Hypnosis decreased skin conductance level compared to a music control condition, indicating reduced tonic sympathetic nervous system activity, with no differences in high frequency power.
Does hypnotic induction alter electrodermal activity and cardiac parasympathetic tone compared to listening to music in young adults?
Hypnosis reduces tonic sympathetic nervous system activity, as evidenced by decreased skin conductance levels, which may explain its efficacy in conditions with strong sympathetic involvement.
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.
Kekecs et al. (Wed,) conducted a other in Autonomic nervous system changes (n=121). Hypnotic induction vs. Listening to music was evaluated on Skin conductance level (SCL) and high frequency (HF) power of pulse rate variability. Hypnosis decreased skin conductance level compared to a music control condition, indicating reduced tonic sympathetic nervous system activity, with no differences in high frequency power.