About 80% of people are in the 'medium' band - meaning that they can experience many of the effects of hypnotic suggestion, and are likely to benefit from its clinical use if necessary. Researchers tend to classify people as 'highs', 'mediums', or 'lows'. Susceptibility to hypnosis can be measured with a hypnotic susceptibility scale (see 'measurement of hypnosis'. People often doubt whether hypnosis is real because it would be very easy to 'fake' a hypnotic response, and while this is true, there are also real measurable effects.Ī: Yes, everybody is hypnotizable to some extent - some more than others.

Randomised controlled clinical trials have shown that hypnosis can be an effective treatment for pain, and an effective part of treatments for other conditions. Studies which measure brain activity have shown that hypnosis and hypnotic suggestions alter the way that the brain processes information. For example, hypnotic suggestion can be used to generate vivid hallucinations, or alter your perception of pain. For more detail a good place to start reading is the definitions page, otherwise follow the links on the left for more information about the research in hypnosis and its uses.Ī: Short answer: yes! Hypnotic suggestions can alter people's sensations and perceptions.

When we talk about hypnosis we often tend to be either talking about the relaxed, focussed, absorbed feelings associated with a 'trance state' (although some people don't like the term trance), or we tend to be talking about the interesting things people can do when hypnotised - these are the products of 'suggestion'.

Some people think that it is an 'altered state of consciousness', but since there is currently no agreed definition of consciousness this argument can go around in circles. Frequently Asked Questions About Hypnosis Q: What is hypnosis?Ī: That's a difficult question to answer quickly and precisely.

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