It seems that the way in which we perceive time is able to speed up wound healing. Check out the latest reports about this below.
Time perception can affect wound healing, new reports say
Researchers have found that the time taken by wounds to heal is influenced by a person’s mentality. According to psychologists at Harvard University, healing occurs faster when a person thinks that time is passing quickly. The findings support the idea of a two-way relationship between the mind and body.
The researchers believe that more attention should be given to psychological factors when treating injuries and illnesses.
Although scientists are still trying to understand the impact of mental attitude on physical health, this study shows that the relationship between the brain and body is more complex than previously thought.
“Based on the theory of mind-body unity – which posits simultaneous and bidirectional influences of mind on body and body on mind – we hypothesized that wounds would heal faster or slower when perceived time was manipulated to be experienced as longer or shorter respectively,” write the researchers in their published paper.
Aungle and Langer conducted a study with 33 participants who underwent a controlled cupping therapy process to create bruises on their skin. This allowed the researchers to observe a minor wound.
The volunteers were subjected to the therapy three times, once in a Normal Time scenario that lasted 28 minutes, once in a Slow Time scenario that lasted 28 minutes but was designed to feel like 14 minutes, and once in a Fast Time scenario that lasted 28 minutes but was designed to feel like 56 minutes.
To change the perception of time, the researchers employed various techniques such as altering timer speeds, showing videos, and varying the frequency with which the participants were asked about their wounds.
“Although the actual elapsed time was 28 min in all three conditions, significantly more healing was observed in the Normal Time condition compared to the Slow Time condition, in the Fast Time condition compared to the Normal Time condition, and in the Fast Time condition compared to the Slow Time condition,” write the authors.
