New directions in hypnosis research: strategies for advancing the cognitive and clinical neuroscience of hypnosis

Terhune, Devin Blair. 2017. New directions in hypnosis research: strategies for advancing the cognitive and clinical neuroscience of hypnosis. Neuroscience of Consciousness, 3(1), pp. 1-14. [Article]

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Abstract or Description

This article summarizes key advances in hypnosis research during the past two decades, including (i) clinical research supporting the efficacy of hypnosis for managing a number of clinical symptoms and conditions, (ii) research supporting the role of various divisions in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortices in hypnotic responding, and (iii) an emerging finding that high hypnotic suggestibility is associated with atypical brain connectivity profiles. Key recommendations for a research agenda for the next decade include the recommendations that (i) laboratory hypnosis researchers should strongly consider how they assess hypnotic suggestibility in their studies, (ii) inclusion of study participants who score in the middle range of hypnotic suggestibility, and (iii) use of expanding research designs that more clearly delineate the roles of inductions and specific suggestions. Finally, we make two specific suggestions for helping to move the field forward including (i) the use of data sharing and (ii) redirecting resources away from contrasting state and nonstate positions toward studying (a) the efficacy of hypnotic treatments for clinical conditions influenced by central nervous system processes and (b) the neurophysiological underpinnings of hypnotic phenomena. As we learn more about the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying hypnosis and suggestion, we will strengthen our knowledge of both basic brain functions and a host of different psychological functions.

Highlights
• Hypnosis treatments have demonstrated efficacy for a number of conditions.
• Research supports the role of divisions in the anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortices in hypnotic responding.
• Consideration of three study design issues could improve the impact of hypnosis research.
• Researchers in the field would do well to consider developing mechanisms for data sharing.
• It may be time to direct research resources away from studies that contrast state and non state models of hypnosis.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1093/nc/nix004

Additional Information:

Received: 8 December 2016; Revised: 24 February 2017. Accepted: 1 March 2017
(c) The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com

Keywords:

consciousness; hypnosis; hypnotic suggestibility; hypnotizability

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Psychology
Psychology > Timing, Awareness, and Suggestion Lab

Dates:

DateEvent
1 March 2017Accepted
12 April 2017Published

Item ID:

20209

Date Deposited:

19 Apr 2017 09:40

Last Modified:

29 Apr 2020 16:26

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/20209

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