Event-Related Potentials During Hypnotic Hallucination

Abstract

Event-related potentials were elicited by visual stimulation and recorded at frontal, central, and posterior scalp sites so as to study the psychophysiological process associated with hypnotic hallucination. Subjects were screened using two measures of hypnotic susceptibility (Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C). Seven high and 9 low hypnotizable right-handed females participated in the experiment. Eight intermediate hypnotizable right-handed females served as controls. Peak amplitudes and latencies of P1, N1, P2, N2, and P3 components were compared in two hypnotic conditions (obtained by means of hypnotic suggestions): stimulus enhancement and stimulus elimination. High hypnotizable subjects displayed a significant attenuation of the P1 and N1 amplitudes of the evoked response while experiencing stimulus elimination. The effect for the P1 component was greatest at the posterior sites compared to that found at the anterior and central sites. A similar trend across condition was also observed for P3 peak amplitude, even though the Group x Condition interaction was only marginally significant (p < .07). During negative hallucination, P3 peak latency for high hypnotizables was shorter than that obtained during stimulus enhancement. This effect was more pronounced across the right hemisphere. These results are discussed in light of previous findings.