter modulation and challenging the validity of randomized controlled trials. |
Abstract
The placebo effect can induce physiological or clinical neurological and organic responses despite the recipient receiving no active ingredients; these responses are based instead on the recipient's perceptions. Placebo effects come from the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, pontine nucleus, and cerebellum of the brain; this information provides a better understanding of placebo effects and can also help us understand the mechanism of the modulation of neurotransmitters from the use of psychedelic substances, activity of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the process of transcranial magnetic stimulation, and deep brain stimulation, as well as aid in developing novel therapies, challenging the validity of controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that the regulatory agencies now appreciate. Education about how placebo effects bring in social, political, and religious beliefs and whether these can be modulated may help reduce global confrontations.