Stanford Researchers Explore "Reality" of Hypnosis

Is hypnosis real or simply a person’s desire to play along with the hypnotist?

That question was tackled head on in a new study published last week by researchers at Stanford University.  The article below published by the New York Times is a good write-up of the findings, which I suspect will lead to more exploration of this topic.

Stanford's Dr. David Spiegel

Stanford’s Dr. David Spiegel, one of the researchers, told the New York Times, “I think we have pretty definitive evidence here that the brain is working differently when a person is in hypnosis.”

Is Hypnosis All in Your Head?  Brain Scan Suggests Otherwise

New York Times (July 29, 2016)

It's All Personal with Hypnosis

There are incredibly smart researchers studying the science of hypnosis.  What exactly happens to the brain?  Why are some people more suggestible than others?

Here is an interesting quote from a recent study conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine and published in the Archives of General Psychiatry:

“Hypnosis is described as a trance-like state during which a person has a heightened focus and concentration…it works by modulating activity in brain regions associated with focused attention.”

I’ve practiced self-hypnosis for nearly a decade, taught the process to more than 100 people and, during the past three years, performed my “Hypnotic Experience” show for nearly 1,000 guests.  I had no idea my induction technique was modulating brain regions.

Candidly, it doesn’t concern me much.  That’s because I am more focused on helping people realize the positive outcomes achieved through hypnosis – stress management, self-confidence and esteem, academic and career performance, and physical well-being.

Yet, I also recognize many of the attendees at the events where I perform seek more than just the experience of hypnosis.  They have a sincere interest to better understand a process often defined by misconceptions.

My performance this evening for DC Global Adventurers is a wonderful example.  Readers of this blog know I’ve struck up an intimate relationship with this 1,800+ person social group because of the respect I have for its founder and the high caliber of people I’ve met at her meet-ups.

You can read recaps of my previous presentations of hypnosis to this group here and here.

About 20 exceptional professionals gathered at my Tysons Corner office for an introduction to hypnosis.  Although the room was a bit cramped (and warm), the induction was smooth and resulted in most of the attendees drifting gently into a state of relaxation and focus.

We then invested nearly 30 minutes in a fascinating Q&A session and discussion of what it felt like to be hypnotized.  Here are a few highlights:

--When asked to visualize a relaxing scenario (i.e. lying on the beach), many pictured themselves with a loved one or close friend, rather than alone.  It’s obvious the desire for social engagement permeates the subconscious mind.

--For some, the pace of my induction was too quick, while others found it just right.  

--My countdown methodology of alternating between three, five and, in one instance, ten also threw some off because of a lack of consistency.  I’ve heard this before and may need to alter my approach.

--And finally, nearly every attendee reported a unique experience when hypnotized.  There was some constants, such as feelings of being relaxed, comfortable, energized and confident.  Yet, the actually experience of hypnosis is clearly a personal one.

The researchers at Stanford provide us with a plausible reason why, “The brain is complicated, people are complicated.”

Each hypnotized guest reported a unique experience when asked to visualize themselves lying on a beach.

Are You Easily Hypnotized?

The easily hypnotized share common characteristics.  Photo:  John Arrowwood Hypnotherapy.

I quickly learned upon launching my study of hypnosis that some people rapidly fall into a hypnotic trance, while others fail to ever achieve a high level of suggest-ability.  

Here's a link to an interesting article published yesterday in the Los Angeles Times' Health Section that explores that very issue:

Could Hypnosis Help You?  Yes, If You Have the Brain For It

A research team from Stanford University scanned the brain of 12 individuals who are highly hypnotizable and then compared the results to scans of 12 people who are not easily hypnotized.  The brains proved to be similar in characteristics, yet those from the hypnotizable group demonstrated a higher level of activity in a region of the brain that is active when the mind is at rest.

Psychiatrist David, Spiegel, one of the authors, summed up the findings when he explained to the LA Times the easily hypnotized "can harness their minds to imagine something about themselves -- and make it so."

When performing at an event, party, festival or outing the challenge I face is how to effectively identify the easily hypnotizable when seeking volunteers.  I employ a couple of different methods which include:

1) An introductory talk to explain hypnosis, its positive benefits and how it is an effective tool for those with a strong and creative mind (i.e. artists, writers, athletes, students, etc.).  This is designed to establish comfort and trust between the hypnotist and the crowd.

2) A demonstration of the power of visualization that involves "heavy/light hands" and "magnet hands" scenarios.

I watch closely to see who in the crowd responds well and then I select them if they volunteer.  As this Stanford University research indicates, I typically choose a set of volunteers whose brains all share common characteristics.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interested in what I am up to during the day?  Follow me on Twitter here.