Sip n Learn: Mind Over Medicine - The Science of Placebo

How much of what we experience is shaped by what we expect?

In this month’s Mind Circles Sip n Learn, we explore the fascinating science of suggestion, placebo effects, and the brain.

Suggestions influence our perception, our symptoms, and even how well treatments work. From placebos in medicine to hypnosis and emerging psychedelic therapies, expectations can play a powerful role in shaping human experience.

In this talk, experimental psychologist Dr Devin Terhune (King’s College London) explores how suggestion works, why some people are more suggestible than others, and how placebo effects influence a wide range of medical and psychological interventions.

Using research from cognitive neuroscience and psychiatry, Devin will explain how expectations interact with brain processes to shape awareness, perception, and wellbeing.

This evening is designed to be accessible, thought-provoking, and interactive. No prior neuroscience knowledge required.

Dr Devin B. Terhune, PhD
Reader in Experimental Psychology
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
King’s College London

Dr Terhune’s research combines cognitive neuroscience, experimental psychology, and psychiatry to understand different features of awareness. His work focuses particularly on dissociative states and how experience can be altered through verbal suggestion and pharmacological interventions.

He completed his PhD at Lund University in Sweden and has previously held research positions at the University of Oxford and Goldsmiths, University of London.

19:00 – 19:30 Arrival & Warm-Up Activity
Guest arrival and informal connection. A guided warm-up activity (optional)

19:30 – 20:15 Expert Talk

Dr Devin Terhurne (KCL) explores the science of suggestion, placebo effects, and perception.

20:15 – 20:30 Q&A
A chance to ask questions and deepen the conversation

20:30 – 21:00 Optional Networking
Continue the discussion

• What suggestion and suggestibility are from a neuroscience perspective
• How placebo and nocebo effects influence symptoms and treatment outcomes
• Why expectations can shape perception and bodily experience
• What psychedelic research is teaching us about suggestion and context
• What this means for medicine, therapy, and everyday life

Mind Circles Talks is a purpose-led start-up committed to creating accessible, community-focused, neuroscience-informed events. To help make this possible, we offer a range of ticket options. We trust your honesty in selecting the ticket tier that best reflects your circumstances.

Your contribution directly supports:

• The costs of running these events
• The ongoing work of bringing neuroscience insights to our community in meaningful, practical ways

By choosing the ticket tier that fits your means, you help ensure we can continue offering events like this to a wider and more inclusive audience.

Thank you for your support and your integrity, both matter to us deeply.

If you have any questions or accessibility considerations around pricing, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The expert talk will be recorded and shared privately with all registered attendees within 4 weeks of the event. The recording is for personal use only and will not be publicly distributed.

This event will take place in central London. Full venue details will be shared with all ticket holders in advance.

Please arrive by 7:30pm at the latest. You’ll need to check in before the main talk begins and to avoid disruption to other attendees, we ask everyone to arrive and be settled on time.

If you're having trouble buying tickets on Eventbrite, you can also get one on the day. Just drop us an email with your name(s) and a note that you'd like to buy a ticket on the day so we can add your name to the guest list.

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Info: Guest arrival, informal connection, and an optional guided activity to introduce the evening’s theme.

Info: Dr Devin Terhune explores the science of suggestion, placebo effects, and how expectations influence perception and treatment outcomes.

Info: Audience questions and discussion with the speaker.

Info: Continue the conversation and connect with others interested in neuroscience and psychology.

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