Abstract
EEG spectral-power density was analyzed in a group of nine highly hypnotizable subjects via ten frontal, central, parietal, and occipital electrodes under four conditions: 1) wake state, 2) neutral hypnosis, 3) hypnotic suggestion for altering perception of tones, and 4) post-hypnosis. Results indicate no theta-power changes between conditions, challenging previous findings that increased theta power is a marker of hypnosis. A decrease in gamma power under hypnotic suggestion and an almost significant decrease under neutral hypnosis were observed, compared to post-hypnosis. Anteroposterior power distribution remained stable over all conditions. The results are discussed and compared to earlier studies, which report heterogenous findings.
Highlights
The search for the neural correlates of hypnosis and hypnotic suggestion has been of continuing interest to the neuroscience of hypnosis (Halsband and Wolf, 2019)
The present study aims to clarify whether the oscillatory power of various EEG frequency bands differs in highly hypnotizable subjects between wake state, neutral hypnosis, hypnosis with hypnotic suggestions, and post-hypnosis – with particular interest in theta and gamma activity, considered by Jensen et al (2015) as being most consistently linked to hypnosis
The purpose of the study was to investigate whether oscillatory power in the various EEG frequency bands differs between pre-hypnosis, neutral hypnosis, hypnotic suggestion, and post hypnosis in highly hypnotizable subjects
Summary
The search for the neural correlates of hypnosis and hypnotic suggestion has been of continuing interest to the neuroscience of hypnosis (Halsband and Wolf, 2019). Whether or not hypnosis should be understood as an altered state of consciousness has long been debated (e.g., Kallio and Revonsuo, 2003; Kihlstrom, 2005; Kirsch and Lynn, 1995); even the very relevance of hypnosis to altered states of consciousness studies has been questioned (Terhune et al, 2017). Though studies using electrical brain oscillations as potential indices of hypnosis began decades ago (Galbraith et al, 1970; Tebecis et al, 1975), modern multichannel electroencephalography (EEG) may still provide additional information about the relevant neural processes. Possible hypnosis-related oscillatory power changes in EEG have been a focus of interest for decades. A review of brain-oscillation studies of hypnosis (Jensen et al, 2015) found hypnosis to be linked most consistently to increase in theta power and possibly changes in gamma activity
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