What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis or ‘hypnotic treatment’ is a trance-like state that people can find themselves in, and in which concentration and focus are enhanced. Normally, this state is achieved with the help of a therapist who uses verbal repetitions and mental images to remove you from your normal, awake state. During hypnosis, you often feel relaxed and comfortable, and it is in this state that you are more receptive to new suggestions.
Hypnosis can be used to help you control unwanted behaviour or to help you deal with anxiety or pain better. It is important to know that even though you are more open to suggestions during hypnosis, you do not lose control over your personal conduct.
For this reason, hypnosis can be used against stress or anxiety and pain control in connection with, for example, dentists, operations or similar as well as to relieve hot flushes during menopause and to change behaviour in connection with smoking, eating disorders, overweight, phobia, insomnia and so on.
How long does a hypnosis session take place?
Before the actual session begins, the therapist will ask you about any personal wishes you might have, and what you hope to change with the use of hypnosis. Afterwards, the therapist will explain what will happen during the hypnosis. After this briefing, you will lie down comfortably, and the therapist will typically talk in a gentle, calming voice, and describe images that create a sense of relaxation, safety and well-being. When you are in a receptive state, the therapist will suggest ways for you to reach your goals – such as reducing pain or removing the addiction of cigarettes. The therapist can also help you visualise living and meaningful mental images of yourself achieving your goals.
When the session is finished, you may be able to remove yourself from the hypnosis on your own. Otherwise, the therapist will help you finish your trance-like state. In some instances, you may be able to remember what has happened, and what has been said during the hypnosis, while on other occasions, you will not be able to.
Hypnosis is, thus, not as portrayed in films, where the people lose control over themselves and perform actions that they are forced to carry out. However, it is not everyone who can easily be hypnotised. Some therapists believe that the easier you are to hypnotise, the more likely you are to benefit from the hypnosis.
New study shows true changes in brain activity during hypnosis
Many are sceptical about hypnosis, and the effect of the trance-like state is thought to have. Very little is known about how hypnosis can change behaviour, but in a new study, 57 people were examined with 36 of them being very receptive to hypnosis, while the remaining 21 were not. The test persons had their brain activity examined in 3 different states; The first was in relaxation, the second was while they recalled a memory and the third was while they were told a ‘message’ that was meant to lead them into hypnotic trance. Those who were very receptive of hypnosis experienced three different changes in the brain, while they were hypnotised. These changes were not present outside of a trance-like state, and the changes were also not observed among the participants that were not receptive of hypnosis.
The 3 different changes under hypnosis
Among these changes, there is an increased activity within the ‘prefrontal cerebral cortex’ which contributes to the planning and execution of tasks as well as changes in the ‘insula’, which helps the mind connect with the body. In addition, it has occurred that hypnosis can be used to change things, such as the release of stomach acid, the heart rate (pulse), blood pressure among other things. The brain is very skilled in controlling these things, and here, especially, the insula is an important area of the brain.
On the other hand, a reduced activity can be seen between the task orientated prefrontal cerebral cortex and the brain’s ‘sleep mode network’, which is active when we daydream. This reduced link between the two networks represents an interrupted connection of the participants’ actions and their consciousness about the actions. This interruption allows the persons to participate in activities suggested by the hypnotist without them being aware of it themselves.
Finally, activity is reduced in the brain area that controls what we should worry about. Hence, the patient can remain focused yet untroubled about the instructions given by the therapist if the patient merely follows the therapist carefree. All the changes to the brain activity that were observed, correspond with the experiences hypnotists have with the effect of therapy on their clients. With these results, researchers hope to be able to demonstrate that hypnosis is a true neurological phenomenon which requires attention. To the sceptics, these test results might be convincing enough to change their attitude, or at least to persuade them to participate in an experiment, should they find themselves in a situation where hypnosis has been shown to be effective.
