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Scientists at Stanford University have discovered that pictures of loved ones have the ability to ease pain.

The subjects were exposed to varying levels of heat pain while focusing on a photograph of their partner during an MRI scan.

The results show that emotional attachment is directly related to soothing pain and that an image of a partner provides a calming effect in the pain processing area of the brain. An effect that is similar to paracetamol or cocaine. On average pain was lessened by 36 to 44 percent, with intense discomfort being reduced by up to 13 percent.

(via Petapixel)