Hypnotizability and sensorimotor integration: an Italian Space Agency project

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Human Locomotion

Background:

• Postural control in highly hypnotizable individuals (highs) is less dependent on sensory information compared to low hypnotizable subjects (lows).
• Limited research exists on how hypnotizability affects locomotion under sensory manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if locomotion in highs is less affected by visual suppression and neck proprioceptive changes than in lows.
• To explore the role of sensory input in maintaining straight-line walking across different hypnotizability levels.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen highs and 20 lows walked blindfolded under various conditions: basal (forward), with real/imagined head rotation, and during mental computation.
• Performance was assessed by detecting deviations from a straight trajectory and analyzing walking direction.

Main Results:

• Highs demonstrated better detection of trajectory deviations compared to lows.
• Highs maintained a straighter walking path in basal conditions and were less influenced by mental computation and head rotation.
• Locomotion in highs was less affected by sensory manipulation than in lows.

Conclusions:

• Results confirm that highly hypnotizable individuals exhibit reduced dependence on sensory inputs during locomotion.
• The findings suggest distinct sensory processing or motor control strategies in highs, though the exact mechanisms (e.g., spatial representation, automaticity) require further investigation.