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Dr. Zafirides
189 Posts |
 Posted - 11/07/2012 : 08:16:30
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Hi Everyone,
I thought this study would be of interest to you. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that emotions (in this case, math anxiety) activated pain centers in the brain, resulting in painful physical symptoms.
http://www.thehealthymind.com/2012/11/05/worrying-about-math-activates-pain-centers-in-the-brain/
It is always good to see research being done into mind-body connection between emotions and pain.
I hope the information is helpful to you.
Kindly,
Dr. Zafirides
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Peregrinus
250 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2012 : 10:09:04
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Dr. Z:
Being a mathematician and finding great enjoyment in doing math (even though I am retired) I have always been skeptical about so-called math anxiety. I can assure you that the subjects in the study were not doing math! “Verifying equations” sounds more like arithmetic. Arithmetic is no more mathematics than is breaking rocks geology. Arithmetic is simply executing an algorithm: similar to posting a letter. I think that the reason people hate arithmetic is that errors are often obvious and costly. They can’t talk themselves out of it (I’m sure Bill Clinton hates arithmetic).
I also think that we should be dubious of any study that uses “brain scans”. Brain scans do not generate reproducible data. They generate images which the researcher then interprets. These studies never seem to use double blind protocols. The researcher knows what he wants the brain scan to show and glory be he is usually successful (and gets his grant renewed).
I think that arithmetic anxiety is a consequence of a more subtle psychological event: that being the revelation of a false identity. Some people see themselves as exceptionally important and paragons of wisdom. If arithmetic reveals them to lack the mental capacity of a fifth grader a traumatic psychological event results. Arithmetic becomes something they avoid at all costs.
All the best! |
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Dr. Zafirides
189 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2012 : 13:34:14
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Peregrinus,
Points well taken. Let me also add, another limitation of the study is the small sample size.
With all of that in mind, it was interesting to see the insula implicated here. This area of the brain is being implicated in other similar studies that are studying pain. I had talked about it a bit on a podcast a few months ago after I had gone to a lecture given by Dr. Vladimir Maletic.
The insula is the part of the brain that scans the environment for any changes, ostensibly as vigilance for a threat. When individuals are stressed, there is increased activity (ie. metabolism) in this area of the brain. I believe both PET scans and FMRI scans have validated this finding. This may be why, for example, we tend to be more sensitive to noise (a ticking clock or noise outside our window) when we are cramming for a test. The activity in the insula is increased and we are sensitive to all stimuli, thus, we "hear" the ticking clock more when stressed about a test rather than we are relaxed, reading the latest post on TheHealthyMind.com :) :) :)
The insula looks for changes not only externally, but internally as well. In fact this is the current hypothesis for why we may feel pain more when we are stressed (depressed, anxious). There may be existing pain that is present (TMS based or not), but the hyperactivity of the insula "amplifies" the pain signals - much like the ticking clock while we are studying.
I appreciate your thoughts on brain scans, but anatomy is anatomy. To me, it isn't the findings themselves that are the most vulnerable to bias, but the inference (or implication) of causality based on the images. We must always be thoughtful and critical when it comes to that.
As it relates to TMS, I don't doubt that people have disc bulges, annular rents, spondylolistheses, scoliosis, etc. as read out by the radiologist. These are simply the actual anatomic findings. The problem (tragedy) is when one implies causality - those real anatomic findings CAUSE the pain. There is the big leap...and where bias can cloud (and has clouded) the truth.
Again, great points. I really appreciate - and look forward to - your perspective, Peregrinus.
Kindly,
Dr. Z |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2012 : 17:48:09
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| WOW, that,s a pretty interesting conversation between you two, you can learn a lot of interesting stuff hanging around this joint. |
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Worrying Activates Pain Centers in Brain, Study
