ABSTRACT
Hypnosis has demonstrated clinical utility, although the changes in brain activity underlying the hypnotic state still need clarification. Hypnotic phenomena involve attention and concern the self-regulation of consciousness. The attentional network consists of anatomical areas involved in alerting, orienting, and executive control. Hypnosis involves focused attention, concentration, inner absorption, dissociation, and automaticity with a relative suspension of peripheral awareness. It is also defined as attentive receptive concentration. Underlying differences in individual patterns of alertness correlate with suggestibility. Bernheim first defined suggestibility as the attitude of being influenced by an idea and carrying it out. The exaltation of this attitude is a fundamental characteristic of hypnotic phenomena. Hypnosis is usually established via an induction procedure typically performed via suggestions for relaxation. Early neuroimaging studies focused primarily on the correlates of hypnosis during the resting state. Subsequent studies have highlighted the correlates of the hypnotic state on the activation of neural pathways involved in neurocognition, also driven by the growing clinical relevance of hypnosis.
