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Scientists have made some exciting discoveries regarding hypnosis.
Over the last several years there have been significant advances in neuroscience, which have allowed us to more effectively study hypnosis. One of the cutting edge tools that is used to study the hypnotic state is called a Positron Emission Topography (PET) scan. The scanner is able to record images of the brain during various thought processes. From these studies it has been discovered that hypnosis produces a very specific pattern of brain activity.
Researchers discovered different regions of the brain are utilized during hypnosis, which differ from the regions of the brain exercised during imagination.
Studies done at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada used the PET scan to record the brain activity of hypnotized individuals who imagined a scene and those who experienced a hypnotic hallucination. During the study eight subjects heard the exact same audio track while the PET scan recorded their brain activity. The brain activity was studied during four different circumstances:
:: While they were listening in a normal waking state.The research concluded the region of the brain called the right anterior cingulated cortex was just as active while the subjects were hallucinating under hypnosis they were hearing the audio track as it was while they were actually hearing the track.
:: While they rested and listened to the audio track.
:: While they just imagined to hear the audio track.
:: While they were in a hypnotized state responding to suggestion to hallucinate the audio track, although it was not actually playing.
In comparison, the right anterior cingulated cortex was not active at all while the volunteers were imagining they heard the audio. Clearly something tangible is going on.