Studies have shown that hypnosis can alter an individual’s state of consciousness. The therapy entails focusing one’s attention on suggested activities through a process that involves inner absorption and focal concentration. This way, an individual becomes unaware of the surrounding conditions. The whole process can be summarized as involving absorption, dissociation and responsiveness to different social cues. Researchers have since linked this kind of therapy with the alteration of the functioning of the brain. It contributes to self-absorption and mental ease.
Vanhaudenhuyse, Laureys & Faymonville (2014) reviewed studies that were conducted to examine the use of techniques such as neuroimaging and electrophysiology in the study of hypnosis as a mental state and as a mechanism used to control how the brain responds to different stimuli. The researchers found that several of these studies reveal that hypnosis leads to an altered state of consciousness. For instance, they found that hypnosis can enhance blood flow in the regional cerebral part of the brain. The hypnotic state has also been linked to the activation of metabolic activities of the cortical areas of the brain. At the same time, reduced activity was also noticed in other areas of the brain such as the bilateral temporal and premotor cortices.
In studies that involved functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), it was shown that hypnosis can modify brain networks. In other studies, individuals with high Hypnotizability were also found to have high connectivity between brain sections responsible for control and those concerned with filtering of various types of information like emotions. Other fMRI studies have also shown that individuals with high and low Hypnotizability often have different brain structure sizes. Those with high Hypnotizability have some brain parts larger than in those character used with low Hypnotizability. The different findings obtained through these studies can be attributed to the various techniques used to induce hypnosis. Some of these researches use fMRI designs, while others use pure neural methods.
Other studies that used the EEG technique also revealed that highly hypnotizable individuals have increased activities in some areas of the brain than in those with low Hypnotizability. This shows that highly hypnotizable individuals are more responsible to hypnotic induction due to their different brain structures. The use of the EEG method has also helped scientists discover that highly hypnotizable people also show reduced activity in some areas of the brain during hypnosis. Some studies also reported that hypnosis administered together with local anesthesia and sedation to those undergoing surgery lead to a feeling of comfort, reduced pain and anxiety, faster recovery as well as reduced use of medication. According to Vanhaudenhuyse, Laureys & Faymonville (2014), past research also reveals that hypnosis combined with other medical interventions such as sedation is more effective in relieving pain and anxiety than the use of single medical treatments.
Thus, the use of hypnosis in various clinical settings has been clearly illustrated through various studies that have since confirmed that the intervention method is effective in helping ameliorate various health conditions. These studies have highlighted how hypnosis leads to various changes in the brain state, which is a positive phenomenon because of its influence on an individual’s health status. The efficacy of this alternative therapy shows that treatment does not only depend on pharmacological techniques but also psychological methods aimed at altering the status of one’s consciousness.
References
Vanhaudenhuyse, A., Laureys, S., & Faymonville, M. E. (2014). Neurophysiology of hypnosis. Neurophysiologie Clinique/Clinical Neurophysiology, 44(4), 343-353.
Melvin S. Marsh is a certified hypnotherapist serving Atlanta GA, Augusta GA, Statesboro, GA, and Savannah GA. He performs hypnotherapy appointments both in person and worldwide virtually. He can be reached at www.afterhourshypnotherapy.com .
