# Your Brain Invents Pain. Here's Why.

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-rest-is-science-7587315/your-brain-invents-pain-here-s-why
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-rest-is-science-7587315/your-brain-invents-pain-here-s-why.md
Podcast: [The Rest Is Science](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-rest-is-science-7587315)
Published: 2026-07-05T21:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLT3777202559.mp3
Audio file: https://pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/GLT3777202559.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-rest-is-science-7587315/episodes/your-brain-invents-pain-here-s-why
Duration seconds: 3063

## Resource

Stubbing your toe feels like the pain is entirely in your foot. But the reality is far stranger... the agonising sensation you experience is actually a highly complex, constructed illusion, invented in real-time by your brain.In this episode of The Rest Is Science, Professor Hannah Fry and Michael Stevens (VSauce) explore the weird neuroscience of human pain and why pain is ultimately a brilliant evolutionary survival mechanism, how psychological state and the placebo effect can physically alter how much an injury hurts.-------------------For more information about Cancer Research UK, their research, breakthroughs and how you can support them, visit ⁠⁠https://cancerresearchuk.org/restisscience⁠⁠Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.-------------------Find The Rest Is Science all over the internet by ⁠⁠clicking here.⁠⁠-------------------Video Producer: Adam Thornton + Oli Oakley + Jack MeekAnimator: Sam BensonVideo & Social: Bex TyrrellAssistant Producer: Lucy LipscombeProducer: Simona RataSenior Producer: Lauren Armstrong-CarterHead Of Digital: Samuel OakleyExec Producer: Neil Fearn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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## Transcript

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