The feelings typically associated with a new, romantic relationship apparently can reduce pain, or at least its perception, according to a new study entitled “Viewing Pictures of a Romantic Partner Reduces Experimental Pain:  Involvement of Neural Reward Systems” appearing online at PlosOne.Com. Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine studied 15 participants (all right-handed students, 8 women and 7 men, between the ages of 19 and 21 years) in their first 9 months of a romantic relationship. Each student described him or herself as “intensely in love.”

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Brain activity from the individuals in the group was measured as they experienced heat-induced (thermal) pain from a computer-controlled device on the palm of their hands. Using photographs of the people identified by the members in the group as the object of their intense love, the study concluded that the reaction to these images acted like a painkiller, blocking physical pain in a similar way to morphine or cocaine.

According to the study’s abstract:  “The early stages of a new romantic relationship are characterized by intense feelings of euphoria, well-being, and preoccupation with the romantic partner. Neuroimaging research has linked those feelings to activation of reward systems in the human brain. The results of those studies may be relevant to pain management in humans, as basic animal research has shown that pharmacologic activation of reward systems can substantially reduce pain. Indeed, viewing pictures of a romantic partner was recently demonstrated to reduce experimental thermal pain. . . . Participants completed three tasks under periods of moderate and high thermal pain: 1) viewing pictures of their romantic partner, 2) viewing pictures of an equally attractive and familiar acquaintance, and 3) a word-association distraction task previously demonstrated to reduce pain. The partner and distraction tasks both significantly reduced self-reported pain, although only the partner task was associated with activation of reward systems. . . . The results suggest that the activation of neural reward systems via non-pharmacologic means can reduce the experience of pain.”

To read the entire study, click here.