How does a placebo reduce pain? Our study led by Tamas Spisak suggests that the answer depends on how the placebo effect is induced. We combine brain imaging data from 16 studies involving 409 participants: Verbal suggestions & learning through experience recruit overlapping—but partly distinct—brain mechanisms.

Rather than reflecting inconsistency across studies, these differences provide important clues about the biology of placebo pain relief. The study also highlights the value of pooling participant-level neuroimaging data across labs. By embracing heterogeneity instead of treating it as a problem, we gain a richer understanding of how the brain supports pain relief—ultimately moving toward more personalized treatment approaches.

We are deeply grateful to all our collaborators for their willingness to share data, expertise, & ideas. Their commitment to open, transparent, & reproducible science made it possible to answer a question no single study could have addressed alone. More info: placebo-imaging-consortium.github.io