According to researchers from University College London, crossing your arms across the middle of your body reduces the intensity of pain by confusing the brain.
“In everyday life you mostly use your left hand to [wipe your butt and]* touch things on the left side of the world, and your right hand for [fapping and touching]** the right side of the world. When you cross your arms these maps are not activated together anymore,” leading to less effective processing meaning that stimuli such as pain can perceived as weaker.
They put this to the test by using a laser to inflict “pure pain” (pain without touch) on the hands of eight people and keeping a record of their perceived pain intensity. The same test was then repeated with the group holding their arms crossed.
Results showed that the pain perceived was weaker when the arms of the participants were crossed.
Coincidentally, the same technique works with legs – but applies mostly to teenage girls and prevents a different kind of pain.
* – not part of the actual quotation
** – same as *
via reuters from painjournalonline
