Neural dynamics of hypnotic responding: From unique to multicomponent perspectives on hypnotic phenomena

Understanding the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying hypnosis has been a central focus of investigation over recent decades. Dominant approaches have often aimed to identify a single, distinct neural signature capable of accounting for the emergence of hypnotic phenomena. However, despite robust behavioural evidence supporting the concept of hypnotic responding, findings from neuroimaging and electrophysiological studies have been highly heterogeneous, limiting the establishment of a consistent neurophysiological framework. This chapter provides an up-to-date overview of the neural dynamics associated with hypnotic responses and explores the primary sources of variability in brain-based markers of hypnosis. We propose a componential approach, suggesting that the hypnotic process comprises multiple distinct yet interacting mechanisms. Specifically, we describe how different aspects of hypnotic phenomena correspond to specific neural patterns: large-scale network connectivity changes induced by hypnotic induction, localized modulations driven by suggestion, and individual susceptibility amplifying these neural responses. We further argue that additional variability may stem from individual differences beyond susceptibility, contributing to the lack of convergence across studies. The chapter concludes by advocating for a multi-componential framework as a promising direction for future research that better captures the complexity of the cognitive and neural architecture underlying hypnotic responding.