Influence of imaginative suggestions on motor control
Résumé
Introduction -
In hypnosis, imaginative suggestions (IS) consist in invitations to experience an imaginary state
or situation (e.g., your arm is heavy). They partly rely on mental imagery processes and can
be efficient even without any prior hypnotic induction. Santarcangelo et al. (2005) showed
for instance that when participants are required to extend the arm while listening to a script
suggesting that this arm is heavy and is falling, the vertical arm movements are influenced by
the script.
Our study had two goals. First, we aimed to test whether Santarcangelo et al.’s (2005) re-
sults could be replicated when (1) participants have to keep their posture stationary, (2) the
script doesn’t explicitly suggest any movement, and (3) no prior hypnotic induction was done.
Second, the relation between participant and practitioner is thought to influence IS efficiency
(Lynn et al., 1991). The mirror game (a procedure in which two participants imitate each other
and synchronize their movements) is known to influence the mutual perception of participants
(Feniger-Schaal et al., 2018). We aimed to test whether practicing it with the experimenter
would influence the participant’s response to IS.
Methods -
Each participant performed four phases in a counterbalanced order. Each phase unfolded as
follows. First, participant either did the mirror game with the experimenter or had to move
independently. Second, he extended his left arm in parallel to the floor at shoulder level. He
had to keep this position, with closed eyes, while listening to a script that described a realistic
scene. From 0s to 30s, the script suggested to imagine someone in front of him carrying either
a heavy dictionary (HD) or a light paper sheet (LPS). From 30s to 60s, it suggested that this
object was put on his hand. From 60s to 90s, it suggested that a second similar object was
added. Third, participant had to rate the task difficulty and his state of consciousness during
the task. All factors, IS (HD vs LPS) and mirror game (with vs without) were manipulated
within participant. We recorded arm movements.
Results/discussion -
Our protocol showed several results. First, participants lowered more their arms and rated the
effort as more difficult in the HD condition than in the LPS one. Second, in comparison to LPS
condition, the HD one made the participants feel a more unusual consciousness state. Third,
the mirror game enhanced the feeling of unusual consciousness state in comparison to the no
mirror game condition, but it didn’t modulate the IS influence. These results give clues about the imagery processes that underlie the efficiency of IS, even without prior hypnotic induction.
They also offer new perspectives to investigate interactions between IS and consciousness state.
References -
Feniger-Schaal, R., Hart, Y., Lotan, N., Koren-Karie, N., & Noy, L. (2018). The Body Speaks:
Using the Mirror Game to Link Attachment and Non-verbal Behavior. Frontiers in Psychology,
9, 1560
Lynn, S. J., Weekes, J. R., Neufeld, V., Zivney, O., & et al. (1991). Interpersonal climate
and hypnotizability level: Effects on hypnotic performance, rapport, and archaic involvement.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60 (5), 739-743
Santarcangelo, E. L., Cavallaro, E., Mazzoleni, S., Marano, E., Ghelarducci, B., Dario, P.,
Micera, S., & Sebastiani, L. (2005). Kinematic strategies for lowering of upper limbs during
suggestions of heaviness: A real-simulator design. Experimental Brain Research, 162 (1), 35-45