The real-time observation of neural dynamics serves as the indispensable key to unlocking the profound mysteries of consciousness
This work embarks on a compelling odyssey through the vanguard of neuroscience, unveiling not only the intricacies of conscious awareness but also the dramatic neurophysiological shifts that occur when hypnosis is introduced.
Readers will explore how contemporary scientific breakthroughs now provide empirical evidence demonstrating the distinct ways in which brain activity is restructured under hypnosis. Far transcending mere observation, these findings validate long-standing theoretical frameworks while simultaneously forging new horizons and pioneering innovative therapeutic strategies.
Whether you are a neuroscience aficionado, a mental health professional, or an inquisitive seeker of the mind's inner workings, you will delve into the labyrinthine complexities of the human psyche. Ultimately, you will examine the revolutionary implications these discoveries hold for our fundamental understanding of clinical therapy and psychological well-being.
Foreword by Dr David Spiegel: In Hypnosis and Neurosciences, Doctor Olivier Benarroche provides us with a thoughtful and entertaining examination of the history of hypnosis and the more recent study of its neurobiology. He manages to combine a serious examination of the subject with a playful description of how our brains enable us to do surprising things. He makes hypnotic phenomena like absorption, dissociation and cognitive flexibility understandable in modern scientific terms and yet his approach is expansive rather than reductionist. He has managed to combine the long, colorful and contentious history of hypnosis with the more recent examination of these phenomena using modern neuroimaging techniques such as electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging. He explains clearly how the relationship between distinct regions of the brain such as the executive control network, the salience network, and the default mode network make the apparently strange and remarkable alterations in perception, cognition, and motor function that one observes in hypnosis understandable. The historical sweep and neurobiological sophistication of this book makes it a remarkable journey through the history of the evolution of our understanding of hypnosis and explains why the phenomenon deserves more of our attention now than ever before. He unwraps this gift hidden in our brains and helps us to understand why it has such therapeutic potential. It is clear from his perspective that hypnosis is not a relic of the past but rather a key to the future. Seeing is believing, and Doctor Benarroche helps us to see into how our brains provide us with the ability to modulate perception, dissociate experiences, enhance motor control, reduce pain, restructure our understanding of ourselves, and concentrate better. He provides us with a thorough, enjoyable, and readable blend of hypnotic history with modern neuroscience. Enjoy it. You will be entranced.
