EEG activity and heart rate during recall of emotional events in hypnosis: relationships with hypnotizability and suggestibility

The purpose of the present research was to find physiological and cognitive correlates of hypnosis, imaginative suggestibility and emotional experiences. After the administration of a standard hypnotic induction, the EEG and heart rate (HR) were recorded during self-generated happy and sad emotions using a relaxation condition as a control. Physiological recordings were also obtained during three eyes-open and eyes-closed baseline periods: (1) waking rest; (2) early-rest in hypnosis (just after the hypnotic induction); (3) late-rest hypnosis (at the end of hypnotic condition). EEG was recorded at frontal (F3, F4), central (C3, C4), and posterior sites (middle of O1-P3-T5 and O2-P4-T6 triangles). Using log transform of mean spectral amplitude, eight EEG frequency bands (4-44 Hz) were evaluated. High hypnotizable subjects, as compared to the lows, produced a higher theta1 amplitude (4-6 Hz) across both left- and right-frontal and right-posterior areas. These subjects also produced smaller alpha1 amplitude (8.25-10 Hz) over both left and right frontal recording sites. High suggestible subjects, during resting conditions, disclosed higher theta2 (6.25-8 Hz) and alpha1 amplitudes in eyes-closed as compared to an eyes-open condition than did low suggestible subjects. High suggestible subjects also showed, in hypnosis-rest condition, higher 40-Hz amplitudes (36-44 Hz) and HR activity than did low suggestible subjects. Hypnotizability and not suggestibility was found to moderate emotional processing: high hypnotizable individuals self-reported greater levels of emotional experiences than did low hypnotizables especially in terms of negative emotion. High hypnotizables, during processing of emotional material, also disclosed opposite 40-Hz hemispheric asymmetries over anterior and posterior regions of the scalp. These subjects during happiness showed an increased production of 40-Hz activity in the left frontal and central regions of the scalp, while during sadness they showed an increased activity in the right central and posterior regions. The hemispheric asymmetries for relaxation condition were similar, but less marked, to those obtained for happiness. No significant interactions involving both hypnotizability and imaginative suggestibility were found for physiological variables considered in this study. This demonstrates that hypnotizability and suggestibility reflect different underlying psychophysiological activities.     

Power spectral analysis of electroencephalographic desynchronization induced by cocaine in the rat

Whereas it is well-known that cocaine induces EEG desynchronization and behavioral excitation in animals and human subjects, the detailed effect of cocaine on EEG activity remains to be fully elucidated. This communication reports our attempts in quantifying the effect of cocaine on EEG signals recorded from the somatosensory cortex of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats under chloral hydrate anesthesia (400 mg/kg i.p.). Continuous, on-line and real-time power spectral analysis revealed that i.v. administration of two doses of cocaine (1.5 or 3.0 mg/kg) dose-dependently induced EEG desynchronization, as indicated by a decrease in the root mean square and an increase in the mean power frequency values. More interestingly, whereas both doses of cocaine promoted a reduction in the alpha (8-13 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz) and delta (1-4 Hz) spectral components, the beta band (13-32 Hz) underwent differential alterations. The lower dose of cocaine elicited a transient increase, followed by a decrease in the power of the beta band. A prolonged increase in the power of the beta band, on the other hand, was observed after the higher dose of cocaine. These results suggest that subtle changes in the individual EEG spectral components, which are dose-dependent, may underlie the EEG desynchronization induced by cocaine.     

Poverty, cultural disadvantage and brain development: a study of pre-school children in Mexico

Forty-two children, who had been studied previously at the age of 18-30 months, were studied again at 4 years of age. Twenty-two belonged to low socioeconomic strata and were classified as high-risk children (HRC) the other 20 were classified as low-risk children (LRC), and belonged to middle and middle-high socioeconomic strata. Ten minutes of EEG using reference derivations (with linked earlobes) were recorded from each subject. Twenty EEG segments of 3.2 s each were selected by visual inspection for Fourier analysis. Absolute power (AP) was computed for the total EEG energy (1.5-19 Hz) as well as each reference derivation in 4 frequency bands: delta (1.5-3.5 Hz), theta (4-7.5 Hz), alpha (7.5-12.5 Hz) and beta (12.5-19 Hz). HRC had significantly more delta AP than LRC in frontal and central leads, and higher values of theta AP in frontal leads. Alpha AP was higher in LRC in occipital areas and in F8 and T4. This study suggests a maturational lag in HRC.     

Suggestion and distraction in the control of pain: Test of two hypotheses.

96 18–30 yr old undergraduates, preselected for high or for low hypnotic susceptibility on the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility—Form A, reported their level of perceived pain during a 50-sec baseline immersion of their hand in ice water. In a 2nd immersion, independent groups of high and low hypnotizables (n?=?12) were tested (without hypnosis) under 4 conditions: analgesia suggestion alone, verbal-distraction task alone, a combination of suggestion plus distraction, and control. Among high hypnotizables, as compared to the control group, all 3 experimental treatments were effective in reducing pain. The combination of suggestion plus distraction was no more effective than was either of the single treatments alone in reducing pain. Among low hypnotizables, only the distraction treatment was effective. Results support an attentional-diversion explanation of the effect of waking analgesia suggestions rather than a special resources hypothesis. It appears that both high and low hypnotizables can divert attention toward external stimuli, but only high hypnotizables can successfully divert attention inward to control pain. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The correlation between changes in EEG and eye movement (EOG) accompanied by lowered arousal level

We investigated the correlation between the components of spontaneous eye movement (EOG) and EEG in six healthy individuals. The study was conducted in three periods; from the resting to drowsy stage, from the drowsy to spontaneous awakening stage, and in the forced waking stage. EEG, as registered from bipolar electrodes attached between the left parietal region (P3) and the left occipital region (O1), was monitored continuously by the FFT method with a segment of 12.8 seconds. Rapid eye movement and slow eye movement were observed simultaneously. In conclusion, even when the arousal level varies considerably, there is a close correlation between frequency of rapid eye movement and EEG patterns of 10.16 integral of 10.94 Hz & 17.97 integral of 19.53 Hz (simple correlation p < 0.01). Additionally, during the forced waking period (after stage 2), delta and theta bands increased in cases along with sleepiness. Even if the depth of sleep was the same, one's mood upon awakening was determined by the frequency of slow waves before awakening.     

The effect of cutaneous and deep pain on the electroencephalogram during sleep--an experimental study

The interaction between sleep and pain has been insufficiently studied, and no experiments have investigated whether pathologic sleep patterns as seen in pain patients can be replicated experimentally by well-defined pain stimuli. An experimental model would therefore be valuable for further studies on the interaction between pain and sleep. In this study, three well-defined experimental stimuli (muscle, joint, and cutaneous pain) were applied during sleep, and the electroencephalogram (EEG) pattern was quantified. The pain stimuli were applied during slow-wave sleep in 10 healthy subjects. Using nine surface recordings, the EEG was sampled before and during pain stimuli. Frequency analysis was performed, resulting in 10 EEG features describing the responses to pain. During the muscle-pain stimulus an arousal effect was observed and a decrease in delta (0.5-3.5 Hz) and sigma (12-14 Hz) as well as increases in alpha 1 (8-10 Hz) and beta (14.5-25 Hz) activities were seen. During joint pain, however, more universal EEG changes were seen with a decrease in the lowest frequency bands [delta, theta (3.5-8 Hz) and alpha 1] and an increase in the higher frequencies [alpha 2 (10-12 Hz), sigma and beta bands]. No background EEG changes were observed during the cutaneous stimulus. There were several differences in the responses from the nine EEG channels, but no derivation seemed especially sensitive to detect the evoked changes. The study highlights the complexity of pain on the sleep EEG. The experimental model has shown that pain from different body structures, as well as signals from various EEG derivations, may give different responses in sleep microstructure.     

The impact of treatment of eye disease on optometric practice in Missouri

In an attempt to validate the use of topographical mapping of EEG as a method of localising cerebral function, EEG was recorded during a simple motor task. A minimum of 20 sec artifact-free EEG was recorded from 24 healthy right handed subjects in each of 4 conditions: eyes open 1, motor task (left/right, order randomized), eyes open 2. EEG amplitude maps were computed in delta, theta, alpha, and beta (1 and 2). Differences were seen between the eyes open and the motor conditions in alpha, beta 1 and beta 2 localised to the motor and supplementary motor areas. It is argued that topographical mapping of EEG is a valid method of localising cognitive function in healthy individuals for the Luria task.     

Regulation of the septal pacemaker theta rhythm by the cervical nuclei of the midbrain

Neuronal activity in the medial septal region (the medial nucleus and the diagonal band nucleus, MN-DBN) was recorded along with hippocampal EEG traces in conscious rabbits with stimulatory electrodes implanted in the median cervical nucleus (MCN) and the reticular formation (RF) of the midbrain and pons. In all animals with electrodes in the MCN, the background theta activity frequency was low (4.6 +/- 0.15 Hz) as compared with intact rabbits or those with electrodes implanted only in the RF (5.2 +/- 0.19 Hz, p < 0.5). Stimulation of the MCN with weak low-frequency impulses reduced theta volleys from MN-DBN cells, reducing their frequency and regularity and inducing the appearance or strengthening of low-frequency delta modulation. The number of spikes in a volley decreased, and the duration of inter-volley intervals increased. Stimulation of the MCN led to a gradual decrease in the frequency and amplitude of theta waves, induced irregular delta waves and spindles of 12 Hz in the hippocampal EEG. Stimulation of the RF produced the opposite changes in volley activity in the MN-DBN and hippocampal EEG, with increases in theta and decreases in delta components. These results support a role for the midbrain cervical nuclei as structures limiting the generation of theta activity by the reticular-septal system, but do not support the existence of an MN-DBN-independent high-frequency serotoninergic theta rhythm. It is proposed that the effect of the MCN may be important for suppression and switching of attention.     

Instructional set and the relative efficacy of hypnotic and waking analgesia.

Tested the hypothesis that hypnotic analgesia is intrinsically more effective than waking analgesia by administering both treatments while varying expectations concerning treatment efficacy. 23 male and 37 female undergraduates were assigned to hypnosis/hypnosis, hypnosis/explicit instruction, hypnosis/ambiguous instruction, and control groups. Ss given equivocal information about the efficacy of the 2 treatments exhibited larger pain tolerance in hypnotic analgesia. Ss explicitly informed that waking analgesia was more effective exhibited equivalent pain tolerance in the 2 treatments. Although these Ss rated themselves as deeply hypnotized on their hypnotic analgesia trial, they rated themselves as much less hypnotized on their waking analgesia trial. Findings did not support the hypothesis. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Paired-associate learning and recall of high and low imagery words: moderating effects of hypnosis, hypnotic susceptibility level, and visualization abilities

Relationships between recall of low and high imagery paired-associate (P-A) words and hypnotic susceptibility, and the influence of hypnosis on recall as moderated by hypnotic level were examined. Subjects were assessed on 2 hypnotic susceptibility scales [Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility; Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSS:C)]. Forty-one low (0-4 SHSS:C) and 41 highly (9-12 SHSS:C) hypnotizable college students were assigned to 1 of 4 experimental groups: waking-hypnosis, hypnosis-waking, waking-waking, or hypnosis-hypnosis. Recall was significantly better for high than low imagery words. In the more sensitive within-subjects design, high hypnotizables recalled more P-A words during hypnosis than waking, and lows did not differ. In the between-subjects design, hypnotic level was not a moderator of performance during hypnosis. Low hypnotizables recalled more words in the within-subjects design. Visualization ability was a poor moderator of imagery-mediated learning. High imagery recall correlated significantly with Marks's (1973) Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (.25) and Paivio and Harshman's (1983) Individual Differences Questionnaire (IDQ) Verbal scale (.29), but not with the IDQ Imagery scale, the Mental Rotations Test (Vandenberg & Kuse, 1973), or the revised Minnesota Paper Form Board Test (Likert & Quasha, 1941).     

Relationship of cerebral oxygen uptake to EEG frequency in isolated canine brain

Cerebral oxygen uptake was correlated with electroencephalographic (EEG) frequency and amplitude in 87 isolated canine brains. Group I (71 brains) was perfused with diluted blood and Group II (16 brains) was perfused with whole blood equilibrated with oxygen at various partial pressures. The EEG's were classified as follows: A, highest frequency greater than or equal to 17 Hz, alpha (8-13 Hz) amplitude less than 50 muv, delta (less than or equal to 3.5 Hz), amplitude less than 100 muv; B, highest frequency greater than or equal to 17 Hz, alpha amplitude greater to or equal to 50 muv, and/or delta amplitude greater than or equal to 100 muv. C, highest frequency 8-16 Hz, alpha amplitude greater than or equal to 25 muv, and delta amplitude greater than 100 muv, D, highest frequency 0.5-16 Hz, alpha, if present, amplitude less than 25 muv, and/or delta amplitude less than 100 muv, and E, highest frequency 0-16 Hz, alpha, if present, amplitude less than 10 muv, and/or delta amplitude less than 15 muv. The Group I oxygen uptakes in ml/100 g of brain per min+/-SE for the five EEG classifications were A, 4.39+/-0.06, B, 4.13+/-0.08, C, 3.76+/-0.09, D, 3.40+/-0.12, and E, 2.55+/-0.06, whereas the corresponding Group II values were A, 4.64+/-0.22, B, 4.28+/-0.15, C, 3.82+/-0.24, D, 3.39+/-0.40, and E, 1.38+/-0.42. As the EEG deteriorates, cerebral oxygen uptake tends to decrease in a significant and parallel manner in both the diluted and whole blood groups.     

Analgesic effects of posthypnotic suggestions and virtual reality distraction on thermal pain.

The individual and combined effects of posthypnotic suggestion (PHS) and virtual reality distraction (VRD) on experimentally induced thermal pain were examined using a 2 × 2, between-groups design. After receiving baseline thermal pain, each participant received hypnosis or no hypnosis, followed by VRD or no VRD during another pain stimulus. Consistent with the hypothesis that hypnosis and VRD work via different mechanisms, results show that posthypnotic analgesia was moderated by hypnotizability but VRD analgesia was not. The impact of PHSs for analgesia was specific to high hypnotizables, whereas VRD was effective independent of hypnotizability. Results also show a nonsignificant but predicted pattern for high hypnotizables: Audio hypnosis combined with VRD reduced worst pain 22% more and pain unpleasantness 25% more than did VRD alone. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects on pubertal growth and reproduction in rats exposed to lead perinatally or continuously throughout development

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of different exercise intensities with the anaerobic threshold (AT) as the standard on electroencephalograph (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV). Eleven healthy males, with a mean age of 22 (SD 1.48) years, performed submaximal exercise to determine their ATs, and underwent four experimental conditions including rest (rest), 20% less than the AT level (-20), the AT level (AT), and 20% more than the AT level (+20) for about 20 minutes. EEG and electrocardiogram (ECG) were taken for 15 minutes before and after each experimental condition, respectively. The EEG signals were recorded from Cz, Pz, O1 and O2 (10-20 system). HRV was determined by the R-R interval method of ECG. Spectral analysis was applied to the EEG and the HRV from just before (pre) and after (post) each experimental condition for 5 minutes using the maximum entropy method (MEM). Post/pre ratios were calculated, after the power spectral density (PSD) and percentage of total power (power time percent: Time%) of delta (0.5-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha 1 (8-11 Hz), alpha 2 (11-14 Hz), beta 1 (14-20 Hz), beta 2 (20-30 Hz), total waves in EEG and PSD as to low frequency (LF: 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high frequency (HF: 0.15-0.4 Hz) areas, and the LF/HF(L/H) ratio in HRV were analyzed. In the exercise condition, total PSD in the EEG was enhanced and PSD of HF in HRV was significantly declined, as compared to those in the resting condition. Alpha PSDs of occipital sites were higher in -20 than those in AT and +20 conditions. The increase in L/H in AT and +20 demonstrated the changes in the balance of the autonomic nervous system, compared with that in -20. A significant increase in heart rate was observed in +20, although other indicators did not show differences in AT and +20 conditions. No alternations were noted in the gradient of exponential PSD in the above four experimental conditions, that is at rest, -20, AT and +20. These results suggest that the exercise intensity 20% less than one's AT level does not put a great strain on his or her body in health-promoting.     

Relationship between EEG reactivity and neuropsychological tests in vascular dementia

17 patients with vascular dementia (VaD) representing moderate to severe stage of the disease and 11 age-matched control subjects were examined with spectral analysis of EEG and a neuropsychological test battery comprising visual, praxic, verbal and memory functions as well as Mini-Mental Status test. VaD patients did not have less activity in the alpha band than control subjects, but the alpha amplitude ratio between eyes closed (EC) and eyes open (EO) situations (EC/EO ratio) was decreased in VaD patients, compared to controls. In VaD the variables of the awake background EEG with eyes closed (amplitude of alpha, beta, theta and delta activity; mean frequency) had only a few correlations to neuropsychological test scores. However, the (EC)/(EO) alpha ratio showed significant correlations with several neuropsychological variables in the temporo-occipital and centro-parietal derivations and some of these correlations were lateralized to the left or right hemisphere. Frontal EEG derivations with less alpha activity did not reveal any correlations to neuropsychological variables. We conclude that the dynamic EC/EO alpha ratio variable may be even more sensitive in the assessment of brain dysfunction in VaD than the background EEG variables.     

Genetic and environmental influences on EEG coherence

EEG coherence measures the covariation in electrical brain activity between two locations on the scalp and is used to study connectivity between cortical regions. The aim of this study was to determine the heritability of EEG coherence. Coherence was measured in a group of 213 16-yr-old twin pairs. By including male and female twin pairs in the sample, sex differences in genetic architecture were systematically examined. The EEG was obtained during quiet supine resting. Coherence was estimated for short and long distance combinations of electrode pairs along the anterior-posterior axis within a hemisphere for four frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta). Averaged over all electrode combinations about 60% of the variance was explained by genetic factors for coherence in the theta, alpha and beta bands. For the delta band, the heritability was somewhat lower. No systematic sex differences in genetic architecture were found. All environmental influences were nonshared, i.e., unique factors including measurement error. Environmental factors shared by twin siblings did not influence variation in EEG coherence. These results suggest that individual differences in coherence form a potential candidate for (molecular) genetic studies on brain function.     

Human electroencephalographic (EEG) response to olfactory stimulation: two experiments using the aroma of food

The present studies sought to examine the effect of olfactory stimulation on human Central Nervous System activity. In the first experiment (n = 21), EEG response to the 'synthetic' odours of chocolate, spearmint, almond, strawberry, vegetable, garlic and onion, and cumin or no odour was recorded from 19 electrodes (F3, F4, F7, F8, Fz, T3, T4, T5, T6, P3, P4, Pz, O1, O2, C3, C4, Cz) in all EEG frequencies (delta, theta, alpha, beta1 and beta2). Exposure to the odour of chocolate was associated with significant reductions in theta activity when compared with the odours of almond and cumin, with a trend towards significance when compared with no-odour control. Exposure to the odour of spearmint was associated with a significant reduction in EEG theta when compared with the no-odour control. No significant effects were observed in other frequencies. In a second experiment (n = 15), EEG response to the odours of real foods (chocolate, baked beans, rotting pork) and two controls (no odour and hot water) was recorded as in Experiment 1. The odour of chocolate was associated with significantly less theta activity than was any other stimulus. It is hypothesised that the alterations in theta reflect shifts in attention or cognitive load during olfactory perception, with a reduction in theta indicating a reduced level of attention.     

Hypnosis, suggestion, and placebo in the reduction of experimental pain.

Two experiments compared placebo and hypnotic analgesia in high and low hypnotizable subjects. Experiment 1 demonstrated that hypnotic and placebo analgesia were equally ineffective in low hypnotizables, but that hypnotic analgesia was much more effective than placebo analgesia in high hypnotizables. Experiment 2 replicated these results, but also included low and high hypnotizables who were given a nonhypnotic suggestion for analgesia. Both the low and high hypnotizables in this group reported greater suggested than placebo analgesia and as much suggested analgesia as high hypnotizable hypnotic subjects. Both experiments found substantial discrepancies between the amount of pain reduction subjects expected from the various treatments and the amount of pain reduction they actually reported following exposure to those treatments. In Experiment 2, subjects in all treatments who reduced reported pain engaged in more cognitive coping and less catastrophizing than those who did not reduce pain. Theoretical implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cortisol secretion is related to electroencephalographic alertness in human subjects during daytime wakefulness

To determine whether human hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis activity is related to the alertness level during wakefulness, 10 healthy young men were studied under resting conditions in the daytime (0900-1800 h) after an 8-h nighttime sleep (2300-0700 h). A serial 70-sec gaze fixation task was required every 10 min throughout the daytime experimental session. The corresponding waking electroencephalographic (EEG) segments were submitted to quantitative spectral analysis, from which EEG beta activity (absolute power density in the 13-35 Hz frequency band), an index of central alertness, was computed. Blood was collected continuously through an indwelling venous catheter and sampled at 10-min intervals. Plasma cortisol concentrations were measured by RIA, and the corresponding secretory rates were determined by a deconvolution procedure. Analysis of individual profiles demonstrated a declining tendency for EEG beta activity and cortisol secretory rate, with an overall temporal relationship indicated by positive and significant cross-correlation coefficients between the two variables in all subjects (average r=0.565, P < 0.001). Changes in cortisol secretion lagged behind fluctuations in EEG beta activity, with an average delay of 10 min for all the subjects. On the average, 4.6+/-0.4 cortisol secretory pulses and 4.9+/-0.5 peaks in EEG beta activity were identified by a detection algorithm. A significant, although not systematic, association between the episodes in the two variables was found: 44% of the peaks in EEG beta activity (relative amplitude, near 125%; P < 0.001) occurred during an ascending phase of cortisol secretion, cortisol secretory rates increasing by 40% (P < 0.01) 10-min after peaks in EEG beta activity. However, no significant change in EEG beta activity was observed during the period from 50 min before to 50 min after pulses in cortisol secretion. In conclusion, the present study describes a temporal coupling between cortisol release and central alertness, as reflected in the waking EEG beta activity. These findings suggest the existence of connections between the mechanisms involved in the control of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal activity and the activation processes of the brain, which undergoes varying degrees of alertness throughout daytime wakefulness.