The Power of the Placebo
(eVideo)

English

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on November 26, 2014.

Access Video On Demand is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Access requires authentication through Access Video On Demand.

Placebos come in all shapes and sizes and have been shown to help treat pain, depression, and alleviate some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. In this film, Horizon meets the scientists who are trying to find out why they work. From the man who performed fake operations to alleviate back pain to the scientist studying the effect of fake oxygen on physical performance, placebos have been shown to cause real and measurable physiological changes. A brain scan reveals that a placebo can encourage our bodies to release the naturally occurring pain killers in our brains. Tests show that the shape, size, and even the color of a placebo can all have an impact on its effectiveness. So what happens if we know it's a placebo? Surprisingly, it still seems to work.

9 & up.

Mode of access: Internet.

System requirements: Access Video On Demand playback platform.

Closed-captioned.