Whether it’s a bothersome toothache or a sprained ankle, alleviating pain can be beneficial in the short term.
However, scientists propose that this reduction in pain might also affect emotions and decision-making processes.
Psychologists at the University of Guelph in Canada carried out a study which revealed that paracetamol can lower heart rate, a fear indicator, during risky experiences.
Researchers stated: “This could have important implications for safety: if individuals on paracetamol behave less cautiously in threatening situations, they might be more likely to speed or make other unsafe choices while driving.
“It may be the drug operates by blunting emotional evaluations of painful sensations.
“At the same time, the same mechanism may dull other emotions, including fear.”
In the study, about 260 men and women either received 1,000 mg of the drug or a placebo before participating in a virtual reality plank walk at extreme heights.
The task involved walking along a plank with the risk of an 80-storey fall. The goal was to move as far as possible before returning safely.
As the participants progressed, the plank became increasingly unstable. If they fell, they experienced a flash of white light as they hit the ground.
While participants weren’t in real danger, the situation was designed to elicit fear.
The study discovered notable differences between the two groups. Participants on acetaminophen or paracetamol stepped onto the plank 17 percent faster, walked 23 percent faster, and had a 14 percent smaller increase in heart rate compared to those on the placebo.
Unfortunately, the precise mechanisms by which the drug reduces pain are not fully understood, indicating a need for further research.
However, the researchers are convinced that pain involves both sensory and emotional components. The emotional aspect significantly influences our perception of pain, and in some cases, individuals with specific brain region damage experience altered attitudes towards pain, even if they can physically feel it.