EEG Activity to Variations in EEG Activity to Variations in ConsciousnessConsciousness

• Which type of wave would an EEG Which type of wave would an EEG detect if you…detect if you…

_____ 1. Are playing a video game._____ 1. Are playing a video game._____ 2. Are deep in meditation._____ 2. Are deep in meditation._____ 3. Have just fallen asleep._____ 3. Have just fallen asleep._____ 4. Are sleepwalking across the lawn. _____ 4. Are sleepwalking across the lawn. _____ 5. Are in the midst of a terrible _____ 5. Are in the midst of a terrible

nightmare.nightmare.

Hypnosis Hypnosis

Today’s Goal:Today’s Goal:Discuss theories Discuss theories

of hypnosis, of hypnosis, noting the noting the behavior of behavior of hypnotized hypnotized people and people and

claims regarding claims regarding its uses.its uses.

MesmerismMesmerism

• Claimed to cure illnesses by a “laying Claimed to cure illnesses by a “laying on of hands”on of hands”

• ““Animal magnetism”Animal magnetism”

HypnotismHypnotism• Systematic procedure that produces Systematic procedure that produces

heightened state of suggestibilityheightened state of suggestibility• Two partsTwo parts– Hypnotic inductionHypnotic induction• Subject told to relax, concentrate, or focus Subject told to relax, concentrate, or focus

attentionattention

– Hypnotic suggestionsHypnotic suggestions

= = Degree to which people Degree to which people respond to hypnotic respond to hypnotic suggestionssuggestions

• 10% of adults are difficult or 10% of adults are difficult or impossible to hypnotizeimpossible to hypnotize

• Highly “susceptible” individuals Highly “susceptible” individuals report vivid hypnotic report vivid hypnotic experiencesexperiences

• Willingness is most Willingness is most important factorimportant factor

Hypnotic SuggestibilityHypnotic Suggestibility

True or False?True or False?• People in hypnosis lose control and can be People in hypnosis lose control and can be

made to do whatever the hypnotist wants. made to do whatever the hypnotist wants. • People may not be able to come out of People may not be able to come out of

hypnosis.hypnosis.• Hypnosis only affects weak-willed or gullible Hypnosis only affects weak-willed or gullible

people.people.• Hypnosis reliably enhances the accuracy of Hypnosis reliably enhances the accuracy of

memory.memory.• Hypnosis enables people to re-experience a Hypnosis enables people to re-experience a

past life.past life.• Hypnosis depends primarily on the skill of the Hypnosis depends primarily on the skill of the

hypnotist.hypnotist.• Relaxation is an important part of hypnosis. Relaxation is an important part of hypnosis. All of these statements are false.

• Posthypnotic suggestionPosthypnotic suggestion– Instructions about behavior to take place Instructions about behavior to take place

after hypnotic experience (i.e. smiling after hypnotic experience (i.e. smiling whenever someone says “England”)whenever someone says “England”)

• Posthypnotic amnesiaPosthypnotic amnesia– Inability to recall what Inability to recall what

happened while happened while hypnotizedhypnotized

Ernest Hilgard (1965, 1992)Ernest Hilgard (1965, 1992)

1)1) Hypnotized people show reduced Hypnotized people show reduced planfulnessplanfulness

Waited for hypnotist’s instructions before actingWaited for hypnotist’s instructions before acting2)2) Attention is redistributedAttention is redistributed

Ignore all but the hypnotist’s voiceIgnore all but the hypnotist’s voice3)3) Ability to fantasizeAbility to fantasize

More vivid imaginationMore vivid imagination4)4) Increased role takingIncreased role taking

More easily act like person of different age or genderMore easily act like person of different age or gender5)5) Reduced reality testingReduced reality testing

Not to question if statements are true, more Not to question if statements are true, more willing to accept apparent distortions of willing to accept apparent distortions of realityreality

Altered State of Altered State of Consciousness?Consciousness?

• State theory = yesState theory = yes– Notable changes in brain activity during Notable changes in brain activity during

hypnosishypnosis– Insensitivity to Insensitivity to

pain, disappearance pain, disappearance of wartsof warts

Altered State of Altered State of Consciousness?Consciousness?

• Role theory = noRole theory = no– Changes in brain activity can also be Changes in brain activity can also be

created without hypnosiscreated without hypnosis– Merely complying with social demandsMerely complying with social demands– Socially acceptable reason to follow Socially acceptable reason to follow

suggestionssuggestions• Evidence to support role theoryEvidence to support role theory– Non-hypnotized people display Non-hypnotized people display

behaviors associated with hypnosisbehaviors associated with hypnosis

Altered State of Consciousness?Altered State of Consciousness?• Hilgard’s Dissociation Theory = yes and noHilgard’s Dissociation Theory = yes and no– Not a specific state, but instead a split in Not a specific state, but instead a split in

consciousness (dissociation)consciousness (dissociation)– Body movements under voluntary control can Body movements under voluntary control can

occur on their own, involuntary processes can be occur on their own, involuntary processes can be controlled voluntarilycontrolled voluntarily

– Social agreement to share control w/hypnotistSocial agreement to share control w/hypnotist

Altered State of Altered State of Consciousness?Consciousness?

• Evidence to support dissociationEvidence to support dissociation– Brain imaging == ability to dissociate Brain imaging == ability to dissociate

mental processes greater in people who mental processes greater in people who are more hypnotically susceptibleare more hypnotically susceptible

– ““ice water” study = told to feel no pain, ice water” study = told to feel no pain, felt almost nonefelt almost none• ““hidden observer” outside of conscious hidden observer” outside of conscious

awarenessawareness

Applications of HypnosisApplications of Hypnosis• Alleviation of painAlleviation of pain• HypnotherapyHypnotherapy– Reduce symptoms (nausea, Reduce symptoms (nausea,

headaches, arthritis, skin headaches, arthritis, skin disorders, etc.)disorders, etc.)

– Effective for obesityEffective for obesity– Does NOT work for drug Does NOT work for drug

addictionsaddictions• Aid in memory? Aid in memory? not not

accurateaccurate• Does NOT cause people to Does NOT cause people to

act against their will act against their will

MeditationMeditation• Intended to create altered Intended to create altered

state of consciousness state of consciousness characterized by inner characterized by inner peace & tranquilitypeace & tranquility

• Bring mental processes under Bring mental processes under greater voluntary controlgreater voluntary control

• Yoga, Zen, transcendental Yoga, Zen, transcendental meditation (TM)meditation (TM)– mantrasmantras

MeditationMeditation• Physiological correlatesPhysiological correlates– Alpha waves and theta waves Alpha waves and theta waves

become more prominent in become more prominent in EEG recordingsEEG recordings

– Heart rate, skin conductance, Heart rate, skin conductance, breathing, oxygen breathing, oxygen consumption/CO2 elimination consumption/CO2 elimination all decline all decline

• However, lowered bodily However, lowered bodily arousal and changes in brain arousal and changes in brain activity could be likely due activity could be likely due to simple relaxation effects to simple relaxation effects

Long-Term Benefits of Meditation – Long-Term Benefits of Meditation – View With CautionView With Caution

• Reduce effects of stressReduce effects of stress– Lower levels of “stress hormones” & Lower levels of “stress hormones” &

enhanced immune responseenhanced immune response• Improve mental health while Improve mental health while

reducing anxietyreducing anxiety• Beneficial effects on self-esteem, Beneficial effects on self-esteem,

moodmood• Improves concentration and Improves concentration and

awareness?awareness?

Altered States of ConsciousnessAltered States of Consciousness

• Biofeedback training (BFT)Biofeedback training (BFT) system system that provides or “feeds back” info that provides or “feeds back” info about a bodily function (i.e. heart about a bodily function (i.e. heart rate)rate)

• Combat stress, tension, anxietyCombat stress, tension, anxiety• Use EEG and EMG Use EEG and EMG

(electromyograph)(electromyograph)