Thread: Interesting read!

There is a study where they did this with the bicep curl. One group just thought about working their bicep, one group worked their bicep but were given a task so that they could not focus on curling the wieght, and the third group focused and did the exercise. The order of strength increase was bicep curl, mental imagery, mental imagery and bicep curl.

Seems very similar, but I remember the bicep study being published in a more reputable journal. I googled it but couldn't find it.

yeah that is the same concept.

Yes, the mind muscle connection is extremely important. There is one study in particular I like to bring up whenever I have this discussion with someone. A man allergic to poison ivy was blindfolded. He was told that poison ivy would be rubbed on his left arm, and a maple leaf rubbed on his right arm. The tester rubbed the leaves. Lo and behold, a rash soon appeared on the man's left arm. However, what the man didn't know was that the poison ivy was really rubbed on his right arm and the maple leaf on his left arm. This shows how the mind can even override physical interactions. This was a real study conducted.

Originally Posted by Squaggleboggin

Yes, the mind muscle connection is extremely important. There is one study in particular I like to bring up whenever I have this discussion with someone. A man allergic to poison ivy was blindfolded. He was told that poison ivy would be rubbed on his left arm, and a maple leaf rubbed on his right arm. The tester rubbed the leaves. Lo and behold, a rash soon appeared on the man's left arm. However, what the man didn't know was that the poison ivy was really rubbed on his right arm and the maple leaf on his left arm. This shows how the mind can even override physical interactions. This was a real study conducted.

thats crazy, how would the body duplicate the "reaction" without the chemicals being there.....any links?

Yes, it's very crazy. There are also studies done on lab rats that say that if they are injured say, on their left leg, the other side of the body will show the same symptoms, and, in some cases, develop the same injuries. The mind is a powerful and bizarre thing. Unfortunately, I have no links because these are things I read a long, long time ago. I do know, however, that what I said about them is accurate - I tend to recall some very strange things with great accuracy.

Most all highly successful athletes use visualization to aid them. By the way, I had a major surgery to remove a tumor on my kidney three years ago. Afterwords I thought every ache and pain was cancer invading my body. If I thought my lower back was getting sore, I'd think and obsess about it more. My back would ache more. I was never like this before, but finally my doctor gave me an anxiety prescription. No more phantom pains. Clear the mind and it clears your body. There is a connection.