A Brief History of Hypnosis
08.24.08 (12:29 pm) [edit]A detailed history of hypnosis and its uses through the ages would be very lenghty as it is one of the oldest therapies used by Man. Its origin goes back many millenia ago; indeed many ancient cultures and civilisations knew of hypnosis and used it as a therapeutic device. Documents from the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Indians, Chinese, Persians and Sumerians show extensive studies in hypnosis, altered states of consciousness and parasychology. Hypnosis was considered as a cure for many physical and emotional ailments and disorders. cave painting In other words hypnosis is at least more than 6,000 years old; some scholars claim that it could be as old as Prehistory as certain cave paintings show priests apparently in state of trance as well as geometrical designs thought to depict visions seen in an altered level of consciousness. Although there was some use of Hypnosis by the Druids in Ancient Britain and Gaul, the development and introduction of Hypnosis to the modern world is attributable to Islamic scientists of the Middle Ages. Between the 9th and 14th centuries there was a great flowering of civilisation in the Mediterranean and Middle East which laid the foundations of modern science as we know it; medical and philosophical knowledge from Ancient Greece, Egypt and early Eastern civilisations was revitalised. During that revival a deep understanding of human psychology was achieved and therapeutic processes such as analysis, altered states of consciousness and hypnosis were used to alleviate emotional distress and sufferings; thus preceding psychotherapy and hypnotherapy as we know them today by quite a few centuries. From the 15th and 16th centuries onwards physicians from many nations developed further and refined the concept of hypnosis and its uses. Even though this knowledge spread throughout the European continent and to the British Isles it remained mostly confined to scientists, physicians and Universities and never quite reached the attention of the less educated people. It was "reintroduced" to the West in the 18th century when Western explorers got in contact with the practice of hypnotism in the Middle East and the Far East. Dr Frantz Anton Mesmer In the 18th century the most influential figure in the development of hypnosis was Dr Frantz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian physician who was a charismatic and at times controversial personality. He used magnets and metal frames to perform "passes" over the patient to remove "blockages" (ie: the causes of diseases) in the magnetic forces in the body - nowadays we call such forces "life energy" - and to induce a trance-like state. He soon discovered that he could reach equally successful results by passing his hands over the patient which he did for hours at times. He named this method "animal magnetism". He worked in Austria, Switzerland and Germany before settling in France; although he achieved many successes he was soon derided and ostracised by the medical community; it is generally thought that his healing sessions held in front of the public and medical practitioners were such theatrical performances that the excessive showmanship displayed led to his work being ridiculed and his tangible results scorned at. Another contributing factor to his discredit is believed to be plain and simple jealousy from his medical colleagues as he achieved results with rather unorthodox methods. However his name survived the passing of time and was immortalised in our vocabulary by the verb "mesmerise", which means to hold someone's attention to the exclusion of anything else so as to create a trance state, in other words to hypnotise that person. Not only his name survived in our vocabulary, so did his method which was named mesmerism. After Mesmers' death in 1815 one of his disciples, Armand de Puysegur, carried on his work and took it one step further. He discovered that the spoken word and direct commands induced trance easily and noticeably faster than "mesmeric passes" and that a person could be operated upon without pain and anaesthesia when in trance. This technique was used for many following decades by surgeons in France: Dr Recamier who performed the first recorded operation without anaesthesia in 1821 and Dr Cloquet, and in England: Dr Elliotson and Dr Parker who was nicknamed "Painless Parker" !. However the record for surgery under trance belongs to Dr James Esdaile, an English physician, who performed his first operation without anaesthetic in India and reached an incredible tally of 300 major operations and a thousand minor operations using hypnosis or mesmerism as it was still called at the time. Soon after, chloroform was discovered and mesmerism dropped out of favour as an anaesthetic, it was much faster to inject a patient than induce a state of trance ! [Dr James Braid] The next impulse in the history of hypnosis was given by the Scottish optometrist, Dr James Braid who discovered by accident that a person fixating an object could easily reach a trance state without the help of the mesmeric passes advocated by Dr Mesmer. In 1841 he published his findings, refuted Mesmer's work and inaccurately named his discovery "hypnotism" based on the Greek word "hypnos" which means "sleep"; it was a total misnomer as hypnosis is not sleep; yet the name remained and mesmerism became hypnotism. Another page was turned in the history of hypnosis. By the 1870's two schools of hypnosis were created in France, one by Dr Jean-Martin Charcot, in Paris, and the other one in Nancy by Dr Benheim and Dr Liebault. Further progresses were made in refining the concept of hypnosis however it was not without heated debates and arguments ! Dr Charcot stated that hypnosis could only be the result of physical or neurological stimulation while the Nancy school's view was that hypnosis is a natural state available to everyone using free will. Present days use of hypnosis follows the latter belief. Some twenty years later in 1891, the British Medical Association drafted a resolution in favour of the use of hypnosis in medicine but it was not approved until 1955, 64 years later ! [Dr Emile Coue] Another precursor of modern hypnosis and self development was Dr Emile Coue who, at the end of the 19th century, was a believer in auto-suggestion and in the role of the hypnotist as a facilitator of changes/healing in the client's condition by involving the total participation of the client in the hypnosis process. His well known self-help statement: "Day by day in every way I am getting better and better", is still used in most self improvement therapies. [Sigmund Freud] Around the same period Sigmund Freud, the father of psycho-analysis, used hypnosis in his early work but soon became disillusioned by the concept. It is believed he did not have the patience necessary for hypnosis and was not a good hypnotist !. As we know he focused his attention on analysis and free association. In many ways his "defection" was damaging to hypnosis particularly in the context of psychology as it created enduring prejudices and misconceptions which have only started to fade in recent times.
History of hypnosis
08.24.08 (12:27 pm) [edit]Franz Anton Mesmer was born in Vienna. Mesmer is considered the father of hypnosis. He is remembered for the term Mesmerism which described a process of inducing trance through a series of passes he made with his hands and/or magnets over people. He worked with a person's animal magnetism (psychic and electromagnetic energies). The medical community eventually discredited him despite his considerable success treating a variety of ailments. 1795-1860 James Braid, an English physician, originally opposed mesmerism (as it became to be known) but then became interested.He said that cures were not due to animal magnetism however but to suggestion.He developed the eye fixation technique (also know as Braidism) of inducing relaxation and called it hypnosis (after Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep)as he thought the phenomenon was a form of sleep. Later, realizing his error,he tried to change the name to monoeidism (meaning, influence of a singleidea) however, the original name stuck. Jean Marie Charcot, a French neurologist, disagreed with the Nancy School of Hypnotism and contended that hypnosis was simply a manifestation of hysteria. There was bitter rivalry between Charcot and the Nancy group (Liebault and Bernheim). He revived Mesmer's theory of Animal Magnetismand identified the three stages of trance; lethargy, catalepsy and somnambulism. 1845 - 1947 Pierre Janet was a French neurologist and psychologist who was, initially, opposed to the use of hypnosis until he discovered its relaxing effects and promotion of healing. Janet was one of the few people who continued to show an interest in hypnosis during the psychoanalyitic rage. 1849-1936 Ivan Petrovich Pavlov - Russian physiologist who actually was more focused on the study of the digestive process. He is known primarily for his development of the concept of the conditioned reflex (or Stimulus Response Theory). In his classic experiment, he trained hungry dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell, which was previously associated with the sight of food. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology in 1904 for his work on digestive secretions. Though he had nothing to do with hypnosis his Stimulus Response Theory is a cornerstone in linking and anchoring behaviors, particularly in NLP. 1857 - 1926 Emile Coue`, a physician formulated the Laws of Suggestion. He is also known for encouraging his patients to say to themselves 20-30 times each night before going to sleep, "Everyday in every way,I am getting better and better." He also discovered that delivering positive suggestions when prescribing medication proved to be a more effective cure than prescribing medications alone. He eventually abandoned the conc ept of hypnosis in favor of just using suggestion, feeling hypnosis and the hypnotic state impaired the efficiency of the suggestion. Coue's Laws of Suggestion 1856-1939 - Sigmund Freud traveled to Nancy and studied with Liebault and Bernheim, and then did additional study with Charcot. Freud did not incorporate hypnosis in his therapeutic work however because he felt he could not hypnotize patients to a sufficient depth, felt that the cures were temporary, and that hypnosis stripped patients of their defenses. Freud was considered a poor hypnotist given his paternal. However, his clients often went into trance and he often, unknowingly performed non-verbal inductions when he would place his hand on his patient's head to signify the Doctor dominant, patient submissive roles. Because of his early dismissal of hypnosis in favor of psychoanalysis, hypnosis was almost totally ignored. 1875-1961 - Carl Jung, a student and colleague of Freud's,rejected Freud's psychoanalytical approach and developed his own interests.He developed the concept of the collective unconscious and archetypes. Though he did not actively use hypnosis he encouraged his patients to use active imagination to change old memories. He often used the concept of the innerguide, in the healing work. He believed that the inner mind could be accessed through tools like the I Ching and astrology. He was rejected by the conservative medical community as a mystic. However, many of his ideas and theories are actively embraced by healers to this day. 1932-1974 - Milton Erickson, a psychologist and psychiatrist pioneered the art of indirect suggestion in hypnosis. He is considered the father of modern hypnosis. His methods by passed the conscious mind through the use of both verbal and nonverbal pacing techniques including metaphor, confusion, and many others. He was a colorful character and has immensely influenced the practice of contemporary hypnotherapy,and its official acceptance by the AMA. His work, combined with the workof Satir and Perls, was the basis for Bandler and Grinder's Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP).
How to Quit Nail Biting
08.24.08 (12:23 pm) [edit]Trust me, I know how hard it is. You promise yourself you'll stop. You might stop just long enough that your fingernails grow back a bit. And then... somehow... you're at it again. Like you just can't figure out how to quit nail biting. It's not the worst thing in the world. I mean, it's not going to kill you! But... it's time to take control over your life, and controlling your habit of biting your fingernails and cuticles is such an important place to start. I was able to do it and I would love to show you how to quit nail biting too. I myself used to share your habit of biting my fingernails and also my cuticles, sometimes down to the point where they'd bleed. I thought it was disgusting, but I couldn't stop myself! I tried everything from creams to nail polish until I finally found what it was I was needed. What I have to say to you is that you can stop too. Anyone can stop. The problem is, stopping is partially out of your control. It's such a strongly-rooted habit, that you have to go deeper into your mind to stop it. When I finally stopped biting my fingernails was the day that I finally went deep into my mind to stop. Now I know what you're thinking... I sound nuts! Well, having a habit have such control over me really did make me nuts! And one day I decided I'd had enough! After I discovered my cure, then I was able to get on with my life with a new confidence in myself that I had never had before. Here's the good news for you... from one reformed nail biter to the next... you can do it, too. And you can do it quickly and easily. Now here's what I read: Nail biting is considered a left-over socially-acceptable behavior originating from thumb or finger-sucking! How insulting! When I read that "theory" I had had it! I decided at that moment that it was time to stop! I knew that theory was silly but I didn't care... I did not want to be a nail biter anymore! After I tried everything in the book, I came to the conclusion - I can't do this alone. This was my problem: Nail biting is not something I wanted to do. It's not like I scheduled into my day planner: 6:00-6:03 - Bite Nails. It was just a habit, plain and simple. That means, the moment I stopped thinking about stopping the habit, I started the habit right back up again! What made it harder to stop doing than say smoking or binge eating or other habits people might try to kick... is the fact that I don't have to do anything, go anywhere, buy anything... my fingers are always... on hand (terrible pun, forgive me!). What I found is that I had to get into my subconscious mind in order to get past the habit. I never thought I'd try it and now it's all I can do to get other people to at least give it a shot. But, it wasn't until I found the courage the go to a... here comes the dreaded word... hypnotist... that I was able to kick my habit. I know what you're thinking again... I'm nuts! I know, I know, believe me, I know. I thought the same exact thing. Then I found out that nail biting is the third-most common reason people go to hypnotists (I know, I know, you still think I'm nuts), right under weight management and smoking. I don't know about those two reasons - I mean, those both involve chemical addictions of some kind. Nail biting is just nail biting. Anyway, before I was convinced to go to a hypnotist, I went into tons of online forums to try to find people like me who had tried everything else in the book to stop biting my nails but couldn't. What I found in the end was that many of them finally figured out how to quit nail biting with a hypnotist... I found tons. Tons and tons of people. They said it was the only solution they had found. Of course I still didn't believe them. Then I started studying up on why it was such a hard habit for people to break. I realized that the only way to really kick the habit was to get down deeper than just will - it was a matter of getting into the subconscious mind to break the habit. Anyway, I wanted to get a friend to go with me but I was too embarrassed. So, I went by myself and thought it was a joke the whole way there. Luckily the woman I saw was very comforting and surprisingly understanding of my doubt and distrust of the whole practice. She then told me what she does is really very simple: it's like a revelation coming to you in a dream, except that you're awake. And you know what I thought... You're nuts! Yeah, well... it might be nuts... but you won't believe it... It worked. Quickly, painlessly, and believe it or not... permanently. I have not bitten my fingernails since. I can't do anything but support the practice (at least for nail biting) and suggest it to you with hand over heart - you just have to try it... just give it a shot. I can say, and I've done sufficient research because I'm so interested in the whole practice, that if you are too nervous about seeing a hypnotist in person (and I completely understand, believe me!), then there are plenty of other options. There are many hypnosis tapes that you can use that will help you cure you of your habit. From what I've read in forums and reviews, it takes longer. In other words, it isn't immediately effective. But, they're proven to really help speed up the process of curing yourself. And I know from personal experience... getting yourself to actually go into a hypnotist is hard. You can't help but feel like it's a joke. I can imagine that just listening to tapes, while not as quick of a cure, would be much easier and more comforting. I mean, you can do it from home... you can do it alone... Obviously I'd try all the tapes out there myself if I were still biting my nails, but I'm happy to say that I don't qualify to use these tapes anymore! Anyway, after reading people's posts on forums and talking back and forth with many, I've found two tapes (both download-able) that I feel confident personally recommending: The first is a nail biting hypnosis program that you can simply download and listen to on your own time. It has been proven to be highly successful, so much so, that they offer you a full refund within 8 weeks of purchase if you are not cured. This download costs $49.50 but all the people I spoke to in forums said that they felt $49.50 was well worth an entire lifetime cure. I found so many people who raved about this program and said they couldn't believe how easy it was to stop. They just downloaded the mp3 and started listening on their computers right away. The second is a program that I've found only positive responses to. Unfortunately, it's more expensive - $97, but they too offer an 8 week trial period with a guaranteed full refund. The reason this one is pricier is because it includes three components - a video, a workbook, and an audio version of the video. All of these are downloads, so you can have them to use and keep on your computer instantly. Although this is more expensive, the people who said this product really stood out was because it included a video portion which they found really got to them. These people all told me as well, that the price was worth the lifetime cure and they'd happily pay it (and actually more) again in a heartbeat. If you feel these methods might work for you, or you just want to read more information about them, check out my website below for next steps. No matter what method you choose, just remember, you can do it. I did it. So you can do it, too. It's just a habit. And you're stronger than that habit. You deserve to break it.
Hypnosis to Quit Smoking - Get the Essential Facts You Need to Know
08.24.08 (12:21 pm) [edit]So, are you thinking of getting hypnosis to help you to quit? Get the essential facts about hypnosis - how it works and what it can do for you - in this article. Can hypnosis really cure smoking? And what exactly happens when you are put in a trance? Is it safe? Let's take a closer look. Is Hypnosis A Cure? Hypnosis is used to help people with all sorts of problems. For example, many people have a phobia which is an irrational fear of something. So if you are afraid of flying then a hypnotist is the best way to be cured of this. Although hypnosis is not a strict medical science because it is difficult to quantify and measure, it has been used to cure people of many mental problems for centuries. How Can Hypnosis Cure A Smoker? Hypnosis can be used on smokers to help them quit in a number of ways. First of all, it can give you the confidence of having much more willpower than you thought was possible. With a huge amount of willpower, giving up cigarettes becomes easier. Also, it can take away those cravings from you. You won't feel the cravings after hypnosis because your mind has been trained to block them out and not be aware of them. So by having less cravings it will be easy to stop smoking. What Happens During Hypnosis? During hypnosis to quit smoking, the hypnotist will put you in a trance. There are 3 stages to this. The first stage is when you are put under. Normally the hypnotist will tell you to feel relaxed and sleepy and count down from 10 to 1. The second stage is when the hypnotist will give you suggestions that you have a lot of willpower and can't feel the cravings anymore. The third stage is the awakening process. This is quite quick and a short count from 5 to 1 and you will wake up from the trance and feel as you did before. Does It Work? Hypnosis can be very effective. Normally you need about 3 sessions and after that, the vast majority of people will stop smoking successfully. The long term results are not as good but hypnosis definitely makes the initial quit very
Hypnosis For Better Self Esteem
08.24.08 (12:18 pm) [edit]Covert hypnosis works by establishing at first a rapport that connects the listener and the hypnotist. There is somehow a state self hypnosis weight loss psychological congruency that is acted upon through linguistic and nonverbal communication. The process makes use of various strategies and techniques that even someone who isn’t a professional hypnotists could accommodate and execute. Most of the time, in covert hypnosis, the subject is usually not aware that he or she is interacting with a hypnotist. There is no clue presented to the unsuspecting subject that there is actually a process of hypnosis that is already going on. This is what makes it potentially dangerous in the wrong hands, but an entirely powerful persuasion technique in the right ones. Can you imagine a car salesman with this kind of skill? How about your boss? Or maybe free self hypnosis scripts about you? Just think how you could use a technique like this. There have already been published experiments that clearly and effectively self hypnosis techniques the effectiveness of covert hypnosis. Illusionist and mentalist Derren Brown has pulled off some masterful displays of it in both his stage and street performances. Through an experiment known as ‘Lost Taxi Driver’, Mr. Brown has used it to prompt or bring to an amnesia mind state a taxi driver based in London. The experiment showed how hypnosis can be instantly and covertly carried out by the hypnotist. Another experiment known as ‘The Magic Doll’ demonstrates how Derren was able to change a behavior or action of an unsuspecting woman through the use of these same techniques. Imagine how many people you could control and influence using this mind controlling ability? It’s one reason why the marketing industry is eager to make use of techniques like this and make sure sales reps have these sorts of skills. Covert hypnosis really works. It would be advantageous if used appropriately and responsibly. Ready to learn how to manipulate people’s minds? Then learn the techniques of Covert Hypnosis, featuring many covert methods of rapidly gaining rapport and making your hypnotic suggestions powerfully persuasive through everyday conversation. For one popular technique, be sure to learn how to perform the Handshake Induction for a powerful way to immediately gain influence over someone you’ve just met!
Brain waves
08.24.08 (12:16 pm) [edit]Electroencephalograph (EEG AKA). Is a machine that monitors brainwave activity. Laboratories around the world doing research and experiments with the help of these tools to better understand four main brainwave frequencies combination :-beta, ALPHA, THETA and DELTA. Each frequency of a characteristic plan, and issued a special state of consciousness. Beta waves (14 cycles per second and above) dominated awake normal consciousness when, the focus is not the world. Alpha waves (8-13 cycles per second-) is dreaming and light meditation, when his eyes are closed. THETA waves (4-7 cycles per second) in a dream, and, in the highest state of mediation. In deep meditation and deep sleep, DELTA waves (0.5 to 3 cycles per second), they do have some experience. - Each of these frequencies brainwave an important function. The optimum level is for deep thought in the field of THETA. When THETA that senses from the outside world and focused on the interior compartment. Delta waves, given leave from the life and the most profound feelings in the world. Studies have shown that vibration, rhythmic sounds have a tremendous impact on the activity of the brain. In voodoo traditions, drums used in the periodic rhythm transport humans to other parts of the reality. - Vibration, the rhythm of the affected brain very specific way to wedding journey out of the body. Brain structure of the study recently conducted by researcher Melinda Maxfield, in the (SSC) of Shamanic Consciousness. She believes that the sustained rhythmic drum beat struck by four and a half times per second, is the key to the transportation of humans in the deepest part of the practitioners of consciousness. It is no coincidence that beats 4.5, or cycles per second, the trance-like state of the theta wave activity of the brain. In direct correlation, we see the same effect as a result of continuous and rhythmic drone-Tibetan Buddhist chants, which transport the monks and other students in the areas of medicine degree. Mild pulsating rhythms do the same if the frequency of computer generated, they are clear, consistent and can be designed to be highly specific and desired brain state. Just as we can customize the radio to get specific, with the technology we will be able to set our minds on the dial access to a wide range of brain-State. * Alertness, Concentration, Focus & Cognition * Relaxation, Visualization, & Creativity * Intuition, Memory, Meditation & Vivid Visual Imagery * Deep Sleep, Healing & Detached Awarness As sound waves, the brain has its own set of vibrations he uses to communicate with itself and the rest of the body. EEG equipment distinguishes these waves by measuring the speed at which neurons fire in cycles per second. Beta waves ranged from 13-40 HZ. Beta is associated with increased concentration, increased alertness and visual problems. Nobel laureate Sir Francis Crick and other scientists believe that the frequency of 40HZ beta can be key to the success of the act of learning. Alpha waves ranged from 7-12 HZ. It is a place of deep relaxation, but it is not meditation. The Alpha we begin to access creative potential, which lies directly beneath our conscious awareness is a node starting point leading to a state of consciousness. Alpha also home to the, as we know, the frequency resonance Schuman, which the resonant frequency of the Earth's electromagnetic field. Theta wavelength 4-7 HZ. Theta is one of the more elusive, and the extraordinary realms we can examine. It is also known as the dark, which we usually only briefly, as an experience, we rise from the depth of sheep from wakefulness, or to lose sleep. In theta we are in the waking-dream, vivid images flashing before sound, and we are receptive to information outside our normal consciousness itself. Theta was also identified as a gateway to learning and memory. Theta meditation increases creativity, improves learning, reduces stress and awaken intuition and other extrasensory perception skills. Delta waves ranged from 0-4 HZ. Delta associated with a deep sleep. In addition, certain frequencies in the range of delta initiate release-Growth Hormone useful to the healing and regeneration. That is why sleep, deep sleep restorative so essential to the healing process.
Introduction
08.24.08 (12:13 pm) [edit]Hypnosis is a natural psychological process in which critical thinking faculties of the mind are bypassed and a type of selective thinking and perception is established. Although some individuals experience an increase in suggestibility and subjective feelings of an altered state of consciousness, this is not true for everyone. In fact, some supposed hypnotic indicators and subjective changes can be achieved without relaxation or a lengthy induction by means of simple suggestion or waking hypnosis, a fact that increases the controversy and misunderstandings around hypnosis and the hypnotic state. History Hypnosis has a long history from ancient times to the present. Interest in hypnosis is marked with great enthusiastic interest to troughs of total neglect. Many of its techniques were used by early peoples. Its current uses have, for the most part been scientifically studied by a host of both practitioners and researchers. Many names dot the landscape of hypnosis' history from Franz Anton Mesmer to Milton Erickson. For a more complete history see the reference section below. Theories of Hypnosis Some theories of hypnosis attempt to describe hypnotic phenomena in terms of brain activity while others concentrate more on the phenomenological experience. In either case, a fundamental distinction is between "state" and "non-state" theories of hypnosis. State theorists believe that an altered state of consciousness is a core part of hypnosis, whereas non-state theorists believe that more mundane psychological processes such as focused attention and expectation are sufficient to explain hypnotic phenomena. The precise definition of what constitutes an altered state of consciousness is a matter of some debate. Although many people who are hypnotized describe their experience as "altered" it is difficult to use these terms in the absence of a prior definition. The American Psychological Association remains neutral in the argument between 'state' and 'non-state' theorists. However, this controversy may be decreasing as modern brain-imaging techniques offer hope for an increased understanding of the nature of hypnosis, and as the value of both perspectives is increasingly recognized. The following theories have been presented from highly regarded individuals/groups: Alpha- and Theta-state theories Through data collected by Electroencephalography (EEGs), four major brain-wave patterns—frequency of electrical impulses firing from the brain—have been identified. The Beta state (alert/working) is defined as 14–32 cycles per second (CPS), the Alpha state (relaxed/reflecting) as the 7–14 CPS, the Theta state (drowsy) as 4–7 CPS, and the Delta state (sleeping/dreaming/deep sleep) as approximately 3–5 CPS. One physiological definition of hypnosis states that the brainwave level necessary to work on issues such as stopping smoking, weight management, reduction of phobias, sports improvement, etc., is the alpha state. The alpha state is commonly associated with closing one's eyes, relaxation, and daydreaming. Another physiological definition states that the theta state is required for therapeutic change. The theta state is associated with hypnosis for surgery, hypnoanesthesia (the use of hypnosis to numb sensation of pain), and hypnoanalgesia (the use of hypnosis to decrease sensitivity to pain), which occur more readily in the theta and delta states. Anesthetics, sedatives and hypnotics disrupt neuronal synchrony, thought to underlie theta waves, in both humans and animals, as well as in simple neuronal circuits. It should be noted that hypnoanalgesia of the skin is a common test for somnambulism. Arm and body catalepsy are one of a few tests done to determine readiness for these surgical applications. However, it is important to reflect upon the fact that both arm and body catalepsy can be induced in normal non-hypnotized subjects. Indeed, arm catalepsy is a standard stage-hypnotist's test of susceptibility. Moreover, normal, non-hypnotized subjects can be found in any of these states of cortical arousal without also displaying any of the behavior, traits or the enhanced suggestibility associated with being hypnotized. Reading, watching movies, and meditating may be also forms of hypnosis.