How the brain creates placebo effects and shapes emotional control
The neural bases of placebo effects and their relation to regulatory processes
['FUNDING_R37'] · DARTMOUTH COLLEGE · NIH-11138775
This project looks at how treatment cues and doctor–patient interactions change the brain to reduce pain, anxiety, and other symptoms.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DARTMOUTH COLLEGE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HANOVER, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11138775 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would join experiments where researchers give harmless 'placebo' treatments while measuring brain activity with scans and behavioral tests. The team studies how the words, gestures, and context around treatment change internal expectations and learning systems that control pain and emotions. Some parts of the work include people with pain, anxiety, mood, or substance-use problems and compare different kinds of interactions to see which produce lasting changes. The research combines brain imaging, psychological tasks, and controlled social interactions to identify placebo effects that could be used in therapy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with chronic pain, anxiety or mood disorders, or substance-use problems, and sometimes healthy volunteers who can attend MRI sessions at the study site.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to affective or pain-related brain systems, those who cannot undergo MRI, or those needing immediate medication changes may not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help doctors design interaction-based or cue-driven approaches that improve treatments for pain, anxiety, and addiction.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown placebo treatments can change brain activity and reduce pain, but translating those effects into lasting mental-health benefits is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
HANOVER, UNITED STATES
- DARTMOUTH COLLEGE — HANOVER, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: WAGER, TOR D. — DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
- Study coordinator: WAGER, TOR D.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.