Avoid pain. Seek pleasure. Most of our lives can be reduced to these simple directives. It’s no wonder then that relief from pain is a primary motivational force in our lives and a multi billion dollar medical enterprise. But can we relieve pain with mere thought?

A recent study—

Researchers at Stanford University and MRI technology company Omneuron have shown success in reducing pain using only realtime brain imaging and thought—

During neuroimaging therapy, patients are able to watch the activity in their own brain moment by moment using real-time functional MRI (rtfMRI), and are taught to use that information to control activation in key areas of their brain, such as regions involved in pain perception or pain regulation. This may ultimately lead to a novel method to decrease pain. The approach is non-invasive and does not require drugs or radiation exposure. (Read more.)

Stanford professor Sean Mackey, who co-authored the report published last week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, claims this to be the first evidence that humans can take control of a specific region of the brain, and thereby decrease pain. This may be true, but it’s certainly not the first evidence that meditation, or self-observation of the processes of mentation, can be used to control levels of pain.

Contemplative traditions throughout history have also asserted this to be true. One example can be found in the teachings of Advaita Vedanta master Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, who often whittled away at the experience of life to find our basic spiritual “truth” through the observation and questioning, of our basic assumptions about life (I refer the reader to explore his collection of his talks entitled I Am That—it is a razor sharp, no bullshit, spiritual classic and an all-time personal favorite). His method of enquiry brings to mind a similar, much less mediated, examination of pain.

Today science looks towards the brain as the container of thought. (Yes, there are other theories, e.g., Dr. Rupert Sheldrake postulates that the brain is only a tuning device and thought-forms and memories exist outside of it). And science looks to computers to observe the brain. Rather than observing things directly, we prefer to stare at screens displaying images and representations. So the research is fitting, extremely promising, and perhaps a bit ironic in the degree of abstraction necessary for science to make use of the mechanisms of the mind. But it works. “Neuroimaging therapy” is a welcome alternative to traditional medical solutions for pain management.

News about the study—

Wired News: Think Away The Pain

Science Daily: Rein For Pain Lays Mainly In The Brain

Yahoo News: Study Investigates New Technology Approach That May Help Patients Learn to Control the Brain to Manage Chronic Pain Without Surgery or Drugs

Quotes About Pain From Nisargadatta Maharaj—

“If you are angry or in pain, separate yourself from anger and pain and watch them. Externalization is the first step to liberation.”

“The very search for pleasure is the cause of pain.”

“Give up the desire for pleasure and you will not even know what is pain.”

“The world is the abode of desires and fears. You cannot find peace in it. For peace you must go beyond the world. The root cause of the world is self-love. Because of it we seek pleasure and avoid pain.”

The above quotes are culled from here.