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January 12, 2005
BBC: Volunteers are to undergo torture to see if faith eases pain
Dr Alison Gray, a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: "The experience of pain depends on biological factors such as the amount of tissue damage and release of natural pain killers - endorphins - in the brain.
"We know anecdotally that religious believers can tolerate great pain when there is a specific purpose, and I would speculate that this would operate via endorphin release.
"Religious practices such as prayer and meditation release endorphins and would in theory increase the pain threshold.
BBC NEWS | Health | Torture to uncover brain secrets
Posted by thdyck on January 12, 2005
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