ABSTRACT
Hundreds of reports addressed to the problem of hypnotic influence on somatic processes have been published. The motivations behind these reports appear to fall into two general categories: to use hypnotic techniques in the clinical treatment of somatic and psychological disorders, and to identify an independent criterion for the hypnotic trance. Experiments designed to reveal physiological indicants of the hypnotic trance are of two sorts. The first monitors somatic responses that occur consequent to the hypnotic induction procedure. The second type of experiment focuses on physiological responses to suggestions made after the induction is completed. Few endocrine functions have been studied in relation to hypnosis other than via indirect manifestations through such processes as digestion, circulation, or respiratory alterations. There were spontaneous fluctuations (SF) in the electrodermal response (EDR) during all treatments. In relation to hypnosis, Amadeo and Shagass have attempted to test two hypotheses. The more general hypothesis is that eye movements are a nonspecific concomitant of attentive activity.
