Modulation of gastric acid secretion by hypnosis
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Discussion
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Implication
Randomized crossover trial demonstrates that hypnotic suggestion bidirectionally modulates gastric acid output in healthy volunteers, indicating direct central nervous system control.
Key Points
- To determine whether distinct cognitive states induced by hypnosis can stimulate or inhibit gastric acid secretion in healthy individuals.
- In study 1, basal acid secretion was measured in highly hypnotizable healthy volunteers before subjects were hypnotized and instructed to imagine eating delicious meals.
- In study 2, subjects underwent two gastric analysis sessions in random order (no hypnosis vs. hypnotic deep relaxation with hunger distraction) to assess basal and pentagastrin-stimulated acid output.
- Hypnotic imagery of eating increased mean gastric acid output by 89%, rising from a basal 3.60 ± 0.48 to 6.80 ± 0.02 mmol H+/h (p = 0.0007).
- Hypnotic relaxation reduced basal acid output by 39% compared to the control session (2.60 ± 0.44 vs. 4.29 ± 0.93 mmol H+/h, p < 0.05).
- Hypnotic relaxation reduced pentagastrin-stimulated peak acid output by 11% compared to control (25.43 ± 2.98 vs. 28.69 ± 2.34 mmol H+/h, p < 0.05).
Cite This Study
Klein et al. (1989) studied this question.