From: gisle@ifi.uio.no (Gisle Hannemyr)
Subject: Re: Dianetic experiment to try and use
Organization: gisle@ifi.uio.no
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 18:50:32 GMT
Originator: gisle@gyda.ifi.uio.no

In article <1bg87uINNoe8@phad.hsc.usc.edu> lfreeman@phad.hsc.usc.edu (Leny Freeman) writes:
> Here's another experiment for all to try.  Its a basic Dianetic
> assist called a Contact Assist.

Great!

> It comes from the principle that if you view something exactly as
> it occurred, it will vanish.

Fine, so we have a theory about how something works.  That's scientific.
Now let's look at the experimental design.

> Without elaborating on the underlying principle it works thusly:
> The next time to experience a minor injury (bang head, stub toe
> etc.) immediately re-create the exact occurrence (without the
> impact) duplicating body position, angle etc.  If the injury is a
> burn from a hot object, cool the object first.
>
> It may take a few tries to get it duplicated but when you do, you
> will experience an increase in the pain just before it just
> before it reduces substantially or blows altogether.  The degree
> of pain reduction depends upon the severity of the painful injury
> and how accurately this assist is carried.  Many times healing is
> accelerated after a good contact assist.

Ok -- all in the service of science.

I've taken a sharp needle in my left hand, and use it to perforate the
skin slightly on my right lower arm.  I actually feel pain before the
needle touches the skin -- in anticipation of the inevitable inpact.
Ouch!  I then recreate the experience.  Making sure I keep exactly the
same posture, I let the needle approach the damaged area.  Hey! I feel
a slight increase in pain and then a sort of soothing feeling as the
needle softly touches the area around the damaged skin.  If I'm
careless and poke the needle into the actual wound, the pain
increases, but otherwise, it works according to the prediction.  THIS
REALLY WORKS!


Now, the control experiment.

I put the needle in my right hand, and use it to perforate the skin
slightly on my left lower arm.  I actually feel pain before the needle
touches the skin -- in anticipation of the inevitable inpact. Ouch!
Then I adopt a completely different posture, throw away the needle,
and use my fingers to massage the area around the damaged skin.  This
is really soothing.  The rubbing seems to stimulate the irritated
nerve endings in the damaged region, making them busy telling the
brain other things than "I'm in pain".  The soothing occurs even
faster than when I was "re-creating" the exact occurence with the
needle.  THIS WORKS EVEN BETTER!

Analysis: The experiment shows that physical contact with an area with
a slight injury eases the test subject's feeling of pain.  The original
theory, that the removal of pain is causally linked with the
re-creation of the actual original experience is _not_ supported by
the control experiment.  Instead, the outcome of the control
experiment indicates that it is the physical contact alone (whether it
is a re-creation or not) that is the most likely explanation for the
perceived effect.

Conclusion: While "touch assist" seems to work, the theory underlying
the "touch assist" phenomena is poppycock.
--
Disclaimer: THESE ARE MY OPINIONS!  MINE!  MINE!  ALL MINE!
 
- gisle hannemyr  (Norsk Regnesentral)
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