Hypnotic models of mirrored-self misidentification delusion: A review and an evaluation.

Abstract

Hypnotic suggestions can be used to model the symptoms of clinical disorders. In recent work, we applied this approach to study mirrored-self misidentification delusion, the belief that one’s reflection in the mirror is not oneself. Across eight experiments, we used specific suggestions that either directly specified the delusional belief or were designed to recreate deficits hypothesized to underpin the clinical condition, including impaired face processing and mirror agnosia. In both cases, we were able to recreate the delusion in healthy volunteers and create a viable laboratory model. In this article, we review the program of research as a whole. We discuss themes that emerged across studies, such as ways in which participants responded to the “stranger,” and the implications of our findings for understanding both hypnotic modeling and clinical delusions. We also discuss limitations to our work and suggest a number of directions for future research.

New directions in hypnosis research: strategies for advancing the cognitive and clinical neuroscience of hypnosis

“…In contrast, other research has demonstrated pronounced effects of inductions on response to specific types of suggestions [e.g. Connors et al (2015) ]. The sources of these inconsistencies are not yet known ( Terhune and Cardeña 2016 ).…”

“…Numerous studies have further demonstrated the potential opportunities for using hypnotic suggestion in an instrumental manner to model psychiatric and neurological symptoms. Hypnosis has been used in neuroimaging and behavioral contexts to model auditory hallucinations ( Szechtman et al 1998 ), visual hallucinations ( Kosslyn et al 2000 ; McGeown et al 2012 ), conversion-like symptoms ( Cojan et al 2009 ; Deeley, Oakley et al 2013 ; Deeley, Walsh et al 2013 ), amnesia ( Mendelsohn et al 2008 ), and delusions ( Cox and Barnier 2010 ; Connors et al 2015 ).…”

Phenomenological control as cold control.

“…Polito, Barnier, & Woody, 2013); they can make imagination feel like perception (hallucination; McGeown et al, 2012); and they can make pretense feel like belief (delusion; cf. Connors, Barnier, Langdon, & Coltheart, 2015). Further, people have the capacity to control all these subjective experiences in ways consistent with their plans and goals (e.g., Lynn & Sivec, 1992; Sheehan & McConkey, 1982).…”

Can hypnosis make you ticklish? Using suggestion to modulate agency

“…The hypnotic inductiona process of initiating hypnosis, often with a series of instructions to guide relaxation and focusing of attentionmay be particularly relevant. Whilst some theorists question its impact (e.g., Kirsch & Braffman, 2001), previous research has found that a hypnotic induction increases the likelihood of participants responding to suggestions, including those related to agency (Polito, Barnier, Woody, & Connors, 2014) and more challenging cognitive experiences (see Connors et al, 2013;Connors, Barnier, Langdon, & Coltheart, 2015;Connors et al, 2015).…”