How Does Hypnosis Work?

Many people have debated about hypnosis for almost 200 years.  How does hypnosis work?  Does hypnosis even work?  The various theories and myths continue, with skeptics and fanatics alike.  Despite all this rhetoric, no one has so far managed to come up with an accepted definition of exactly what hypnosis is.

So we don’t know what hypnosis is and we don’t know how it works.  This may be why there is so much misinformation about the subject, and why there are so many skeptics.  There is room to maneuver the facts.  Room for the media to create interesting and sensational stories, bend the truth, or even disregard it altogether.

To understand exactly how hypnosis works, we need to ultimately discover how the human mind works.  Due to the immense power and complexity of the human mind, this is practically impossible right now.  Whilst there are mysteries surrounding the workings of the human mind, there will be mystery surrounding hypnosis.

Psychiatrists do understand the general characteristics of hypnosis, and they have some kind of model as to how it works.  It is commonly accepted that it is a trance state that is characterised by greater suggestibility, relaxation and increased imagination.  It is a natural state of mind rather like daydreaming.  You are fully conscious, but you become consciously unaware of most of the stimuli around you.  This is rather like when you are deeply absorbed in a book or film, and cannot hear someone trying to talk to you.

The problems of explaining how hypnosis works are compounded by the fact that everyone’s experience of hypnosis is unique, and the readiness and ability of patients to be hypnotised varies considerably.  However modern technology is beginning to allow us to take a deeper look, and almost peer inside the mind at what is actually happening to the brain whilst in hypnosis.

Recently the University of Geneva published a study in the journal ‘Neuron’ using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for a series of studies on hypnosis.  The researchers used fMRI to scan brains of 12 people who were tested on hand movement before and after being hypnotised for left hand paralysis.
Despite the paralysis, the neurons in the motor cortex region were still firing in preparation for the task.  However the cortex appeared to be ignoring parts of the brain that it normally communicates with for controlling movement.
This suggests that hypnosis does not actually inhibit the motor cortex and directly stop the hand from moving.  It seems like the hypnotic suggestions allow the individual to choose to have left arm paralysis. 

This makes sense from my observations of being a clinical hypnotherapist.  It is commonly accepted in hypnosis that a hypnotherapist cannot actually make a subject change.  They can only facilitate it.  For example a clinical hypnotherapist could suggest to a subject to exercise more.  The person will not be absolutely compelled to exercise no matter what.  They will not forgo a family members’ funeral simply because a hypnotherapist told them to exercise every day.  It makes motivation easier, but not totally compelling.

And I think it’s good that the subject can ultimately choose.  What if their nagging spouse sent them to see me when they did not really want to quite smoking?  They could ultimately exercise a choice.  After the session they may on reflection decide their spouse was indeed right and quit.  A person seeking to lose weight may change their mind after they lose a few pounds and decide they actually like how they were.  I’m very comfortable with this.  I don’t personally want to be part of forcing someone to change.

This runs counter to some popular myths of hypnosis that are sometimes portrayed in the media.  For example the classic clucking like a chicken when the doorbell sounds.  This scenario has been portrayed in many comedy films, and whilst is quite funny, is not at all representative of what happens.

There are still many questions regarding hypnotherapy and how it works.  It would seem that hypnosis can help us make changes, but ultimately it is up to use to choose whether to accept these changes.  Modern technology is beginning to help us to uncover some of the answers, but there is still a long way to go.  A stronger scientific foundation for hypnotherapy can only help people understand what a powerful yet safe form of therapy it really is, and dispel some of the myths that are plainly untrue.

Jon Rhodes is a successful clinical hypnotherapist from the UK.  Click here for more information on his very popular hypnosis audio sessions.