Related Experiment Videos
Evaluating hypnotic memory enhancement (hypermnesia and reminiscence) using multitrial forced recall.
D F Dinges1, W G Whitehouse, E C Orne
1Unit for Experimental Psychiatry, Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia 19139-2798.
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Hypnosis does not enhance memory retrieval. Studies show it may increase reporting of incorrect memories, not accurate recall, challenging claims of hypnosis-induced hypermnesia.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Hypnosis is often anecdotally linked to memory enhancement.
- Previous research has not definitively established if hypnosis improves recall accuracy or reporting willingness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether hypnosis enhances memory retrieval itself.
- To determine if hypnosis merely increases the tendency to report recollections.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments assessed recall of pictorial stimuli under hypnosis and waking conditions.
- Participants with varying hypnotic abilities underwent immediate and delayed recall trials.
- Hypnosis was administered either throughout recall or after initial waking trials.
Main Results:
- The hypermnesia effect (improved recall over trials) was observed but not augmented by hypnosis.
- Hypnosis did not improve the retrieval of correct information.
- Hypnotizable individuals showed increased production of incorrect recall under hypnosis.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence that hypnosis enhances memory retrieval accuracy.
- Findings suggest hypnosis may increase false memory reporting rather than true recall.
- The alleged hypermnesic properties of hypnosis are not supported by this research.