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A romantic partner doesn't necessarily need to physically comfort you for their image to have an effect.
Researchers studied people who were in the early stages of romantic relationships while exposing them to controlled thermal pain.
Looking at a photograph of their romantic partner significantly reduced reported pain.
Brain imaging showed activity in reward-related regions while participants viewed their partner.
Interestingly, distraction also reduced pain, but it involved different neural processes.
A favorite photo of someone you love can apparently influence more than your mood.
© PLOS ONE — Stanford University School of Medicine