Hypnotizability and blink rate: a test of the dopamine hypothesis

Evidence suggests a role for central dopaminergic activity in determining an individual's level of hypnotizability. The authors measured the correlation between blink rate, which has been shown to correlate with central dopaminergic activity, and hypnotizability. Forty-eight healthy participants were evaluated for hypnotizability by the Harvard Group Scales of Hypnotic Susceptibility and the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form C. Blink rate was assessed under conditions of conversation, staring at a cross, listening to music, and resting. Contrary to their hypothesis, the authors found a negative correlation between hypnotizability and blink rate, accounted for primarily by the higher blink rates at rest in medium as compared to high hypnotizables. The results do not provide evidence for a role of dopamine in determining hypnotizability.