Hypnosis and hemispheric asymmetry.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Hypnotic susceptibility varies among individuals.
• The neural underpinnings of hypnosis are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in brain function between low and high hypnotic susceptibility.
• To examine the effects of hypnosis on temporal order judgments.

Main Methods:

• Participants (low and high hypnotic susceptibility) performed a temporal order judgment task.
• Judgments were made with and without hypnosis.
• The task involved reporting the order of light flashes in different visual hemi-fields.

Main Results:

• An asymmetry in temporal order judgments was observed, varying with the leading hemi-field.
• This asymmetry was more pronounced in highly hypnotically susceptible individuals.
• Hypnosis reversed this asymmetry in susceptible individuals, indicating altered brain activity.

Conclusions:

• Brain activity changes during hypnosis.
• Significant differences in brain function exist between individuals with low and high hypnotic susceptibility.
• Highly susceptible individuals show a faster left hemisphere in waking states and a faster right hemisphere when hypnotized.