A Harvard University study has shown that perceiving time can speed up or slow down physical healing, suggesting that there is a strong mind-body connection in health.
According to a new study by Harvard psychologists Peter Aungle and Ellen Langer, perceptual time has a significant impact on the actual time it takes for a body wound.
Their research, published last month in Nature Scientific Reports, challenges conventional notions about the effects of the mind on physical health. The results of the study suggest that the range of psychological effects is broader than currently understood.
To delve into the study, the authors carefully orchestrated a standardized process that inflicted minor harm on volunteer subjects. Subsequently, in the laboratory, each participant in the study underwent three different experimental conditions through clever manipulation of perceptual time: slow time (05x), normal time (1x the real-time speed), and fast time (2x the real-time speed).
Starter Support Program Interestingly, wounds seemed to heal faster when subjects felt that time was passing more slowly. Conversely, when the subject felt that time was passing quickly, the healing process appeared to be slower. It is important to note that although the perceived time of the subjects varied, in fact, the amount of time elapsed was the same in each condition.
Further research is ongoing to better understand the underlying mechanisms and broader implications of these findings. At the same time, the study makes a compelling case for more fully incorporating the concept of "unity" of mind and body into subsequent investigations of the impact on physical and mental health. In particular, researchers are urged to consider the broader psychological impact on physical health.
The impact of the mind on physical health is often understood as an impact on mood (e.g., stress, inflammation, and immune function) and behavior (e.g., beliefs that promote healthy behaviors). This study shows that abstract beliefs about how our bodies work also have a direct impact on physical health.
Reference: Peter Aungle and Ellen Langer, "Physical Healing as a Function of Perceptual Time," December 17, 2023, Scientific Reports.
doi： 10.1038/s41598-023-50009-3