{"id":14434,"date":"2024-02-07T12:55:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T12:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/?p=14434"},"modified":"2024-03-01T11:49:43","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T11:49:43","slug":"no-brainy-signature-of-hypnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/healthcare\/no-brainy-signature-of-hypnosis","title":{"rendered":"No Brainy Signature of Hypnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The conclusion of a recent and comprehensive scientific literature overview reveals that \u201cuncovering a single neural signature [of hypnosis] represents an unattainable goal. (*)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This brings – again – the question of whether one should talk about \u2018hypnosis\u2019 at all. There is no behavioral, phenomenological, or neurophysiological reason to do so apart from convention.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For several decades, hypnosis has been debunked as a valid concept.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

See Hypnocus Pocus<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, persistent researchers have kept trying to find a clear hypnotic correlate in the brain, a neural basis of hypnosis that would prove there is more to hypnosis-as-scientific-concept than wishful thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some neurolingo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no neural process that is critical for hypnosis. However, some have been presented as such, from anterior cingulate cortex to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or modulations of theta oscillations in the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These theoretical constructs clash with the heterogeneity in the neuroimaging literature to such a degree that they must be abandoned together with any other possible neurosignature. There is no distinct state of hypnosis in the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some more neurolingo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, neuroimaging correlates with different components have been found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, specific thalamocortical and cortico-cortical interactions underly various parts of attention processes whether in or apart from hypnosis. The same sensory-perceptual processes are seen in a variety of contexts, including hypnotic analgesia. No brain region is typical for hypnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, different \u2018hypnotized\u2019 subjects who experience the same phenomenon (such as feelings of dissociation) may show different brain regions at work. This shows there is little correlation either way between hypnosis and the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, hypnosis is not a \u2018natural kind concept.\u2019 It is a construct that exists only by mutual agreement.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another example of such a construct is a country. For instance, Belgium only \u2018exists\u2019 because people convene that it exists. Many of my compatriots would like it not to exist anymore. In that case, it would only \u2018exist\u2019 in memory and history books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should this happen with hypnosis? Should we forget the term and only talk about individual components that are now lumped together in a set called \u2018hypnosis\u2018?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which option is most functional?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hypnosis as a veil<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An indiscriminate lumping together blocks the straightforward understanding of individual components. The veil then hides what lies beneath. Moreover, some components may be related to different phenomena. These relations are also obscured by the veil. For instance, \u2018hypnotic immersion\u2019 (trance) is very much the same as one\u2019s being immersed in a good book or movie, which also \u201cmakes time go by so quickly\u201d and leads to a reduced awareness of the environment and to altered feelings of agency (becoming the protagonist in a way).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, we don\u2019t talk about book-hypnosis or movie-hypnosis \u2014 although one may say to have been \u2018entranced\u2019 by it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By definition, science is about removing unnecessary veils.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, in the case of \u2018hypnosis,\u2019 removing the veil may be the most scientific move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An argument to keep the construct would be the discovery of a particular brain state that would act as a biological marker linking together hypnotic phenomena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that specificity does not exist.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, a huge amount of literature shows that we should better focus on the components. \u2018Hypnosis\u2019 is something for history books. Science should proceed by focusing on, for instance, \u2018hypnotic suggestion\u2019 apart from \u2018hypnosis.\u2019 We can then better bring forth \u2013 and investigate \u2013 what is most helpful in each individual subject. We can be less mechanically change-oriented (as in ‘trying to control automatic processes’) and more organically growth-oriented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an emphasis on Inner Strength, this leads to auto-suggestion. Of course, this is what AURELIS is about. This way, it\u2019s the opposite of hypnosis. It\u2019s about entirely respecting your strength and where it comes from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You, unveiled, as a total person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If \u2018hypnosis\u2019 is taken for what it is \u2013 nothing intrinsically special \u2013 then we can research how to optimize and integrate these insights for the benefit of many. We can see how people can \u2018normally\u2019 make themselves ill or better again \u2014 all very understandably related to who we actually are and why it matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If some very special and mysterious \u2018Altered State of Consciousness\u2019 is invoked, then hypnosis \u2013 whether or not endorsed by scientists \u2013 stands at the level of voodoo<\/a>, only culturally different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2015<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(*) Landry, M. and Rainville, P. (in press). Beyond the neural signature of hypnosis: Neuroimaging studies support a multifaceted view of hypnotic phenomena. International Handbook of Clinical Hypnosis<\/em>, J.H. Linden, G. de Benedettis, L.I. Sugarman, and K. Varga (Eds), Chapter xx, pp. x-y, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, USA.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/a>
<\/a>

Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The conclusion of a recent and comprehensive scientific literature overview reveals that \u201cuncovering a single neural signature [of hypnosis] represents an unattainable goal. (*) This brings – again – the question of whether one should talk about \u2018hypnosis\u2019 at all. There is no behavioral, phenomenological, or neurophysiological reason to do so apart from convention. For Read the full article…<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/a>
<\/a>

Please login to bookmark<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14435,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/2330.jpg?fit=960%2C560&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Fdiq-3KO","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14434"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14434"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14685,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14434\/revisions\/14685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14435"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aurelis.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}