Hypnosis, or commonly known as trance, is an altered state of mind in which a person is highly responsive to suggestion. While in trance, a hypnotic subject is focused entirely on certain ideas to the exclude of all others. At one time, the hypnotic effects were widely believed to be an act of trickery or mysticism. However, in recent years, advancement in cognitive science have found hypnosis to be a natural state, grounded in the principle workings of the mind. Oakley and Halligan who have written a new review, set straight hypnosis myths, and covering ways that neuroscience is shedding light on hypnosis and ways hypnosis is aiding neuroscience say, “new brain imaging findings do support the contention that hypnosis is a distinct form of consciousness.” After successful hypnotic training, Oakley and Halligan, trialed mental strategies to reach “a focused and absorbed attentional state.” During the studies participants show a decreased activity in portions of the brain and an increase in other locations.
What You Need to Know
Theories as to how hypnosis results are achieved by the idea that hypnosis produces alterations in brain …show more content…
It can be used to change associations, for instance, Walkin’s example, smoking addiction. Hypnosis can be used to mentally prepare you for better ways of going about things, such as being able cope with stressful situations without having to use nicotine. Since the unconscious mind is in charge of our autonomic bodily processes, physical change can also be achieved through hypnosis. Another good example is Pain control through hypnosis. Our mind has been proven to alters our awareness of pain all the time. Have you ever gotten a bruise and wondered how it was obtained? Hypnosis can be used to strengthen that same response and apply it to any specific situation, for example, the control of chronic