Neural and ocular correlates of hypnosis: insights from EEG and EOG analysis
Sophie Adama, Martin Bogdan
Symposium on Pattern Recognition and Applications July 2, 2026 DOI: 10.1117/12.3115513 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2 |
| Population | Two participants (S01 and S02) |
| Intervention | Ericksonian hypnotic induction |
| Measures | Normalized Consciousness Level (NCL), EOG-derived measures (standard deviation, peak-to-peak amplitude, zero-crossing rate) |
| Key findings | Hypnosis did not decrease consciousness as measured by NCL, but shifted its spatial distribution. Eye movement amplitude and variability decreased in both subjects, with S01 showing uniform decreases and S02 showing more frequent but smaller movements. |
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of hypnosis on consciousness and ocular activity in two participants S01 and S02. EEG and EOG signals were recorded during a P300 oddball paradigm, both before and after Ericksonian hypnotic induction. Consciousness was quantified using the Normalized Consciousness Level (NCL) via the ncl-matlab toolbox, while eye movements were characterized using standard deviation, peak-to-peak amplitude, and zero-crossing rate of horizontal and vertical EOG signals. Results showed that NCL remained high post-hypnosis but shifted spatially, suggesting a relocation of brain activity rather than a decrease in conscious state. EOG analysis revealed reduced amplitude and variability in both subjects, with S01 showing uniform decreases and S02 exhibiting more frequent but smaller eye movements. These findings indicate that hypnosis alters the dynamics of both neural and ocular activity without diminishing overall consciousness.