If you are in pain following a collision during a soccer game, I suggest swearing — then call me. It seems cursing reduces pain, according to a new study in the Journal NeuroReport.
The study concludes, “the observed pain-lessening (hypoalgesic) effect may occur because swearing induces a fight-or-flight response and nullifies the link between fear of pain and pain perception.”
Maybe your mother was wrong. Perhaps you SHOULD curse when you stub your toe, according to your body’s neurology.