Electrodermal measures in experimental amnesia.

Abstract

Ss equated with respect to hypnotizability were subjected to electrodermal orienting response (OR) adaptation to tone stimulation. \ the Ss were hypnotized, 4 were not. Adaptation of the OR was conducted under hypnosis, with suggestion of amnesia both under hypnosis and as a posthypnotic suggestion. The control group yielded progressive adaptation curves, while "amnesia" produced a lifting of the adaptation.

Effects of Hypnosis Induction and Attention Direction on Electrodermal Responses

“…This confirmed expectations and is consistent with the results of other investigations (Ravitz, 1950(Ravitz, , 1951a(Ravitz, , 1951bO'Connell & Orne, 1962;Stern, et al, 1963a;Beck, et al, 1964).…”

“…O'Connell & Orne (1962) also found a marked reduction in spontaneous electrodermal activity during hypnosis. Stern, Edmonston, Ulett & Levitsky (1963a) found that hypnotized Ss showed fewer spontaneous fluctuations (SF) in basal skin resistance, while Beck, Dustman, & Beler (1964) reported that during the hypnotic state variability of evoked cortical potentials was a t a minimum. O'Conell & Orne (1962) interpreted their findings in the following way: ('.…”

Hypnosis and Attention: A Review

“…The basic factor to which these data seem to point is the degree of relaxation of the subject which allows him to exclude the influence of other stimuli, and places hypnosis on a continuum with relaxation and sleep. Furthermore, in a later article based on additional research with electrodermal KRIPPNER measures (e.g., Stem, Edmonston, Ulett, & Levitsky, 1963;Edmonston, 1972, pp. 333-342) Edmonston concluded ••Until relaxation alone can be ruled out as a potential inhibitor of certain non-motor, as well as motor functions, hypnosis must lose its claim to uniqueness both as a physiological state and as a point on a continuum from wakefulness to total sleep [1972, p.…”

Electrodermal Responsiveness as Related to Psychiatric Diagnosis and Prognosis

“…We assume that level of SF is related to the level of "activation" and that the latter is related to attention to irrelevant stimuli. This is actually more than an assumption since we can, for example, demonstrate that during hypnosis, where attention is focalized, the incidence of SF drops and habituation occurs more rapidly and that during sleep the level of SF is lower than during wakefulness (Stern, Edmonston, Ulett & Levitsky, 1963). Ax^ analysis forSF combined for tone and word stimulation was conducted across the two groups.…”