Physiological Correlates of Hypnotizability: Hypnotic Behaviour and Prognostic Role in Medicine
Eleonora Malloggi, Enrica L Santarcangelo
Brain Science November 24, 2023 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121632 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scoping review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | The authors argue that hypnotizability is associated with stable differences in cerebral function—such as functional equivalence between imagery and perception/action, motor cortex excitability, and interoceptive accuracy—and in peripheral and cerebral blood supply control, possibly due to differences in endothelial nitric oxide availability. They propose these differences contribute to hypnotic behavior and may be useful for prognosis and treatment in some medical conditions. |
Abstract
Studies in the field of experimental hypnosis highlighted the role of hypnotizability in the physiological variability of the general population. It is associated, in fact, with a few differences which are observable in the ordinary state of consciousness and in the absence of suggestions. The aim of the present scoping review is summarizing them and indicate their relevance to the neural mechanisms of hypnosis and to the prognosis and treatment of a few medical conditions. Individuals with high, medium and low hypnotizability scores display different cerebral functional differences—i.e., functional equivalence between imagery and perception/action, excitability of the motor cortex, interoceptive accuracy—possibly related to brain structural and functional characteristics, and different control of blood supply at peripheral and cerebral level, likely due to different availability of endothelial nitric oxide. These differences are reviewed to support the idea of their participation in hypnotic behaviour and to indicate their prognostic and therapeutic usefulness in a few medical conditions.