To Reduce Pain, Say “Ow”

“Ow, that hurts” apparently hurts less than just “that hurts,–” 20 percent less, to be precise. That’s the verdict from researchers at the National University of Singapore, where scientists asked 55 students to immerse one hand into ice-cold water. The students were then tested in five scenarios which included saying “ow”; sitting passively; pressing a button; listening to a recording of them saying “ow”; and listening to another person saying “ow”. The envelope please….The researchers found that participants who sat passively could keep their hand submerged for an average of 24 seconds. Saying “ow” increased the duration by about five seconds and pressing a button, by about four seconds. Hearing the word “ow”, whether from a pre-recorded voice of oneself or listening to another person, did not increase the time duration to keep their hand submerged.