How hypnosis happens: new cognitive theories of hypnotic responding

Hypnotic Illusions and Clinical Delusions:A Hypnotic Paradigm for Investigating Delusions of Misidentification

“…It is worth noting, however, that participants in the hypnotic condition described a more complete and compelling experience of the suggested delusion. This is consistent with other findings that, although high hypnotizable participants can Downloaded by [University Library Utrecht] at 02:39 15 March 2015 achieve hypnotic-like experiences outside of hypnosis, their responses in hypnosis are often slightly easier or more compelling ; for a theoretical account, see Barnier, Dienes, & Mitchell, 2008).…”

Mirror agnosia and the mirrored-self misidentification delusion: A hypnotic analogue

“…The finding is also consistent with other research from Australian laboratories that demonstrates a hypnotic induction influences participants' response to delusion suggestions (e.g., Cox & Barnier, 2009;McConkey, Szeps, & Barnier, 2001). Although some participants may be able to experience hypnotic effects without a formal induction, participants typically rate these effects as less vivid and less compelling as when they are experienced following an induction (McConkey et al, 2001; see also Barnier, Dienes, & Mitchell, 2008). This difference may be particularly pronounced for complex delusory items, such as in this experiment, as opposed to simple ideomotor suggestions, which may not be so influenced by an induction.…”

“…Hypnosis involves top-down processing and suggestions need to make sense to participants in order for them to experience their effects. Previous research has shown that hypnosis participants actively work to interpret and experience the suggestions given to them (e.g., Barnier, Dienes, & Mitchell, 2008;Lynn & Sivec, 1992;McConkey, 1991;Sheehan, 1991;Sheehan & McConkey, 1982;Spanos, 1981;White, 1937White, , 1941. This is reflected, for example, in research showing that high hypnotisable participants often respond to what they perceive to be the hypnotist's intention rather than the literal suggestion (e.g., Green et al, 1990;Lynn et al, 1990;Sheehan, 1971Sheehan, , 1980.…”

The emerging neuroscience of hypnosis

“…In a separate experiment, the posthypnotic suggestion appears to have also dampened early (~ 100 ms) ERP components, which suggests that the suggestion affects early visual attention, a finding that merits further study. This effect has been independently replicated with Stroop, Flanker, Simon, and synaesthesia-Stroop tasks (Casiglia et al, 2010;Terhune et al, 2010;Iani et al, 2009;Iani et al, 2009), although at least one set of unpublished failed replications has been cited (Barnier et al, 2008). Cumulatively, these studies demonstrate that seemingly automatic processes can be overridden using hypnotic suggestion.…”