Author:
Mark D. Holder - Okanagan University College
Phoebe E. Scotland - Okanagan University College
Author
Note:
This research was supported by a Grant In Aid from OUC awarded to Mark
Holder.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Mark D.
Holder, Department of Psychology, Okanagan University College, 3333
University Dr., Kelowna, BC, Canada V1V 1V7. E-mail: mholder@ouc.bc.ca.
Abstract:
The capacity of magnets to reduce pain sensitivity was assessed in 97 pain-free undergraduate students (71 women
and 26 men). Most participants received insoles that contained active or inactive magnets, and instructions designed
to influence their expectations of whether their insoles were active or inactive. Insoles were applied to the soles of
participants’ feet. A control group did not receive insoles. Pain was induced in two different ways: an ice bath of
0–2°C induced cold-pressor pain and a clamp-induced pressure pain. Pain perception was measured by latencies and
by participants’ ratings on visual analogue scales. Magnets did not increase latencies to pain threshold and tolerance
or decrease ratings of pain intensity and unpleasantness. A reverse placebo effect occurred for pressure pain threshold
latencies. Gender differences were consistent with previous research; compared with men, women rated the pressure
pain as more unpleasant.
