What is hypnosis and does it really work?

The answer

Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, heightened suggestibility, and deep absorption that produces measurable changes in brain activity visible on fMRI and EEG. During hypnosis, activity decreases in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (reducing self-monitoring), connectivity increases between the prefrontal cortex and insula (enhancing mind-body connection), and activity changes in the default mode network (altering self-awareness). These are not changes that can be voluntarily produced by simply pretending. Clinical evidence supports hypnosis as an effective adjunct treatment for pain management, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, smoking cessation, and certain phobias. Approximately 10 to 15% of adults are highly hypnotizable, about 20% are resistant, and the rest fall somewhere in between. Hypnotic suggestibility appears to be a stable trait with genetic components and is associated with higher levels of absorption, imagination, and openness to experience.