The role of the vagus nerve in the release of insulin is not well understood. Studies in the cat revealed that there is significant parasympathetic innervation of the islets ( 1 ) . Over 40 years ago, electrical stimulation of the vagus was shown to lower blood sugar levels ( 2 ) . More recently insulin release was evoked in anesthetized dogs by stimulation of the vagus (3, 4). Also, recent in vitro studies demonstrated release of insulin via cholinergic agents (5). These findings led us to investigate the possible physiologic role for this vagal mechanism.Although Kun and Horvath (6) postulated a reflex arc involving the taste end plates in the mouth and the vagus nerve, recent studies demonstrated that the ingestion of sweet noncaloric beverages do not provoke a rise in insulin levels (7). The studies of Sakata et QZ. (8) and Shimazu et aZ. (9) suggest that centers in the brain are involved in glucose regulation. We therefore, have used hypnosis to establish a psychological stimulus for simulating a "physiological" release of plasma insulin.Methods. Seven healthy subjects, four men and three women, between the ages of 20 and 30 years, were studied. Before the experiments, these subjects were hypnotized on several occasions to facilitate their response to the stimulus. A list of foods which the subjects preferred was also obtained. On the day of the study, the subjects were fasted for 4 hr and an indwelling needle was placed into an arm vein. After base line samples were obtained, the subjects were hypnotized by one of us (D.G.) using a standard technique of relation and eye closure. Following

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