Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a subconscious state of the mind marked by extreme relaxation, increased suggestibility, and heightened imagination. Or, any state of the mind that makes one more detached, more focused and more suggestible.
Studies using modern medical instruments such functional Magnetic Resonance Imagery (fMRI) machine, Electroencephalographic (EEG) machine and Proton Emission Tomographic (PET) machine have correlated hypnosis with detectable changes in brain waves, which tend toward theta waves with an experience akin to daydreaming, transcendental meditation or light sleep.
The Neuroanatomy of Hypnosis
The use of the modern instruments mentioned above has recently revealed that during hypnosis, activity increase in the occipital and the posterior parietal regions of each cerebral cortex of the brain.
A more recent study at Stanford University has correlated hypnosis with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, insula, medial prefrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate and posterior cingulate cortex.
The Neuropsychology of Hypnosis
Some persons hypothesize that during meditation, the subconscious mind dominates the concious mind, the right cerebral hemisphere dominates the left. The state of hypnosis can be likened to a state of transcendental meditation - though they are two different phenomena.
Hypnosis is produced by hypnotic induction -- particularly in those who have high scores in standard tests of hypnotic susceptibility.
However, in 1990 Price and Barrell proposed the following common elements of a hypnotic state:
A feeling of relaxation or inner calmness that must not be physical relaxation.
An absorbed and sustained focus of attention on one or few targets
An absence of judging, monitoring, and censoring.
A suspension of usual orientation toward time and location and/or sense of self.
One's own responses are experiences are automatic ( i.e. without deliberation or effort)
The Neurophysiology of Hypnosis
Some persons hypothesize that the communication between the left and right cerebral hemispheres dies down during hypnosis. Increase in brain theta waves is also recorded. This type of brain wave is associated with an experience akin to daydreaming and light sleep.
The study at Stanford University showed decrease in activity in dorsal anterior cingulate, increase in connection between two dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the insula, reduced connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the default mode network (DMN) comprising of the medial prefrontal and cingulate cortex, which may explain the disconnect between someone's actions and the awareness of their actions
Evidences gathered using visual analog scale show that the elements of hypnosis are interrelated, eliciting the belief that some of the elements are likely to be necessary for others.
The Relationship Between Hypnosis and Meditation
Both hypnosis and meditation shape modes of thought, behavior and experience in a continuum of conciousness.
Both hypnosis (self hypnosis) and meditation are used for self-discipline.
Differences Between Hypnosis and Meditation
Hypnosis is a phenomenon associated with illusion or hallucination, while meditation is a real and demystifying phenomenon. Hypnosis exploits deep relaxation to coax the mind to move from defensive to receptive posture, while meditation focuses the mind on a particular stimulus discarding others. Self hypnosis is specific and goal oriented, while meditation is a lifelong practice with nonspecific goals. In hypnosis, basically, there is loss of concious control of self to the source of hypnosis, as opposed to meditation.
How to Achieve Self hypnosis
Self hypnosis is a therapeutic kind of hypnosis exploited by an individual for the modification of behavior or other health purposes.
To learn how to induce self hypnosis visit: https://hypnosistrainingacademy.com
The Benefits of Self Hypnosis
Self hypnosis is exploited in the enhancement of memory by relieving anxiety and digging into the areas of the brain associated with memory through the rewiring of their neuronal networks. This process inhibits cognitive decline, ageing of the brain and memory loss. Hence, hypnosis comes in handy in the treatment of several brain diseases.
Self hypnosis also helps addicts to quit their unwanted behaviors that invariably impact their brains negatively.
Noteworthy is the fact that some drugs known as hypnotics can be used to induce hypnosis in the cause of treatment of some ailments such as relieving pain. But this should be based on prescription by a qualified physician, as they can cause serious cognitive imimpairment.
Festus C. Anaba, B Med.
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