What happens to the brain when we hypnotized?

Hypnotize is already known in the long term. In the medical world, hypnosis is one way that is used to help treat certain medical conditions. Unfortunately, many patients are skeptical about the potential benefits of hypnosis in medicine.

Hypnosis is the first form of psychotherapy in the Western world, but little is known about how it works.

Illustration of Hypnotize. 
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The new study, led by David Spiegel, a psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine finally managed to uncover the real changes that occur in the brain when entering a hypnotic state.

Spiegel and his colleagues pooled study of 57 people as volunteers. After undergoing tests, it turns out 36 of which showed high susceptibility to hypnosis, while the rest seemed not too vulnerable. 

By using MRI, researchers measured brain activity based on changes in the blood flow. Measurements were taken at rest, when recalling the memory, and when the volunteers got an order to be able to enter the hypnotic state.

"Some parts of the brain relax while hypnotized volunteers, while other parts have become more active," Spiegel said.

When hypnotized, people with high levels of hypnotic susceptibility experiencing three different changes in the brain that did not happen when they are in the waking state. Those changes did not occur in the brain with low hypnotic susceptibility.

In hypnosis, a decline in activity in the area of ​​the brain called the dorsal Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC). This section deals with consciousness and motor control, but it also plays a role in decision making.

Hypnotized person also increased connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the insula. The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain that helps us to plan and carry out the tasks, while the insula helps to keep the mind is connected with the body.

"In hypnosis, we know that you can change things like gastric acid secretion, heart rate, and blood pressure. Your brain is very good in control of what happens in the body, and the insula is one that has an important role," said Spiegel.

A third change, people in hypnosis also experienced a reduction of connectivity between prefortal dorsolateral cortex with the default mode network (DMN), the most active part when someone is daydreaming. Decrease of connectivity that makes the dissolution of the relationship between the action and the underlying consciousness.

In the study explained that a hypnotized person is very focused but not alarmed at what they do. They do not consider the instruction, but only along with it, and have a more direct relationship between the mind and the physical functions of their bodies.

Based on this knowledge, doctors may be able to improve the response of hypnosis with a better way to help treat medical conditions. So far, hypnosis has been shown to help people quit smoking or overcome pain and stress.

"I hope this study will open the eyes of all the people that hypnosis is really a neurobiological phenomenon that deserves attention," said Spiegel. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | INQUISITR]

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