The way we process information during hypnosis differs from our everyday state. In this blog, we will explore this in more detail.
We’ll examine how the brain processes information in a hypnotic state, what this reveals about our cognitive functions and brainwaves, and how our neural pathways are affected.
Information Processing During Hypnosis
Under hypnosis, our brains behave differently. We become less concerned with external matters, and our brains react less to stimuli from the outside world. Instead of taking practical action based on our surroundings, we focus inward, often developing vivid imagery. We may experience an altered state of awareness — for example, colours and sounds might seem clearer or more intense.
With the guidance of an experienced hypnotherapist, we can begin to use our imagination and unusual ways of thinking to solve problems.
After a hypnotherapy session, many people describe the experience as being almost like a waking dream. We may recall previously forgotten information, such as childhood memories or traumatic events. Alternatively, we may explore our hopes and dreams in brightly coloured detail, imagining a successful future.
Through this process, we can begin to bring together the information we need to help us achieve our goals.
Our Brainwaves Under Hypnosis
So, what is happening here? We can discover a lot. Thanks to modern technology, we can scan the brain and observe its activity.
Under hypnosis, our brainwaves shift from the beta waves associated with normal, alert activity to slower alpha and theta waves. These slower waves are linked to deep relaxation, vivid imagery, and access to memories and thoughts that are typically suppressed or difficult to reach.
There is evidence to suggest that this state makes us more open to suggestion — a crucial aspect of hypnotherapy. It enables the therapist to introduce helpful ideas and suggestions for more successful behaviours.
In the hypnotic state, not only can the brain generate new ways of thinking and behaving that may be more beneficial in real life, but it can also visualise them clearly and powerfully.
While the hypnotic process is often strongly visual, it is not limited to visual imagery.
Other senses — such as sound, touch play a role as does emotion. For example, if a client becomes anxious when speaking in public, I might ask them to vividly recall those anxious feelings. Then, I guide them to imagine a calm and confident state and explore how that feels. In doing this the client will draw on their physical feelings, perhaps feeling sick for example, and also on their thoughts, perhaps imagining the worst.
Where this process is successful, the client is well on the way to choosing the calm, confident state instead of the miserable anxious state. The next step is to suggest how they can access this state on demand.
We might draw on memories of positive public speaking experiences. If these don’t exist, we can use other instances where the client felt confident and work on transferring that feeling to public speaking. In the hypnotic state, these confident memories can be especially vivid, and the internal focus can help the client identify the actions they need to take to access and replicate this state.
They may discover how to present themselves physically — for example, standing tall and breathing slowly and gently. They might identify negative thoughts that are holding them back and replace them with more helpful ones. They might even visualise role models who excel in public speaking and model their behaviour.
All of this is possible — and it can often happen quickly. It is supercharged in the hypnotic state.
When hypnosis is effective (which depends on both the client and the therapist), the client can process the information they need rapidly, almost instinctively. It is a skilled use of the client’s altered brain state by the therapist, combined with a deep understanding of how to introduce new ways of thinking.
Neuroplasticity
With the advent of scanning technology, we now have an insight into the physical changes this process can cause.
There is evidence that, over time, we can change the neural pathways in our brains to support our goals.
We now know that learning a new skill can actually lead to physical changes in the brain. A new skill might be a motor skill, such as learning to build flat pack furniture, or a behavioural skill, such as staying calm in a stressful situation. The important thing, when applying this to therapy, is that success builds on success. For example, if you develop the ability to stay calm under stress, you will find it easier to do so next time — and the time after that. (I’m not sure the same applies to flat pack furniture but perhaps that is at the edge of human endeavour).
In our example, developing a confident pattern of thoughts and behaviours may help the brain’s neural pathways adapt and form new synapses. (Synapses are the mechanisms through which a nerve cell communicates with other cells in the body, including those in the brain and the rest of the body.) With repetition, this new state can become the default. This is sometimes referred to as “rewiring the brain.”
One last — and very important — point is how this process not only builds on the positive but can also weaken negative patterns of behaviour. A well-researched example of this is chronic pain. In such cases, the sufferer has developed a maladaptive pattern in which they perceive pain despite no serious physical cause.
This pain is not useful — just unpleasant and debilitating. However, this pattern can be changed, allowing people in pain to find new pathways, so the pain becomes much less of a problem.
Contact Me
I hope this overview has helped clarify how information is processed during hypnosis and its implications for therapy. Feel free to reach out with any questions or let me know if there are topics, you’d like me to explore further.
Coming Next
We’ll be moving on to a new topic and exploring behavioural psychology in hypnotherapy. We’ll begin by looking at how we can be conditioned into certain behaviours and ways of thinking.