Looking at your lover's photo may cut your pain

London: Next time you are in immense pain, just look at the photograph of your loved one -- it may reduce your suffering by 44 per cent, scientists say.

A study by researchers at the Stanford University found that an image of a romantic partner dulls activity in the pain-processing areas of the brain, to the same degree asparacetamol or narcotics such as cocaine.

The researchers, who looked at a group of lovestruck students, said they found direct evidence that links feelings of emotional attachment with the soothing of pain, the Daily Mail reported.

The participating students were subjected to brain MRI scans as they focused on photographs of their partners while varying levels of heat pain were applied to their skin.

On average, pain was reduced by between 36 and 44 per cent, with intense discomfort eased by up to 13 per cent, said Jarred Younger, who led the study, published in journal Public Library of Science.

Younger said: "The reduction of pain is associated with higher, cortical parts of the brain. Love-induced analgesia is much more associated with the reward centres. It appears to involve more primitive aspects of the brain, activating deep structures that may block pain at a spinal level - similar to how opioid analgesics work."

"One of the key sites for love-induced analgesia is the nucleus accumbens, a key reward addiction centre for opioids, cocaine and other drugs of abuse. The region tells the brain that you really need to keep doing this. This tells us that you don't have to just rely on

drugs for pain relief."

In a separate analysis, psychologists at the University of California studied 25 women and their boyfriends of more than six months, subjecting them to different levels of pain, using a sharp, prickling sensation.

During the various 'stimulations', the women either held their boyfriend's hand or the hand of a male stranger, both of whom were hidden behind a curtain. In other cases, the women were asked to view a photograph of their boyfriend, or a picture of a male stranger while being subjected to discomfort.

The researchers discovered the women showed significantly reduced pain experience while holding their partner's hand. But surprisingly, the photograph of their romantic partner provided equally effective pain relief, and both cases were far greater than when a stranger was involved.