How Does the Placebo Effect Work?

Dr Chua Sook Ning, Psychologist

08-Apr-24 14:00

Pause
Embed

Think of the scene from Harry Potter where Harry makes Ron think that he has spiked his drink with the liquid luck potion. Ron then goes on to play the best game of Quidditch he’s ever played, only for Harry to later reveal that he didn’t actually put anything in Ron’s drink. Ron played well because he thought his drink contained the liquid luck potion.

This is called The Placebo Effect. But how does it work, exactly?

Image credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan

This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories: wellness, education

Tags: placebo effect, nocebo, the bigger picture, today i learned, psychology,

Today’s Shows

6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst, KCM Trade tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC Bank, shares his outlook on gold.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Economist Dr Geoffrey Williams unpacks the implications of rising oil prices on national cost management.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Wee Eng Kong, Managing Director of Tuju Setia talks about the finances of the company and construction projects they've won recently.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dato’ Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz, President of PDAM on how rising oil prices could hit consumers and petrol dealers.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Zaid Malek, Executive Director of Lawyers for Liberty, discusses free speech in civic and academic space.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Waterer, Chief Market Analyst, KCM Trade tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Christopher Wong, FX Strategist at OCBC Bank, shares his outlook on gold.

9:35 AM

Pinnacle Perspectives

Soo Hoo Khoon Yean, Managing Partner of PwC Malaysia discusses how Malaysian CEOs are recalibrating strategies and managing risks amid global uncertainties.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

11:05 AM

P&L

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

1:00 PM

Breakfast Grille (REPEAT)

Wee Eng Kong, Managing Director of Tuju Setia talks about the finances of the company and construction projects they've won recently.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Earth Matters

4:05 PM

Health & Living

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Today I Learned

Why Malaysians Love Adibah Amin

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

Kam Raslan, Dhanya Nair and debutant Steve Yong get together to talk about the return of old TV series, learning retro tech before using the modern ones, and online gaming communities.

PROGRAMMES