Unregulated negative emotion raises burnout risk by 67%, impairing performance and causing physical symptoms. Hypnotic guided imagery (HGI), a deep relaxation intervention, aims to shift negative to positive emotion, but its physiological basis is unclear. This feasibility study tested HGI's effects on emotional valence and arousal in employees with burnout, using electroencephalography (EEG). Valence was measured by frontal alpha asymmetry; arousal by the frontal beta/alpha ratio. Participants were randomly assigned to HGI (n=19) or control (n=13). EEG analyses showed no significant changes, while self-report indicated increased positive and reduced negative affect in the HGI group. Discrepancies may stem from small samples and variability, highlighting the need for methodological rigor in EEG-based intervention studies.
Hypnosis is increasingly studied as a quantifiable neurophysiological process using electroencephalography (EEG). A bibliometric analysis of 135 publications retrieved from Scopus on January 24, 2025, reveals a publication upwelling from 2013 to 2015, followed by stable growth through 2024. The United States, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom lead the field, with Harvard Medical School and the University of Washington as the most prominent institutions. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified four primary research clusters: neurophysiological mechanisms of hypnosis, clinical applications in pain management and anesthesia, EEG-based markers of hypnotizability, and intersections with sleep and consciousness. Emerging themes include integration of artificial intelligence, neurofeedback, and virtual reality. Methodological inconsistencies in EEG protocols and hypnotic induction techniques limit cross-study comparability.
A mindfulness program for adolescents (PRIMA) improved subjective well-being in 28 late adolescents aged 17–21 who initially had low or moderate well-being. After nine sessions, significant gains were observed, with effects lasting at least two weeks. Self-compassion meditation was the most valued component.