According to Harvard, wounds heal faster if you’re the one missing time.

Sense of time can affect wound healing. This is the conclusion of the latest study by Harvard University psychologists Peter Ongle and Ellen Langer, published in the journal nature scientific report and collected by Europe Press.

This research challenges traditional beliefs about psychological effects on physical health. The results show that there is a wider range of psychological effects than is currently believed.

To carry out their study, the authors used a standardized procedure to mildly injure volunteer subjects. Perceived time was then manipulated in the laboratory, and each study participant completed three experimental conditions: slow time (0.5 times the real time), normal time (1 times the real time), and fast time (2 times the real time). fold). actual time).

Faster healing of wounds was documented when participants felt that more time had passed. Similarly, the healing process was slower when it was felt that less time had passed. The actual elapsed time was the same in all three conditions.

Further research is underway to better understand the mechanisms underlying these findings and the broader implications. In the meantime, the study presents a compelling case for fully incorporating the idea of ​​mind-body unity into further research on the effects of mind and body on health. In particular, researchers are urged to consider the wide range of psychological influences on physical health.

Psychological effects on physical health are typically understood in terms of effects on emotions (e.g., stress, inflammation, and immune function) and behavior (e.g., beliefs that promote healthy actions). This research shows that even abstract beliefs about how our bodies work directly affect physical health.