ABSTRACT
The ability to experience phenomena following hypnotic suggestions (i.e., hypnotizability) likely represents a set of inherent cognitive abilities. Recent findings indicate associations of hypnotizability with neuropsychological performance, supported by neuroimaging evidence of activation profiles of brain structures and network connectivity. Across the literature, hypnotizability is linked to several top-down processes indicating relationships with executive functions and information processing. Using a neuropsychological approach, we review and integrate current evidence in an effort to provide a framework of neurocognitive profiles across the spectrum of hypnotizability. Despite multiple methodological limitations, and some inconsistent findings, several potential differences between high and low hypnotizables are indicated, including better performance on simple attention tasks, a greater burden from increasing task complexity and time constraints, efficient cognitive flexibility, and potentially limited performance on some forms of inhibition. We discuss theoretical implications, clinical considerations, and limitations of the current literature and proposed directions for further research.
