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Understanding EEG Waves and Altered States of Consciousness

Explore the relationship between EEG activity and variations in consciousness, including scenarios like gaming, deep meditation, and sleep. Learn about hypnosis, its historical context, and the claims of its utilities. Delve into the degrees of hypnotic suggestibility, the misconceptions surrounding hypnosis, and the distinctions between altered states of consciousness as proposed by various theories. We also examine the physiological effects of meditation, the benefits of biofeedback training, and the potential long-term effects on mental health, stress reduction, and self-awareness.

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Understanding EEG Waves and Altered States of Consciousness

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  1. EEG Activity to Variations in Consciousness • Which type of wave would an EEG detect if you… _____ 1. Are playing a video game. _____ 2. Are deep in meditation. _____ 3. Have just fallen asleep. _____ 4. Are sleepwalking across the lawn. _____ 5. Are in the midst of a terrible nightmare.

  2. Hypnosis Today’s Goal: Discuss theories of hypnosis, noting the behavior of hypnotized people and claims regarding its uses.

  3. Mesmerism • Claimed to cure illnesses by a “laying on of hands” • “Animal magnetism”

  4. Hypnotism • Systematic procedure that produces heightened state of suggestibility • Two parts • Hypnotic induction • Subject told to relax, concentrate, or focus attention • Hypnotic suggestions

  5. Hypnotic Suggestibility = Degree to which people respond to hypnotic suggestions • 10% of adults are difficult or impossible to hypnotize • Highly “susceptible” individuals report vivid hypnotic experiences • Willingness is most important factor

  6. True or False? • People in hypnosis lose control and can be made to do whatever the hypnotist wants. • People may not be able to come out of hypnosis. • Hypnosis only affects weak-willed or gullible people. • Hypnosis reliably enhances the accuracy of memory. • Hypnosis enables people to re-experience a past life. • Hypnosis depends primarily on the skill of the hypnotist. • Relaxation is an important part of hypnosis. All of these statements are false.

  7. Posthypnotic suggestion • Instructions about behavior to take place after hypnotic experience (i.e. smiling whenever someone says “England”) • Posthypnotic amnesia • Inability to recall what happened while hypnotized

  8. Ernest Hilgard (1965, 1992) • Hypnotized people show reduced planfulness Waited for hypnotist’s instructions before acting • Attention is redistributed Ignore all but the hypnotist’s voice • Ability to fantasize More vivid imagination • Increased role taking More easily act like person of different age or gender • Reduced reality testing Not to question if statements are true, more willing to accept apparent distortions of reality

  9. Altered State of Consciousness? • State theory = yes • Notable changes in brain activity during hypnosis • Insensitivity to pain, disappearance of warts

  10. Altered State of Consciousness? • Role theory = no • Changes in brain activity can also be created without hypnosis • Merely complying with social demands • Socially acceptable reason to follow suggestions • Evidence to support role theory • Non-hypnotized people display behaviors associated with hypnosis

  11. Altered State of Consciousness? • Hilgard’s Dissociation Theory = yes and no • Not a specific state, but instead a split in consciousness (dissociation) • Body movements under voluntary control can occur on their own, involuntary processes can be controlled voluntarily • Social agreement to share control w/hypnotist

  12. Altered State of Consciousness? • Evidence to support dissociation • Brain imaging == ability to dissociate mental processes greater in people who are more hypnotically susceptible • “ice water” study = told to feel no pain, felt almost none • “hidden observer” outside of conscious awareness

  13. Applications of Hypnosis • Alleviation of pain • Hypnotherapy • Reduce symptoms (nausea, headaches, arthritis, skin disorders, etc.) • Effective for obesity • Does NOT work for drug addictions • Aid in memory?  not accurate • Does NOT cause people to act against their will

  14. Meditation • Intended to create altered state of consciousness characterized by inner peace & tranquility • Bring mental processes under greater voluntary control • Yoga, Zen, transcendental meditation (TM) • mantras

  15. Meditation • Physiological correlates • Alpha waves and theta waves become more prominent in EEG recordings • Heart rate, skin conductance, breathing, oxygen consumption/CO2 elimination all decline • However, lowered bodily arousal and changes in brain activity could be likely due to simple relaxation effects

  16. Long-Term Benefits of Meditation – View With Caution • Reduce effects of stress • Lower levels of “stress hormones” & enhanced immune response • Improve mental health while reducing anxiety • Beneficial effects on self-esteem, mood • Improves concentration and awareness?

  17. Altered States of Consciousness • Biofeedback training (BFT) system that provides or “feeds back” info about a bodily function (i.e. heart rate) • Combat stress, tension, anxiety • Use EEG and EMG (electromyograph)

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