Hypnotic Susceptibility and Hypnosis Modulate the Endothelial Response to Acute Stress

Abstract

Neutral hypnosis is commonly used as a relaxation technique. Even if many of its physiological correlates as well as the main neuropsychological characteristics of hypnotizable individuals have been described, it is still unclear whether the hypnotic state (state theory) or the cognitive capabilities of awake hypnotizable individuals per se (trait theory) are responsible of the relaxation effects induced by hypnosis [1]. Indeed, specific suggestions have been proven to induce cognitive emotional experiences, associated to specific physiological patterns,which can be different in relation to hypnotizability and/or hypnosis. In recent studies [2] it has been demonstrated that awake hypnotizable subjects, at difference with non hypnotizable ones,were able to buffer the autonomic effects of a moderately unpleasant cognitive stimulation. [...]