Is there any research into the variation of susceptibility to placebos? My gut feeling is that there are people who are much more susceptible and those who are much less, and I’m curious if that’s supported by any research and, if so, how that difference is developed.

Also, I’m confused by the conclusion of the article. If they’re literally exciting or dampening a control pathway in the brain that controls pain, how is this placebo/nocebo? Sounds like a straight up causal effect, not a vague one controlled by the patient’s expectation….