How Does Hypnosis Affect The Brain

2184 Words9 Pages
Running head: HYPNOSIS AND ITS EFFECT ON THE BRAIN 1 Hypnosis and its Effect on the Brain Kim Hale Eastern Florida State College Author Note This paper was prepared for General Psychology, taught by Professor Melissa Patton. HYPNOSIS AND ITS EFFECT ON THE BRAIN 2 Abstract This paper will explore the relatively new research on what hypnosis' effect is on the human brain. How new technology has been used to view this effect, and how it may impact hypnosis and psychology in the future. HYPNOSIS AND ITS EFFECT ON THE BRAIN 3 Introduction With the advent of…show more content…
This brain structure also explains hypnosis. Hypnosis is all about creating formidable top-down processing that suggestions overcome reality. The Impact of Technology on Hypnosis and Psychology Researchers: Theories Proven and Theories Discounted Dr. David Spiegel, a psychiatrist, studied hypnotism and concluded that 10-15% of adults are highly hypnotizable compared to 80-85% of children. He also concluded that one in five adults are flat out resistant. The rest of the population are in between highly hypnotizable and totally resistant (Winerman, March, 2006). Dr. Amir Raz is a professor of clinical neuroscience at Columbia University and McGill University in Montreal.. Dr. Raz performed a study on the effects of hypnosis as a brain research tool. He used the Stroop test in this study. The Stroop test is a standard psychological test that probes conflict in the brain. It consists of words in block style letters in the colors of red,…show more content…
He also states that the Top-down processes override sensory or bottom-up information. People think that sights, sounds, and touch from the outside world constituted reality. But the brain constructs what it perceives based on past experience (Kossyln 2006). "Doctors Oakley and Halligan researched the effects of neutral hypnosis. Neutral hypnosis is when a person is hypnotized before any hypnotic suggestions are given. Changes appear to occur to data points to change in the way different cognitive systems of the brain communicate in neutral hypnosis and may account for the experience subjects have of mental absorption, reduction of spontaneous thoughts and sense of detachment" (Beattie-Moss March, 2014). Hypnosis as a brain research tool for hysterical blindness, hysterical paralysis, and visual neglect have been used with promising effects. Conclusion Hypnosis has a brighter future than it did before neuro-imaging. There is still a lot of research to be done to lend credence to this form of mental suggestion. Hypnotism is gaining in popularity when used in conjunction with other forms of psychotherapy. There are still many unanswered questions, but with the way technology is advancing, it is only a matter of time that hypnotherapy will become a wide spread and widely accepted form of psychiatric
Open Document