[sizzle]

I have definitely experienced the coffee and pain killer placebo more often than not.

Thinking about it now, it make sense that once you ingest either to alleviate certain symptoms, you let go of a portion of directed anxiety/overt attention in expectation of relief thereafter.

Despite knowing the placebo pill beforehand, I'd hazard a guess that the same brain areas associated with non-placebo oral administration will light up with activity in an MRI scan.

Anyone know if there is any scientific literature on this phenomenon?

[disgruntledphd2]

For the placebo effects of coffee - Kirsch & Wiexel 1988 (can't find it online, annoyingly enough).

There probably are some fMRI studies, but I really don't trust most of those due to the difficulties in avoiding multiple comparisions (see Vul et al 2009, Voodoo Neuroscience).