The Impact of Paracetamol on Mind and Behavior
In a study conducted by psychologists at the University of Guelph in Canada, researchers tested the effects on approximately 260 individuals, both men and women, who were given either 1000 mg of paracetamol or a placebo before participating in a virtual experiment where they had to walk on a wooden plank at extreme heights. Falling from this plank meant a fall from the top of an 80-story skyscraper.
As participants progressed, the wooden plank became less stable. Those who took paracetamol took 17% less time to initially step onto the plank, walked 23% faster across it, and had heart rates that were 14% lower compared to the placebo group.
The research team discovered that paracetamol reduces heart rate. They noted, “This effect could have significant implications for safety, as individuals taking paracetamol might act with less caution in threatening situations, making them more prone to speeding or making unsafe choices while driving, for example.”
The researchers suggested that “the drug might work by dulling the emotional evaluation of painful sensations, and this same mechanism might also affect other emotions like fear.”
Despite the popularity of paracetamol, how it reduces pain is not fully understood. Pain is
considered to have both sensory and emotional components, with paracetamol showing effects in
reducing activity in brain areas linked to emotion. This emotional aspect significantly influences
how we perceive pain. Previous studies have shown that in rare cases, when people suffer damage
to brain areas associated with emotion, they might not feel pain despite physically experiencing it.
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