Amy Baxter: How to hack your brain when you're in pain

How to hack your brain when you're in pain

Have we misunderstood pain? Researcher and physician Amy Baxter unravels the symphony of connections that send pain from your body to your brain, explaining practical neuroscience hacks to quickly block those signals. Her groundbreaking research offers alternatives for immediate pain relief -- without the need for addictive opioids. (Followed by a Q&A with TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers)

Chasing total pain relief has fueled an opioid crisis and left people suffering when 'pain-free' proved impossible. Pain is not just a signal to silence but a complex learning system that involves the brain, body, fear, and control. Experimenting with tools like vibration, cold, and focused distraction can block pain signals and change the experience. Even a cold beer and a creative brain hack outperformed powerful drugs in moments of acute pain, showing that practical options can put people back in charge.

Pain-Free Is A Myth—Control And Context Shape How We Hurt

Pain is not just a symptom to silence but a complex learning system that helps humans survive and adapt. The quest for a 'pain-free' existence fueled an opioid crisis, leaving many vulnerable to addiction after routine prescriptions, as seen when 90 pills were sent home with a post-surgery patient. New neuroscience reveals pain is shaped by physiology, fear, and control, and can be eased with layered strategies like cold, vibration, and focused distraction. Understanding these options empowers people to manage discomfort without relying on addictive drugs.