Hypnosis, A Window into the Mind

Watch a clip from "Hypnosis, A Window into the Mind"   [note]

For many years, hypnosis was primarily associated with the theatre or music hall, where stage hypnotists selected members of the audience and put them into a trance. Often the subjects were persuaded to act out or to confess to unconscious longings or fears. Not surprisingly, hypnosis developed an unsavory reputation in the public mind and in the medical profession. Now, however, hypnosis is being re-evaluated and is seen by many as a technique that has a useful place in a diverse range of medical, psychological and investigative pursuits.

In the course of five minutes, a woman is relieved of pain, which has plagued her for five years. A rape victim is able to successfully identify her attacker after a temporary memory loss due to trauma. A woman calmly talks her way through a surgical procedure while being operated on without the aid of a general anesthetic. To some, these occurrences may seem nothing short of a miracle, yet by unlocking the power of hypnosis, these individuals are able to overcome the most unthinkable feats. As we will observe, hypnosis is now being used in a wide variety of fields from medicine to forensic investigation. Hypnosis, A Window into the Mind explores the most recent discoveries on this phenomenon, revealing the power and potential of the human mind.

A still from the show Photo credit: Philippe Lavalette

A still from the show Photo credit: Philippe Lavalette

The fascination and curiosity surrounding hypnosis has spanned over two hundred years. In an attempt to explain this incredible phenomenon, several theories emerged early on in this scientific quest, contributing to common misconceptions about hypnosis. In the late 1700s, Franz Anton Mesmer believed that man could redistribute the quasi-magnetic fluid, existing in all humans, to bring about healing. Shortly after the rise of Mesmur's theory, James Braid, a Scottish surgeon working in Manchester, coined the term "hypnosis". During the 19th century, medical scientists attempted to establish a link between hypnosis and various pathological states. It was not until the late1800s that theorists began to suggest that hypnosis was controlled by the subject. In 1882, Hippolyte Bernheim, a professor of medicine at the University of Nancy, put forth the idea that while under hypnosis all of the power resides in the patient, however the patient must believe the contrary for hypnotism to take effect. Once considered a technique involving the surrender of the subject to the will of the hypnotist, it is now understood that the full cooperation of the subject is required for an effective hypnotism. By the 1920s psychologists such as, Clark L. Hull conducted experimental investigations in hypnosis. Hull demystified the technique by proposing that hypnosis was essentially a normal part of human nature. The most important factor involved in hypnosis, Hull maintained, was the subject's imagination, as some people are more responsive than others to this technique.

Modern hypnosis has evolved into a well-respected practice and today it is used by doctors, psychologists and law enforcement. This technique is utilized in a variety of ways, for instance, pain management, stress-related disorders, anesthesia, psychotherapy and memory recall. It is also used the management of a wide range of phobic, anxiety and other psychological disorders. Hypnosis, A Window into the Mind examines the practical applications of the technique, as experts from various fields shed light on new approaches to this age-old practice.

Johanne Doyon suffers from an inoperable herniated disc in the nape of her neck that has caused her excruciating pain for five years. After seeking countless unsuccessful cortisone treatments, muscular injections, chiropractic, acupuncture and physiotherapy sessions, Doyon decides to pursue hypnosis in hopes that this technique will relieve the pain she experiences. This documentary presents the miraculous outcome of Doyon's first hypnosis session with psychologist, Gaston Brosseau, illustrating the phenomenal healing power behind this tool.

A still from the show Photo credit: Philippe Lavalette

A still from the show Photo credit: Philippe Lavalette

Hypnosedation is a revolutionary technique, enabling patients to under-go surgery without a general anesthetic. In the Liege University Hospital in Belgium, Ms. Denoel has opted to proceed with this uncommon form of surgery. Remarkably, while under hypnosis during her facial surgery, Denoel feels very little pain. According to studies conducted at the hospital, those individuals who opt for hypnosedation appear to have less pain during surgery and post-operatively.

Forensic hypnosis is used in cases involving major crimes, such as murder, kidnapping, forcible confinement and sexual assault. Quite frequently, victims and witnesses experience a temporary memory loss due to the stress or trauma of the event. Interrogations conducted under hypnosis often assist investigations and offer police new leads.

Throughout the film, we will also meet several hypnosis experts from various fields, conducting the latest research on this revolutionary technique. Using a state-of-the-art brain monitoring system, neuropsychologist, Pierre Rainville, establishes that the brain experiences several physiological changes while under hypnosis, namely the production of mental images, sustained attention and relaxation.

Clinical psychologist, Gunnar Rosen and cerebral imagining expert, Frode Willoch, have collaborated to investigate a cure for phantom limb pain. Research confirms that an astounding 70% of amputees suffer from phantom limb pain as a result of the brain's inability to recognize the missing limb. Both doctors set out to teach the brain how to perceive the limb differently, by constructing an alternate body map in those who suffer from this condition.

In terms of pain management, doctors Didier Bouhassira and Jean-Marc Benhaiem illustrate how hypnosis can affect our most rudimentary reflexes. Through experimentation, Bouhassira and Benhaiem discover that hypnosis works to relieve pain in the body by disabling the primary reflex signals from the brain, therefore reducing the sensation of pain.

Although patients, researchers and doctors alike praise the effectiveness of hypnosis, Jean-Roch Laurence is the first in North America to challenge the use of hypnotic memory recall and questions the level of accuracy obtained by this tool. His experiments determine that hypnotists could potentially influence subjects into recalling specific details of an occurrence, when in truth they have no recollection. Humans can only retain the main facts of an event, however the brain may perceive suggestions offered by the hypnotist as reality. Laurence maintains that those under hypnosis become increasingly more confident with the accuracy of their recall, becoming biased witnesses and victims.

Hypnosis, A Window into the Mind is written and directed by Denis Blaquière and produced by Mary Armstrong. Executive producers are Jaquelin Bouchard for Pixcom Productions and Bernard Vaillot for Galaxie Production. Executive Producer for The Nature of Things with David Suzuki is Michael Allder. It is a Canada-France co-production, Pixcom Productions/Galaxie Production in association with France 3 and The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

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Note: The clip above shows one style of hypnosis used, meaning the subjects must be visual or adapt to the script . In research the variables need to be monitored strictly to assess outcomes. Here they wanted to quanitify the suggestability of each participant. In this group roughly 15% were highly suggestable.
 
In a clinical setting your therapist adapts to you, the client, and your style of communication. One script does not fit all. When I am in my own trance I am not able to create images, as I am not visual. I still am very adept at creating results without them.