Name: The magic of the placebo
Uploaded: 2010-03-12T09:01:00Z
Duration: 8 min 48 s
Description: Sugar pills, injections of nothing -- studies show that, more often than you'd expect, placebos really work. At TEDMED, magician Eric Mead does a trick to prove that, even when you know something's not real, you can still react as powerfully as if it is. (Warning: This talk is not suitable for viewers who are disturbed by needles or blood.)

Sugar pills, injections of nothing -- studies show that, more often than you'd expect, placebos really work. At TEDMED, magician Eric Mead does a trick to prove that, even when you know something's not real, you can still react as powerfully as if it is. (Warning: This talk is not suitable for viewers who are disturbed by needles or blood.)

The magic of the placebo

A powerful demonstration reveals how belief alone can spark real, measurable effects—whether from a sugar pill or a magician’s sleight of hand. Studies show blue pills outperform white ones and colored capsules are even more effective, despite all being placebos. The most dramatic placebo responses come from injections, highlighting how deeply perception shapes physical outcomes. When what’s fake is believed, it can trigger genuine reactions in both mind and body.