Brief Hypnotic Intervention Increases Throwing Accuracy
Abstract
The present study examined whether motor skill learning could be enhanced through a hypnotic intervention. The task involved throwing a tennis ball overhand at a target. Participants were assigned to either a hypnosis or control group. Both groups first completed a pre-test of 20 throws. Prior to the second block of 20 throws (post-test), the hypnosis group received a 10-minute hypnotic intervention. The theme of the hypnosis session was to focus on the target while throwing. Participants were aroused from the hypnotic state prior to the throwing task. The control group was asked to relax in the same environment for the same length of time. Control group participants were told that focusing on the target had been shown to increase accuracy. On the post-test, as well as on a retention test (20 throws), conducted 5–8 days after the post-test, the hypnosis group showed an increase in throwing accuracy relative to the pre-test and more effective performance than the control group whose performance was similar to that on the pre-test. These findings show that hypnosis can have a positive impact on motor learning. Potential mechanisms for this effect are discussed.
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A brief 10-minute hypnotic intervention improved throwing accuracy.
“In one study, even a brief (10-minute) hypnotic intervention improved throwing accuracy (Jalene & Wulf, 2014).”
From Optimizing performance through intrinsic motivation and attention for learning: The OPTIMAL theory of motor learning (2016) · cites this paper as Jalene & Wulf, 2014
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- Authors
- Jalene, S., & Wulf, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (US)
- Venue
- International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2014-02
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 199-206
- ISSN
- 1747-9541 (ISSN-L)
- 2048-397X
- OpenAlex
- W1994666922
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 3.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Minnesota
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Sport Psychology and Performance
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Pain Management and Placebo Effect
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Sports and Physical Education Research
- Keywords
- hypnosis, motor skill learning, throwing accuracy, hypnotherapy, skill retention, relaxation, performance improvement
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