ScienceDaily (Dec. 2, 2011) —
Scientists at the University of Hull have found that some people have the
ability to hallucinate colors at will -- even without the help of hypnosis.
The study, published this week in
the journal Consciousness and Cognition, was carried out in the
Department of Psychology at the University of Hull. It focused on a group of
people that had shown themselves to be 'highly suggestible' in hypnosis.
The subjects were asked to look at a
series of monochrome patterns and to see color in them. They were tested under
hypnosis and without hypnosis and both times reported that they were able to
see colors.
Individuals' reactions to the
patterns were also captured using an MRI scanner, which enabled the researchers
to monitor differences in brain activity between the suggestible and
non-suggestible subjects. The results of the research, showed significant
changes in brain activity in areas of the brain responsible for visual
perception among the suggestible subjects only.
Professor Giuliana Mazzoni, lead
researcher on the project says: "These are very talented people. They can
change their perception and experience of the world in ways that the rest of us
cannot."
The ability to change experience at
will can be very useful. Research has shown that hypnotic suggestions can be
used to block pain and increase the effectiveness of psychotherapy.
It has always been assumed that
hypnosis was needed for these effects to occur, but the new study suggests that
this is not true. Although hypnosis does seem to heighten the subjects' ability
to see color, the suggestible subjects were also able to see colors and change
their brain activity even without the help of hypnosis.
The MRI scans also showed clearly
that although it was not necessary for the subjects to be under hypnosis to be
able to perceive colors in the tests, it was evident that hypnosis increased
the ability of the subjects to experience these effects.
Dr William McGeown, who also
contributed to the study, says: "Many people are afraid of hypnosis,
although it appears to be very effective in helping with certain medical
interventions, particularly pain control. The work we have been doing shows
that certain people may benefit from suggestion without the need for
hypnosis."
The study, which was partially
funded by the BBC, used a control group formed of less suggestible people, or
people less likely to respond to hypnosis. It was found that this group of
people were not able to hallucinate color and, again, these reported results
were supported by MRI scans.
