Trance states during a mind–body intervention monitored by BIS
Frontiers in Psychology January 30, 2026 Nina Zech, Martin Busch, Veronika K. Jaeger et al.
A mind-body intervention modified from the Feldenkrais method produces measurable changes in electrical brain activity similar to those seen during hypnotic induction. In 54 adult volunteers, the Bispectral Index (BIS), an EEG-derived parameter used in anesthesia, decreased from an awake value of 97.5 to values of 88-92 during both a hypnotic susceptibility test and the mind-body intervention. Significant drops occurred with each break during the intervention. Age, sex, suggestibility, and daytime did not significantly influence the changes. The findings suggest that such interventions induce a non-ordinary state of consciousness, which may be relevant for therapeutic change by engaging unconscious processes.