1. The Placebo Effect
Takahide Morita

2. Outline
Conclusion

3. What is placebo?

4. Can Belief Cure People, a
nd How? Can We Control
the Placebo Effect? Why
Does it Work Well for Som
e People, but Not for Othe
rs? Can We Use It As a M
edicine, Also Ethically?

5. Brain

6. Jon-Kar Zubieta (2005)
PET Scan
(positron emission
Tomography)
http://www2.jyi.org/news/nb.php?id=429

7. endorphine(mu-opioid)
•
• Psychological
• ⇓
•
Physical
•
http://www.adhd-institute.com/Treatment/Medication-
based-therapy.aspx

8. Peter Trimmer (2012)
evolution?

9. Similar to Placebo
A switch
that kick
into action
the immune system

10. why not evolve the ability to get
better immediately on our own?
…to save energy. ⇒proven by
computer simulations

11. Ted Kaptchuk (2008)
Acupuncture treatment
for IBS
1, No treatment ⇒28%
Fake treatment
2, business-like
⇒44%
3, warm and supportive
⇒62%

12. Conclusion
Doctor as placebo

13. Thank you !