Alterations in electrodermal activity and cardiac parasympathetic tone during hypnosis
Author(s)
Kekecs, Z
Szekely, A
Varga, K
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Exploring autonomic nervous system (ANS) changes during hypnosis is critical for understanding the nature and extent of the hypnotic phenomenon and for identifying the mechanisms underlying the effects of hypnosis in different medical conditions. To assess ANS changes during hypnosis, electrodermal activity and pulse rate variability (PRV) were measured in 121 young adults. Participants either received hypnotic induction (hypnosis condition) or listened to music (control condition), and both groups were exposed to test suggestions. Blocks of silence and experimental sound stimuli were presented at baseline, after induction, and after de-induction. Skin conductance level (SCL) and high frequency (HF) power of PRV measured at each phase were compared between groups. Hypnosis decreased SCL compared to the control condition; however, there were no group differences in HF power. Furthermore, hypnotic suggestibility did not moderate ANS changes in the hypnosis group. These findings indicate that hypnosis reduces tonic sympathetic nervous system activity, which might explain why hypnosis is effective in the treatment of disorders with strong sympathetic nervous system involvement, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hot flashes, hypertension, and chronic pain. Further studies with different control conditions are required to examine the specificity of the sympathetic effects of hypnosis.
Date Issued
2015-10-21
Date Acceptance
2015-10-21
Citation
Psychophysiology, 2015, 53 (2), pp.268-277
ISSN
1469-8986
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
268
End Page
277
Journal / Book Title
Psychophysiology
Volume
53
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2015 Society for Psychophysiological Research. This is the accepted version of the following article: Kekecs, Z., Szekely, A. and Varga, K. (2016), Alterations in electrodermal activity and cardiac parasympathetic tone during hypnosis. Psychophysiology, 53: 268–277, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/psyp.12570
Subjects
Autonomic nervous system
Electrodermal activity
Heart rate variability
Hypnosis
Hypnotic suggestibility
Experimental Psychology
11 Medical And Health Sciences
17 Psychology And Cognitive Sciences
06 Biological Sciences
Publication Status
Published