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Cited by 176Pain Management and Placebo EffectParanormal Experiences and BeliefsDental Anxiety and Anesthesia Techniques

A working model of the neurophysiology of hypnosis: a review of evidence

Gruzelier, John·1998·Contemporary Hypnosis
DOI 10.1002/ch.112
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Abstract

Neuropsychophysiological evidence is reviewed testing a three‐stage, top‐down working model of the traditional hypnotic relaxation induction involving: (1) a thalamocortical attentional network engaging a left frontolimbic focused attention control system underpinning sensory fixation and concentration on the induction; (2) instatement of frontolimbic inhibitory systems through suggestions of tiredness at fixation and relaxation whereby anterior executive functions are suspended and directed by the induction; (3) engagement of right‐sided temporoposterior functions through passive imagery and dreaming. A selectivity of action in high susceptibles was a hallmark of the studies. Increased Stroop interference coincided with maintenance of error detection and abolition of error evaluation potentials, interpreted as dissociation of cognitive and affective executive systems of the anterior cingulate. Verbal, category and design fluency tasks were dissociated with hypnosis centring on left anterior processes as seen in left lateral and medial reduced EEG connectivity. Limbic modulated electrodermal orienting responses and frontal modulated mismatch negativity waves were inhibited. Asymmetries in electrodermal and electrocortical responses to tones shifted to favour the right hemisphere, an asymmetry also seen in visual sensitivity. Haptic processing and visual sensitivity disclosed more distributed changes in medium susceptibles, while low susceptibles were characterized by poorer attentional functions at baseline and improvements through the induction. Copyright © 1998 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis

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  • In the model, an induction that invites or requires a subject to let go and not monitor, evaluate, or consciously control responses requires a reduction of activity in neuron assemblies associated with these tasks, perhaps in the anterior cortex.

    “Thus, in our model, an induction that invites or requires a subject to “let go” and not monitor, evaluate, or consciously control responses would be hypothesized to require a reduction of activity in the neuron assemblies associated with these tasks – perhaps assemblies in the anterior cortex (Dienes & Hutton, 2013; Gruzelier, 1998).”

    From Brain oscillations, hypnosis, and hypnotizability (2015) · cites this paper as Gruzelier, 1998

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Authors
Gruzelier, J.
Affiliations
Imperial College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Gruzelier, John
Venue
Contemporary Hypnosis
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1998-03
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
3-21
ISSN
  • 0960-5290 (ISSN-L)
  • 1557-0711
DOI
10.1002/ch.112
OpenAlex
W2060056812
Cited by
176
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 11
FWCI
2.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 2916 d)
Locations
Contemporary Hypnosis (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › Oral Surgery › Dental Anxiety and Anesthesia Techniques
Keywords
hypnosis, executive function, anterior cingulate cortex, Stroop interference, error detection, EEG connectivity, hemispheric lateralization, electrodermal response, mismatch negativity, hypnotic susceptibility, visual sensitivity

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