The Hypnotic Brain

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Comment by Aaron Little on June 29, 2011 at 2:51pm

Thanks for sharing that James.  I am looking forward to digging in to it.

Comment by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on June 29, 2011 at 2:32pm

The idea is that trance can be induced by intentionally shifting focus from one brain hemisphere to the other. I'm trying to remember if it's Brown that mentions yogis learning to breathe through alternate nostrils as a form of meditation, or if that's just another example of the idea. In any case, I believe that is another factor involved in the old swinging watch induction (in addition to focusing attention and tiring the eyes) and also in EMDR.

 

So anyway, one day I was experimenting with a volunteer, and I took both her wrists in my hands and asked her to focus on her right hand. I was investigating another idea I'd read, which is that focusing on one hand will actually cause the pulse in that wrist to be more noticeable. (Mentalists use this as a mind-reading trick.) For contrast, I asked her to then concentrate on her left wrist, so I could feel the difference.

 

Well, in truth, I didn't notice a strong enough difference, but I started asking her to switch her focus from one hand to the other, faster and faster, with that idea from Brown's book in the back of my mind. I got faster and faster until I saw her eyes glaze over, whereupon I said, "Sleep!" and caught her so she didn't fall on the floor. :-)

Comment by David on June 29, 2011 at 2:11pm

And what was that idea James?  Can you share the induction you invented with us?

Comment by James Hazlerig - HypnosisAustin on June 29, 2011 at 12:38pm

I have read it.

 

It's dense--written for medical doctors--but fascinating. Lots of very interesting information, including one idea that led me to invent an induction.