November 19, 2009, 1:59 PM

Pain Relief Through Photography

By RONI CARYN RABIN

Can looking at the photograph of a loved one make pain go away?

Numerous studies show that strong social connections have benefits for health. People who have active social lives seem to live longer than those who are isolated, and married cancer patients have a better outlook than divorced cancer patients. Now, a study [http://www.scn.ucla.edu/pdf/Master-InPress-PsychSci.pdf] suggests that merely looking at a photograph of a loved one can relieve the sensation of physical pain. . . .