Title: Neuropsychophysiology of Hypnosis: Towards an Understanding of How Hypnotic Interventions
Abstract: The present chapter examines research assessing the neurophysiology of hypnosis to help understand how and when hypnotic clinical (e.g., pain control, imagery, psychoneuroimmunological) interventions work effectively. Hypnosis often involves an amplification of focused attention either inwards or away from an event. There may be enhanced intensity and vividness of emotional affect. Hypnotic susceptibility is a highly relevant moderator in clinical studies. Hypnotizable individuals' (highs) more efficient and flexible frontal attentional and inhibitory systems permit the hypnotic control of acute and chronic pain. The importance of the anterior frontal attention system in the control of pain is supported by independent studies of EEG, evoked potentials, and cerebral metabolism (fMRI, PET, SPECT). These studies and others show that hypnosis takes cognitive effort that demands further allocations of attention and disattention. Highs generate more EEG theta power hypothesized to be associated with focused attention, and exhibit greater EEG hemispheric specificity and asymmetries.
Publication Year: 2001
Publication Date: 2001-08-09
Language: en
Type: other
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 16
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