Initial note on the placebo effect of machines

Abstract

To test for a possible placebo effect associated with an electronic machine, arm electrodes were attached to subjects with instructions suggesting either an improvement or an impairment in the performance of a simple sensory-motor task. Although no current was used, the performance of those subjects who expected improvement due to the current was significantly better than the performance of those subjects expecting an impairment of performance. It was not possible, however, to produce reliably an impairment of performance. The results tentatively suggest tile possibility of an effect resembling that obtained from the therapeutic use of inert substances.