Hypnotic Modulation of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity. 2024

Giuseppe De Benedittis
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Milano, 20125 Milano, Italy.

Hypnosis, a time-honored therapeutic approach, has gained widespread recognition for its effectiveness in addressing a range of psychological and somatic disorders. While its primary effects are mediated by central top-down mechanisms, hypnosis also exerts peripheral influence by modulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Psychophysiological measures, such as heart rate (HR) and its variability (HRV), electrodermal activity (EDA), respiratory rate (RR), and the analgesia nociceptive index (ANI), serve as reliable indicators of ANS activity. Studies have consistently demonstrated hypnosis' ability to significantly impact ANS functions, lowering sympathetic activity and enhancing parasympathetic tone. This effect is particularly pronounced during relaxation procedures and is influenced by mediating factors like hypnotizability and task conditions. Despite methodological limitations, this review highlights the potential of enhanced ANS modulation through hypnosis, including its connections to the central nervous system (CNS), to optimize therapeutic outcomes in patients with psychosomatic disorders associated with ANS dysfunction.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Giuseppe De Benedittis
May 1990, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines,
Giuseppe De Benedittis
February 2016, Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE,
Giuseppe De Benedittis
July 1999, International journal of circumpolar health,
Giuseppe De Benedittis
April 2012, Journal of bodywork and movement therapies,
Giuseppe De Benedittis
October 2001, Sheng li ke xue jin zhan [Progress in physiology],
Giuseppe De Benedittis
August 1993, Current opinion in neurology and neurosurgery,
Giuseppe De Benedittis
August 2004, Pediatric endocrinology reviews : PER,
Giuseppe De Benedittis
September 1983, Science (New York, N.Y.),
Giuseppe De Benedittis
January 1986, Journal of medical primatology,
Giuseppe De Benedittis
January 1997, Pharmacology & therapeutics,
Copied contents to your clipboard!