Suggested Auditory and Visual Hallucinations in Task-Motivated and Hypnotic Subjects

Sixty male and female Ss equally divided into task-motivated and hypnotic treatments, were administered an auditory and a visual hallucination suggestion. Task-motivated Ss scored higher than hypnotic Ss on both auditory and visual hallucination measures. The majority of Ss in both treatments (a) reported some visual imagery in response to the auditory hallucination suggestion, and (b) described their suggested experiences as imagined rather than as heard or seen, Response to the auditory and visual hallucination suggestions was positively correlated in both treatments. These results are consistent with the notion that response to suggestion reflects the operation of a generalized cognitive ability (involvement in imagining).