Although widespread signaling across the brain appears to be impaired when people are under general anesthesia, there is evidence that certain areas – including the auditory cortex – remain responsive, suggesting that medical staff might be able to send suggestions and encouragement, while a patient is unconscious, to reduce their pain after surgery. Studies investigating this possibility are few, but Jenny Rosendahl, at Jena University Hospital in Germany, and colleagues have attempted to gather all the evidence to date.

Some destinations are worth considering for medical tourism, according to the editors at International Living magazine, a publication for American expatriates. Take Costa Rica, for example, a country that abolished its army and dedicated part of the money to healthcare. Now nearly 15 percent of international tourism comes to visit Costa Rica for medical services performed by highly trained, bilingual doctors.