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EEG Markers of Alert Hypnosis:The Induction
Makes a Difference
Arreed Barabasz, Ed.D., Ph.D., A.B.P.P.H.
Rather than attempt to uncover some simplistic unidimensional EEG “signature”of the
hypnotic state,this study obtained EEG Event Related Potentials (ERPs)in response to
suggestion only and an alert hypnotic induction plus the identical suggestion conditions.
The suggestion asked the ten subjects to hallucinate having earplugs in their ears to
attenuate a series of computer generated tone pips.Hypnotizability testing was completely
separated in both time (6-9 months prior)and context from this research.Alert hypnosis
(Barabasz,1985;Barabasz &Barabasz;,1996)was used to preclude effects that might be
wrought by relaxation.Only the hypnotizable but not the non hypnotizable subjects showed
statistically significant attenuation of their EEG ERPs in response to the hypnotic induction
plus suggestion condition in contrast to the identical suggestion alone.An independent
post-experimental inquiry revealed that the one highly hypnotizable subject who responded
in an equivalent manner to both conditions did spontaneously enter hypnosis in an effort to
respond to the essence of the instructions.Consistent with previous research (Barabasz,
Barabasz,Jensen,Calvin,Trevisan,&Warner;,1999;Barabasz &Lonsdale;,1983;Spiegel,
Cutcomb,Ren,&Pribram;,1985),the data reveal that when responses are time locked to
events,robust physiological markers of hypnosis emerge that reflect alterations in
consciousness that correspond to subjects ’subjective experiences of perceptual
alteration.These effects were not produced by suggestion alone but only by hypnosis in
hypnotizable subjects.(Sleep and Hypnosis 2000;4:164-169)
| Keywords: alert hypnosis, EEG/ERPs, trance, psychophysiology of hypnosis, suggestibility |
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