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What happens to the brain in a state of hypnosis?

Hypnosis has been used by psychiatrists for decades. It’s supposed to improve patients' lives, for example, by helping them cope with pain, anxiety, or even recall blocked memories.

To find out what exactly is happening to the patients’ brains during a state of hypnosis, psychiatrist David Spiegiel and his colleagues scanned their brains. They found that during hypnosis, a region of the brain that helps people stay alert to the external environment became less active. Also, the connections between other regions of the brain became stronger. Some of them regulate how much pain we feel. At the same time, some regions important for self-consciousness became disconnected. By weakening those connections, hypnosis may allow people to do things they would never do in normal life.

Brain scans showed that the hypnosis really left a mark. I used to think hypnosis wasn't effective, but studies like these have changed my mind. If I ever get the chance to be hypnotized, I will definitely try it out.

Source: https://www.statnews.com/2016/07/28/hypnosis-psychiatry-brain-activity/


Comments

  1. englishdiaryMarch 1, 2022 at 1:06 PM

    I'd be afraid that I would not control myself and do something I'd regret later.

    ReplyDelete

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