Nocebo effects on motor performance: A systematic literature review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Sports Science

Background:

• Nocebo effects negatively influence thoughts, feelings, and actions, contrasting with placebo effects.
• Motor performance, crucial for daily activities and athletic skills, is an understudied area regarding nocebo effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize existing literature on the impact of nocebo effects on motor performance.
• To understand the prevalence, characteristics, and influencing factors of nocebo effects in motor tasks.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, and SPORTDiscus databases.
• Twenty-one articles reporting 23 studies meeting eligibility criteria were included, with an assessment of risk of bias.

Main Results:

• 14 out of 23 studies reported a significant nocebo effect on motor performance.
• A medium-to-large effect size (0.60) was observed, particularly in studies with a between-subjects design.
• Nocebo effects can be triggered by negative verbal information and vary based on motor task type, sample, and nocebo agent.

Conclusions:

• Nocebo effects demonstrably influence motor performance, often evoked by negative suggestions.
• These effects may be more potent than placebo effects and require careful consideration in research and clinical practice.
• Further research is recommended, emphasizing between-subjects designs and "no agent" control conditions to better understand and manage nocebo effects in motor performance.