In a recent study (Petrovic, Kalso, Peterson & Ingvar, 2002), subjects were exposed to a painful stimulus (heat to the hand) under three conditions: opiate medication, placebo (sugar pill) medication, and no medication. Brain scans indicated that a subject's experience of reduced pain with the placebo is due to

Question

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The study found that the brain regions activated by the placebo were overlapping with, but not identical to, those activated by opiate medication. This suggests that the placebo effect may involve similar neural mechanisms as the experience of pain relief with medication. Option A is incorrect because the brain regions activated by the placebo were not identical to those activated by opiate medication. Option C is incorrect because previous research has shown that placebos can activate brain regions associated with pain control. Option D is incorrect because the study did not compare the "no medication" condition to the placebo condition.

In a Recent Study (Petrovic, Kalso, Peterson & Ingvar, 2002)