Source
r/hypnosis•
caligloo

Anyone have any anecdotes related to brain waves (EEG machines)?

I've been using a consumer quality EEG machine to just get a feel for what the different waves look like under meditation and various other states of thinking. Not sure what I'm looking for yet, but I think eventually I want some feedback for really good trance states. I think it can improve my abilities in identifying these states and levels of state, whether from a hypnosis, meditation, or just daily oscillating trance states viewpoint

Has anyone used these during hypnosis and if so, what did you notice? I see a lot of conflicting info on which frequencies are supposed to be present, so I'd like to hear some anecdotes if you have them. TIA!

Posted May 28, 2020, 2:25 PM UTC

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TistDanielHypnotist•

I've never personally used such a machine, but from what I understand, when scientists do brain scan studies of hypnotized subjects they can't tell the difference between hypnosis and a normal (albeit somewhat relaxed) waking state.

They did one experiment where they were able to detect a difference between subjects hypnotized to perform an action, subjects who performed the action voluntarily, and subjects whose bodies were moved to perform the action involuntarily. That was a PET scan, not EEG though. (Blakemore et al. 2003)

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caliglooOP•

Thanks. Have you seen any of the same studies on monks or other super meditators? I'm wondering if the level of trance would make a difference and if they were able to test people who claim to be able to go "deep".

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Cadmus_A•

Meditative brain waves are theta, hypnosis is centered around alpha. However, if you've got an eeg with a decent amount of channels, you'll see that people with high trance susceptibility will have activation of the left dorsal prefrontal cortex and some other part of the brain. I think this is one of the first articles that pops up when you search hypnosis eeg, but sorry I forgot the brain regions.

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caliglooOP•

The conflicting results is my concern. Like you mentioned, I read that theta was the wave I'm looking for, but I don't think anyone has actually registered much theta at all on an EEG (except for maybe on an unattainably expensive device?). I think I'm looking for people's actual experience as opposed to what the research says. Not that the research is wrong, but I'm trying to determine why there would be a discrepancy. There's probably a gap in knowledge on my part.

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Cadmus_A•

Theta is not the wave you're looking for in hypnosis. Theta with meditation, alpha with hypnosis.

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4quatloos•

I have used bio feedback devices with hypnosis. The names of the gadgets were called Heart Stone, Spire, and Journey to Wild Divine. I have also posted on this idea of yours in this Reddit. My SO often uses hypnosis on me. I have ask her to do it while i am hooked up to these devices. In these programs you attempt to perform certain tasks. Your actions and success can be viewed on the computer or phone screen. Some of these task or (games) require you to focus your thoughts, raise or lower your respiration or heart rate. Hypnosis does have an effect. Even while using these devices unhypnotized I recognize the feelings. I know that I am in a trance.

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caliglooOP•

Are any of those devices an EEG that measures brain wave frequency? I haven't heard of them so I'm not sure what kind of bio feedback they are. I didn't think about other types of bio feedback so I'd be interested regardless.

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4quatloos•

Journey to Wild Divine and Heart Stone use bio-electrical impedance and Spire measures movement of stomach during breathing. It is a stress detector that has breathing exercises for relaxation. You have an app to see your output.

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ocean_sunrise•

I had one of the Journey to Wild Divine gizmos, and when I got the feeling of absolutely plummeting into trance, I'd sometimes yank myself out a few seconds later to look at the sensor graph and it basically dropped off a cliff and stayed there until I opened my eyes. Very pronounced/unmistakable. I've wondered about getting one of those emotive headsets to see if there are any transitions in brainwaves at the same time or whether the two are unrelated. But like you, I don't know if they'd measure the appropriate brainwaves for this.

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4quatloos•

You could do those execises while someone is giving hypnotic suggestions or right when you reach a specific state or progress.

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