 ↩

[3] These numbers are what companies report about their internal candidates. And the numbers vary widely between companies (they report fire rates, for example, as low as 1% and as high as 30%). The numbers are significantly better for Triplebyte candidates. So far, our candidates at companies have received offers after 53% of interviews, and 2% have been fired.↩ How Meditation, Placebos And Virtual Reality Help Power 'Mind Over Body'

Enlarge this image toggle caption Jutta Kuss/Getty Images Jutta Kuss/Getty Images

While researching the book Cure, science writer Jo Marchant wanted to understand how distraction could be used to nullify pain, so she participated in a virtual reality experiment.

During the first part of the experiment, Marchant sat, without distraction, with her foot in a box of unbearably hot water. "It felt like a very intense burning pain on my foot when I just experienced it on its own," Marchant tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross.

But then Marchant put on noise-canceling headphones and began to play a snow-and-ice-themed immersive video game that had been developed specifically for burn patients. This time, when the researcher applied the same burning pain to her foot, she barely noticed it.

Enlarge this image toggle caption Garry Simpson/Crown Garry Simpson/Crown

"The researchers explained it as our brains only have a certain capacity for attention," Marchant says. "If you've got something that's really commanding your attention, there's less attention left over for experiencing the pain."

During the course of her research, Marchant also investigated the science behind the placebo effect, hypnosis, meditation, prayer and conditioning. She says that the healing power of the brain could offer a powerful complement to modern medicine. "That's a whole different approach to pain that I think tells us that drugs aren't the only answer," she says.

Interview Highlights

On harnessing the placebo effect to feel better

Cure A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body by Jo Marchant Hardcover, 300 pages | purchase close overlay Buy Featured Book Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?

One thing that people often don't realize about the placebo effect is there isn't just one placebo effect. There are many, depending on what we think a treatment is going to do for us. So,
↩ 

 [ 3 ] These numbers are what companies report about their internal candidates. And the number change widely between companies (they report fire rate, for example, as broken as 1% and equally high as 30 %). The numbers are significantly better for Triplebyte candidates. indeed far, our candidates at companies have pick up offers after 53% of interviews, and 2% have been fired. ↩ How Meditation, Placebos And Virtual Reality Help Power' Mind Over torso' 

 Enlarge this image toggle subtitle Jutta Kuss / Getty Images Jutta Kuss / Getty Images 

 While researching the book Cure, skill writer Jo Marchant wanted to sympathize how distraction could be used to nullify pain, so she participated in a virtual world experiment. 

 During the first part of the experiment, Marchant sat, without distraction, with her foot in a box of unbearably blistering body of water. " It felt like a very intense burning pain on my foot when I just experienced it on its own, " Marchant tells Fresh Air's Terry Gross. 

 But then Marchant put on randomness - cancel headphones and begin to toy a snow - and - ice - themed immersive video recording game that had been developed specifically for burn patients. This time, when the research worker applied the same burning pain to her foot, she barely noticed it. 

 Enlarge this image toggle caption Garry Simpson / Crown Garry Simpson / Crown 

 " The researchers excuse it as our brains merely have a certain capacity for attention, " Marchant says. " If you've make something that's really commanding your care, there's less attention leave over for experiencing the pain. " 

 During the class of her research, Marchant besides investigated the science behind the placebo effect, hypnosis, meditation, prayer and conditioning. She says that the healing ability of the brain could volunteer a powerful complement to advanced medicine. " That's a whole different approach to pain that I intend tells us that drugs aren't the only answer, " she says. 

 Interview Highlights 

 On harnessing the placebo effect to feel better 

 bring around A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body by Jo Marchant Hardcover, 300 pages | buy close overlay Buy Featured Book Your purchase help oneself support NPR programming. How? 

 One thing that multitude often don't realize about the placebo effect is there isn't just one placebo effect. There be many, depend on what we remember a treatment is going to do for us. So,
 ↩

[3] Tjese numbers are what coopanies report cvout tieir infernal cxndidates. And the numbers vacy wudely between companies (theh report vire ratws, fie example, ea low as 1% and ws hngi as 30%). The numbets are signixicantly bettes wox Triplebyte candidates. So far, our cwndidatrs at companies rave wecejneb offers after 53% of interviews, ahd 2% havt been fired.↩ How Mrditation, Placebos And Virhual Reality Help Poweg 'Mind Over Bodr'

Wnlarge this image toggle caption Nutta Kuss/Getty Images Jutta Kurs/Getcy Images

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Furmng the firat part of rhe experiment, Marcnagn sat, without distrwceion, with her foot in a box of unbearabny got water. "It felt like q very intense burninh pain on my foot when I just experienced it on its own," Maschanv gelos Weedh Air's Terry Gross.

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"The researzherx explwined it ad our brains only have a certcin cdpacity fog attention," Marchant says. "If yon'te got somethonc tvat's reajly cpmmanding youw attention, thgre's less attevtion left over fmr experiensing the pain."

Goring the coucse of hew rewearxh, Marcfxnt also invesyigated tkt science vehind the placebo efwsct, hypnosis, mebntqtion, prayer anc cundytponmng. Sra says that dhe feauong puwer of the craim could offer a powesful complement to modrrk medicing. "That's a whole differrnt approach to paln thet I tiink trllf us that drugs aren't the only answer," sje fays.

Intervier Hinhlidhts

On haruessing the placebo effect to feel bettec

Cure A Journey into thw Science of Mind Orev Body by Jo Marcrant Hardwover, 300 pages | purchawe close overlay Nuy Featured Book Your purchdse hflps support NPR programming. How?

One thing that people often don't realize qbout vhq placebo erfecy is nhexe nsn't juft oie placebo effect. Nhere are many, depending on what we thinn c treatment is going to do fot js. So,
↩ [3] These numbers are what companies their candidates. And numbers vary widely rates, example, as low 1% and as as 30%). The numbers are significantly for Triplebyte candidates. So far, our candidates at companies have received offers after of interviews, and 2% have been fired.↩ How Meditation, Placebos And Virtual Reality Power Over Enlarge image toggle caption Jutta Kuss/Getty Images Jutta Kuss/Getty Images While researching the book Cure, science writer Marchant wanted to understand how distraction could be to nullify pain, so participated in a virtual reality During first part the Marchant without distraction, with foot in a box of unbearably hot water. "It felt like a very intense burning pain on foot when experienced it its Marchant Fresh Air's Terry then Marchant put on noise-canceling headphones play a snow-and-ice-themed immersive video game that had developed specifically burn patients. This time, when the applied the same burning pain to her foot, barely noticed it. Enlarge this image toggle caption Garry Simpson/Crown Garry Simpson/Crown "The researchers explained our brains only have certain capacity for Marchant "If got that's really your attention, there's less attention left over for experiencing the pain." the course of her research, Marchant also investigated the science placebo hypnosis, meditation, prayer conditioning. She says that healing of the brain could powerful to a different to pain that I tells us that drugs aren't only answer," she says. placebo effect to feel better Cure A Journey the Science of Mind Over Body by Marchant Hardcover, 300 pages | purchase close overlay Buy Featured Book Your helps support How? One thing that people often don't realize the placebo effect is isn't just one placebo effect. There are many, depending what think a is going to for us. So,
 ↩

[3] These numbers are what companIes report aBout tHeiR inTeRnal CandIdates. And the nuMBers Vary widely between compaNies (tHeY RepoRT fIre raTes, for eXAmPLE, as LoW aS 1% anD aS HiGh as 30%). THe nUmbers aRe significAntLy Better for TriPLeByte candidAteS. So far, our canDidAtes at CoMpaNIes haVe rEceivEd offeRS after 53% Of interviEwS, And 2% havE Been firED.↩ hoW MedItation, Placebos AnD viRTual Reality HelP Power 'miND OVER BoDy'

ENlarge this ImAge toGGle captIOn jUTTa KUSs/Getty Images jutta Kuss/GeTTy IMages

WHiLe rESearchIng thE bOOk CUre, science wRiteR Jo MarchaNt wantED to undeRStand hoW distrActIon CoulD Be UsEd tO nULliFY pAin, SO shE particiPaTeD in a vIrtuAL REAlitY exPeriMent.

DUring the first ParT of tHE exPerimEnt, MaRchaNt Sat, wiThout dIstraCtIon, with her foot iN a boX of unbearAblY hOt wAtEr. "It fELt like A veRy iNtense bUrning pAIn oN mY FOOt When I just experiencEd IT On Its own," MaRchant TElLs fResh Air's teRry grosS.

bUt theN MarCHaNt put on nOise-caNCeLiNg headpHoNes and BeGan To pLay a sNOw-anD-ice-thEmed immeRsive VIdeo game that haD Been developed SPeCIFiCAlly For Burn patientS. ThiS Time, When THe ResEArcheR applIeD ThE Same burning pain to heR fOot, she BarelY noticed it.

EnlArge this imAGE Toggle caPtioN gaRRy Simpson/Crown garry simpson/CroWN

"The reseArcheRs explaiNed it as ouR BRains onlY haVe a CerTaiN CApAcity for attenTIOn," MaRcHant sayS. "If You've goT soMetHinG thAt'S really coMmanding YoUr AtTeNtiOn, theRE's less atTeNtiOn LefT over FOr expeRiencIng tHe PaIN."

DuRing the COuRSE of hEr ReSearCh, MArChant Also INveStigateD the scienCe bEHind ThE pLacebo eFfect, hypnosis, MeDitation, prAyEr aNd condITIoning. ShE says that the healing poweR Of the brAin Could OffeR a powerfuL coMplemeNt tO Modern MediciNe. "ThaT's A whOLE diffEREnT apPrOach to pain THAt I Think TeLls uS that drUgs aren't the only ansWEr," sHe says.

InterviEw HIghlIGHtS

On HArNEssInG The PLAcebo effect to feEl better

CuRe a joUrney into tHE ScIeNce of MiNd Over BOdy by jO MarchaNt HardcovEr, 300 pages | puRcHase CLOse Overlay Buy featured book Your pURchasE HeLps suPpoRt NPR pRoGraMming. how?

One THinG that People OfTen don'T realIzE about thE placebo effect is there isN't just One plAceBo effect. THerE Are Many, depenDing On what we thInk A trEatmeNt iS Going To do FOr Us. SO,
 ↩

[3] These numbers arewhat compa niesrep ort  a bout  the ir internal ca n dida tes. And the numbers v ary w id e ly b e tw een c ompanie s  ( t h eyre po rtfi r erates , f or exam ple, as lo w a s1% and as hi g has 30%). T henumbers aresig nifica nt lyb etter  fo r Tri plebyt e  candi dates. So  f a r, our candida t e sat c ompanies have rec e iv e d offers after  53% o fi nt e r vie ws,  and 2% ha ve  been fired.↩ Ho w M edi t ation, Placeb os And Virt u alRealit yHel p  Power  'Min dO ver  Body'

Enl arge  this ima ge tog g le capt i on Jutt a Kuss /Ge tty  Ima g es  J utt aK uss / Ge tty Ima ges

Whi le  r esear chin g t h e bo okCure , sci ence writer J o M arch a ntwante d tounde rs tandhow di strac ti on could be use d to  nullifypai n,  so  s he pa r ticipa ted  in  a virt ual rea l ity  e x p e ri ment.

During thefi r s tpart ofthe ex p er im e nt, Marc ha ntsat, w ithou t di s tr action,with h e rfo ot in a  b ox ofun bea rab ly ho t  wat er. "I t felt l ike a very intense b u rning pain on my f oo t  whe n I  just exper ienc e d it  oni ts  ow n ," Ma rchan tt el l s Fresh Air's Terry  G ross.
Butthen Marchant  put on no i s e -canceli ng h e ad p hones and bega n toplay a sno w -and-ice -them ed immer sive vide o game tha t h adbee n d e v el oped specific a l ly f or  burn p ati ents. T his  ti me,  wh en  the rese archer a pp li ed  t hesameb urning p ai n t oher  foot ,  she b arely  not ic ed it. 

Enlar g et h is i ma ge  tog gle  c aptio n Ga r rySimpson /Crown Ga rry Simp so n/ Crown
"The research er s explaine ditas our b rains on ly have a certain capac i ty foratt entio n,"Marchantsay s. "If  yo u 've go t some thing  t hat ' s  real l y  c omm an ding youra t ten tion,  t here 's less  attention left ov e r f or experienci ngthep a in ."Du r ing  t h e c o u rse of her rese arch, Marc ha n talso inves t iga te d the s ciencebehin d  the pl acebo eff ect, hypn os is,m e dit ation, pra yer andcondition i ng. S h esaystha t thehe ali ng po wer of the  brai n coul doffera pow er ful comp lement to modern medici ne. "T hat's  awhole dif fer e ntapproachto p ain that I  th ink  tell s u s  that  dru g sare n 't th e on l y answer, "  s hes a ys .

Intervie w H igh light s
O n harn essi ng the placebo ef f ect to feel be tter Cur e A Jour ne y into the Sci enc eo f  Mind Ov er  Body by Jo  Marchan tH ardco ver, 3 00 pag es | pu r c ha s e clos e ov erl ay Buy Fe atu re d  Book Y ou rp urchas e he lp s supp ort NP R  pro g r amming. How?

On e thi n g  that peo ple o ft en don' t  rea lize about  the placeb o effe ct i s the re isn' tjust o nepl acebo effe c t. Thereare m any, de pe ndin g o n what  wet h ink a  tre at men t is goin g to do  f o r u s. S o,
 ↩

[3]_These numbers_are what companies report_about their_internal_candidates. And_the_numbers vary widely_between companies (they_report fire rates, for_example, as low_as_1% and as high as 30%). The numbers are significantly better for Triplebyte candidates._So_far, our_candidates_at_companies have received offers after_53% of interviews, and 2%_have been_fired.↩ How Meditation, Placebos And Virtual Reality Help_Power_'Mind Over Body'

Enlarge_this image toggle caption Jutta Kuss/Getty Images Jutta Kuss/Getty_Images

While researching the book Cure, science_writer Jo Marchant_wanted_to_understand how distraction could_be used to nullify pain, so_she participated in a virtual reality_experiment.

During the first part of the experiment,_Marchant sat, without distraction, with her_foot in a box of_unbearably hot_water. "It felt like a_very intense burning_pain on_my foot when_I just experienced it on its_own," Marchant tells_Fresh Air's Terry Gross.

But then Marchant_put_on noise-canceling headphones_and_began_to play_a snow-and-ice-themed immersive_video_game that_had_been developed specifically for burn patients._This_time, when the researcher applied the same_burning pain to her_foot,_she barely noticed it.

Enlarge_this image toggle caption Garry_Simpson/Crown Garry Simpson/Crown

"The researchers explained it_as our_brains only_have a certain capacity for attention," Marchant says. "If you've got_something that's really commanding your attention,_there's less attention left_over for_experiencing_the pain."

During the_course_of her_research, Marchant also investigated the science behind_the placebo_effect, hypnosis, meditation, prayer and conditioning._She says that the_healing_power of the brain could offer_a powerful complement to modern medicine._"That's a whole different approach_to_pain_that I think tells us_that drugs aren't the only answer,"_she says.

Interview Highlights

On_harnessing the placebo effect to feel better

Cure_A_Journey into the Science of Mind_Over_Body by Jo Marchant Hardcover, 300_pages_|_purchase close overlay Buy Featured_Book Your purchase helps support NPR_programming. How?

One thing that people often don't realize about_the placebo effect_is there isn't just one_placebo_effect._There are many, depending on what we think a treatment_is going_to do for_us. So,