The retina of the eye contains so-called rods and cones. These photoreceptors are sensitive to light. In a mouse study conducted by, among others, the Chinese Institute of Neuroscience, these receptors were switched off at different times. This allowed the researchers to track how the experience of pain changed.
Photoreceptors send signals to cells within the retina. Those cells are affected by the type of light that shines on the eyes. If that light is green, more substances are released that slow down the nervous system.
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Slowing down the nervous system activates a protein called PENK. That protein, in turn, activates opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors can connect with opioids (pain-relieving substances) and thus reduce pain.
In short: when we see green light, the cones send a signal to the cells in the retina, slowing down our nervous system. This activates a protein that ensures that pain-relieving substances (such as morphine and the body’s endorphins) can bind with pain receptors. When that bonding occurs, we experience less pain.
The research was published in the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine. Scientists want to further investigate why the brain is developed in such a way that green light can reduce the sensation of pain.
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