Mapping EEG-based hypnosis research: A bibliometric study.

Abstract

Hypnosis, traditionally studied as a psychological phenomenon, is increasingly explored through electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor alterations in brain activity associated with the hypnotic state. This study provides a bibliometric analysis of EEG-based hypnosis research, mapping key trends, contributors, and emerging themes. A Scopus-based bibliometric analysis was conducted on January 24, 2025, retrieving 135 publications using relevant keywords. The study examined publication trends, leading authors, institutions, contributing countries, journal sources, and keyword co-occurrence networks using VOSviewer. Findings show a publication upwelling from 2013 to 2015, followed by stable growth (2016-2024). 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 revealed four primary research clusters: (1) neurophysiological mechanisms of hypnosis, (2) clinical applications in pain management and anesthesia, (3) EEG-based markers of hypnotizability, and (4) intersections with sleep and consciousness. Emerging themes include the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), neurofeedback, and virtual reality (VR) technologies. The findings suggest that hypnosis is increasingly conceptualized as a quantifiable neurophysiological process. However, methodological inconsistencies - particularly in EEG protocols and hypnotic induction techniques - limit cross-study comparability. Future research should prioritize methodological standardization to improve cross-study comparability and reproducibility, international collaboration to address geographic disparities, and the incorporation of advanced neurotechnology to enable real-time monitoring and personalized hypnotic interventions.