Studying the Effects of Beliefs on Daily Experiences
We each hold various expectations, conceptions and mindsets about ourselves and the world around us. Together, they construct our beliefs - the lenses through which we perceive the world.
One prominent example for the effects of beliefs is the placebo effect…
In the placebo effect - beliefs regarding a treatment, rather than the treatment itself, can induce a robust, physiological and long-lasting improvement in symptoms.
We now know that these improvements are driven by a series of neurobiological reactions to the mere belief of being treated.
In fact, our beliefs have a much wider influence
It is becoming increasingly evident that people’s beliefs significantly modulate their perception of - and responses to - the world.
Our lab argues that beliefs act in all areas of life to influence various aspects of daily experiences, from decision-making to well-being.
Our Vision
Our lab strives to elucidate how beliefs shape our perception of the world and ensuing behavior in everyday situations, and translate this knowledge by developing interventions to improve health and well-being.
We study people’s behavior, physiological responses, hormonal levels and blood biomarkers in both healthy and clinical populations - to delineate the mechanisms by which beliefs exert their effect.
Our Big Questions
Health perceptions:
Can perceptions of our own health impact the symptoms we experience when sick?
Can we use health perceptions to alter disease progress or improve treatment efficacy?
Mind-Body interactions:
Do expectations regarding bodily functioning alter brain-body interactions?
Can we induce expectations regarding people’s own abilities to boost their performance?
Life-long conceptions:
Do superstitions and stereotypes change the way we process information? How?
Do these processes differ in psychiatric disorders such as autism, depression, or PTSD?
Psychobiological Tools and Skillsets
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Health perceptionsCan perceptions of our own health impact the symptoms we experience when sick? Can we use health perceptions to alter disease progress or improve treatment efficacy?
We employ various tools to probe how beliefs influence the brain and body, including:
What does our science look like?
We study both healthy and clinical populations, both in the lab and outside of it:
Picture by: Inbal Raverby
Meet our team!
Hi, I’m Liron, head of the “Psychobiology of Beliefs Lab”. Together with our great team, we are exploring when and how our beliefs and expectations can drive a real biological impact!
The lab is a place for biologists, psychologists, health-care workers and others to work together with the goal of understanding - and harnessing - people’s beliefs to improve public health and well-being.
It is also a place to enjoy science, learn and grow - in an inclusive, collaborative and nourishing environment.
Come and meet the team!
If you find these ideas interesting, and would like to know more – contact us.
In the Media
We’re hiring for 2024!
If you are curious and motivated, and find our research topics interesting, we would love for you to join our team as a Master’s, PhD, or MD-PhD student, starting April-May 2024.
As a multidisciplinary lab, we welcome people from various backgrounds: biological, psychological, clinical and more.
We have several different projects that you could work on, and we’re also open to new ideas.
Plus, we have a great view! :)
Contact Us
If you want to find out more or inquire about joining us, collaborating, inviting a talk or other, get in touch!
Elucidating the effects of beliefs on daily experiences
Visit us
Our lab is located in a gorgeous restored building in the old city of Safed, with a magnificent view of Mount Meron and Sea of Galilee.
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