Hemodynamic Correlates of Distinct Hypnotic States
- Conditions
- Hypnosis
- Interventions
- Procedure: HypnosisProcedure: Control
- Registration Number
- NCT03568227
- Lead Sponsor
- Mike Bruegger
- Brief Summary
The investigation will assess the brain activation connectivity patterns associated with hypnosis and possible hypnotic sub-states by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). For that purpose, 50 healthy participants highly familiar with hypnosis (according to the OMNI-method) will be recruited and tested.
- Detailed Description
Despite the growing number of studies investigating of the physiological underpinnings of hypnosis by means of neuroimaging methods such as electroencephalography (EEG) positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), still no consensus exists regarding the underlying neurophysiological working mechanisms due to high levels of variability in the data.
Generally, the variability observed in research examining the neurobiological fundamentals of hypnosis could be attributed to the following characteristics:
1. Heterogeneity regarding hypnotic induction procedures.
2. Insufficient statistical power.
3. Mono-Modality: Studies investigating the neurophysiologic mechanisms of hypnosis typically apply only one method for the investigation of their research questions. However, different techniques complement each other, hence, resulting in a more thorough understanding of the mechanisms of action.
In this project, the investigators present a multimodal approach, in which these three points are considered in order to provide a comprehensive picture with respect to psycho- and neurophysiologic fundamentals of hypnosis and proposed distinct hypnotic states.
Point 1) will be approached by applying a highly reproducible method for the hypnotic induction (OMNI-hypnosis). This hypnosis method is fast, direct and all OMNI educated hypnotherapists follow exactly the same induction procedure. This implies a high level of standardization and operationalization, crucial prerequisites to investigate the phenomenon based on scientific guidelines.
Point 2) will be addressed by including a homogeneous study sample of 50 highly suggestible participants. Furthermore, the comparably high number of 50 participants should ensure sufficient statistical power particularly in consideration of the homogeneity of the study sample.
Point 3) is addressed by following a multimodal approach combining a vast array of psychophysiological measures with multimodal neuroimaging. For that purpose, the project will be divided into three studies: A EEG- and psychophysiological study, a fMRI-study and a magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) study.
In the present study, fMRI is applied for the investigation of network dynamics associated with hypnotic states. Hypnotic states will be compared to control states which follow mock instructions matched to the hypnosis instructions.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 50
- Aged between 18 and 65
- Proficient in German language
- Written informed consent after being informed
- Familiar with hypnotic states of OMNI-Hypnosis
- Pre-existing neurological and/or psychiatric conditions
- History of brain injuries
- Alcohol and/or drug abuse
- Chronic diseases that require a permanent intake of drugs
Additional exclusion criteria for the MRI- and 1H-MRS-experiment:
- General contraindications for a participation on a MRI-Experiment (e.g. claustrophobia, pace maker, cochlea implants, insulin pumps)
- Hypersensitivity to loud noise
- Not being able to lie still during a longer period of time
- Foreign metallic objects in the body (e.g. gunshot wounds, metallic particles, metal implants, irremovable piercings)
- Pregnancy
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- SINGLE_GROUP
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Healthy Subjects Hypnosis The study has a 2 (Intervention: Hypnosis, Control) x 2 (State: 1 \& 2) factorial within-subjects design, resulting in a total of 4 conditions. All volunteers participate at the 4 conditions in the same session.The order of the interventions is counterbalanced resulting in two possible sequences: Sequence 1: Hypnosis State 1, Hypnosis State 2, Control State 1, Control State 2 Sequence 2: Control State 1, Control State2, Hypnosis State 1, Hypnosis State 2 Volunteers will be randomly allocated to the two sequence types. Healthy Subjects Control The study has a 2 (Intervention: Hypnosis, Control) x 2 (State: 1 \& 2) factorial within-subjects design, resulting in a total of 4 conditions. All volunteers participate at the 4 conditions in the same session.The order of the interventions is counterbalanced resulting in two possible sequences: Sequence 1: Hypnosis State 1, Hypnosis State 2, Control State 1, Control State 2 Sequence 2: Control State 1, Control State2, Hypnosis State 1, Hypnosis State 2 Volunteers will be randomly allocated to the two sequence types.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Differences in resting state functional connectivity (assessed using fMRI) between the four conditions (control state 1 & 2, hypnotic state 1 & 2) 90 minutes
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Differences respiratory frequency (assessed during fMRI measurements) between the four conditions (control state 1 & 2, hypnotic state 1 & 2) 90 minutes Differences in heart rate variability (assessed during fMRI measurements) between the four conditions (control state 1 & 2, hypnotic state 1 & 2) 90 minutes
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Zurich
🇨🇭Zurich, Switzerland