Hypnosis and
Sleep: Are They Similar?
Pavlov believed that hypnosis and sleep were identical. In spite of
thousands of published studies and papers, this is still the most popular
belief today. In truth, the hypnotic trance state is related more to the
waking state than to the normal sleep.
Let us compare hypnosis and sleep.
1.
Induction:
Normal sleep is not induced by another person, while hypnotic trance is
usually induced by another person. Hypnosis can be achieved without the
mention or suggestion of sleep.
2.
Suggestibility:
In normal, physiological sleep, the person will not respond to suggestions
and other light sensory stimulus. In the hypnotic state, the subject is
highly susceptible to suggestions.
3. Tendon
Reflexes:
The tendon reflexes are elicited by lightly but firmly tapping certain
tendons to flex the corresponding muscles. This is indicative of a normal
neuro-spinal and neuro-muscular communications. In knee jerk when the tendon
below the knee cap is tapped with percussion hammer while the knee is flexed
and flaccid, there is a forward jerky movement of the legs due the
contraction of the muscles of the thighs. Such tendon reflexes are
diminished or abolished in deep sleep while these are present in hypnosis.
4. Muscle
Tone:
In normal sleep, muscles usually become flaccid from diminished muscular
tone and action. On the contrary, the muscles, especially those of the arms
and legs are maintained in a state called tonic rigidity. These muscles,
however, can be made to relax completely and attain a near flaccid state
through appropriate suggestions during the hypnotic trance.
5.
Reasoning:
While asleep, the normal reasoning capability of the individual is switched
off temporarily. In hypnotic trance, the subject is perfectly capable of
reasoning, though the reasoning could become directional due the suggestions
implanted by the hypnotist.
6. Brain
Activity:
The EEG (Electro Encephalogram), which records brain activity and electric
impulses inside the brain, shows similar waves during the hypnotic and
waking state, while the waves during the sleep are quite different from
these two states.
7.
Somnambulism,
where the subject walks around or performs some activities during sleep is
actually the deepest kind of subconscious activity akin to deep hypnotic
trance and should not be considered a sleep activity.
Thus, though hypnotic trance state is sometimes referred to as a guided
‘sleep’, it is not similar to the normal physiological sleep. It is a well
known occurrence that people fall of to normal sleep after a prolonged
hypnotic session or auto hypnotic therapy. This is a normal phenomenon.
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