Hypnosis

Emily Byrd; Vegas Dargan; Brooklynn Howell; Jessica LewisMr. SchlechtAP Psychology5 November 2014

http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=9PW1fwKjo-Y

Only first 5 minutes

The Nature of Hypnosis

Patterns of brain activity during hypnotic stage suggest that hypnosis produces a state of consciousness similar to other states of consciousness. ● During hypnotic state, the occipital lobes,

parietal lobes, sensorimotor cortex, and prefrontal cortex are activated.

The Four Steps in Hypnosis1. Eliminate Distractions and comfort the patient.2. Tell the person to concentrate on something specific.

a. That’s where the moving watch comes into play.3. Explains what the person will go through.

a. Feel a state of relaxation, or floating sensation.4. Suggests events or feelings that will occur.

a. “You or feeling tired.”

Individual Variations in Hypnosis

● Hypnotizability refers to the extent to which a person’s responses are changed by being hypnotized

● You don’t know if you can be hypnotized until you try it

A Divided State of Consciousness

● Proposed that hypothesis involves a special divided state of consciousness, a splitting of consciousness into separate components

● Consciousness has a hidden part that stays in contact with reality and pain

● Hypnotized person is not in an altered state of consciousness

Social Cognitive Behavior● Social Cognitive Behavior View of Consciousness - Theory

that hypnosis is a normal state in which the hypnotized person behaves the way he or she believes that a hypnotized person should behave.

● Example: Individuals being hypnotized surrender their responsibility to the hypnotist and follow the hypnotist’s suggestions; and they have expectations about what hypnosis is supposed to be like. o Question: Is hypnosis an altered state of consciousness, or simply a reaction

to a special social situation?

Uses of Hypnosis● Hypnosis is a useful tool to dampen the brain process

o Similar to transcranial magnetic stimulation● Utilizing brain imaging, researchers can understand both the effects of hypnosis itself

and the brain’s functioning● Hypnosis can treat

○ alcoholism○ Somnambulism○ Depression○ Suicidal tendencies○ Post-traumatic stress disorder○ Migraines○ Overeating○ Diabetes○ Smoking○ etc.

Uses of Hypnosis continued ● Remains debatable ● Patients rarely achieve dramatic results unless already motivated● Hypnosis is most effective when combined with psychotherapy● Can reduce pain● Experiment

o The brain of participants were monitored while receiving shockso Those who were hypnotized thought the shock were less painfulo The subcortical brain areas (brain stem and midbrain) of the hypnotized

patients responded the same, suggesting that these areas recognized the painful stimulation

o Although the sensory cortex was not active in the hypnosis patients, suggesting that they sensed pain but were not conscious about it

● Hypnosis remains a mystery

● Mindfulness meditation is a technique practiced by yoga enthusiasts

● Long-term beneficial effects of meditation includes helping patients with depression, panic attacks, anxiety, chronic pain, stress, and skin condition psoriasis

● Our conscious mind may have a role in enhancing our psychological and physical health

Mindful Meditation

● You may have experienced a state called hypnagogic reverie - an overwhelming feeling of wellness right before you fall asleep (the sense that everything is going to work out)○ Meditation has been compared to this feeling

● Experiment:○ Obtained images of the brain using an fMRI before and after entering

a meditational state○ Found increased action in the basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex

(Often active during consciousness)○ These increased activations led to decrease in awareness and acts of

will○ Paradox results: Controlling one’s thoughts to let go of the need to

control

The Meditative State of Mind