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Integrating Perspective from The Cognitive Neurosciences To Enhance The Clinical Practice Of Hypnosis

Christopher K. Coslett, DC

In this session, insights from the field of cognitive neuroscience will serve as a vehicle to enhance the clinical practice of hypnosis. To begin, the learning and memory systems comprise the substrate for both subconscious and conscious cognitive and sensorimotor information processing. As the character of each learning and memory system is revealed, fundamental processing qualities will be developed. In clinical practice, these cognitive processing attributes serve to catalyze innovative protocol design and support the utilization of hypnosis as a preferred clinical tool. By their very nature, learning and memory systems are dissociable and may be "spoken to" or modulated in various alliances to influence behavior, decision making and action selection. Importantly, strengths and weaknesses of the learning and memory systems will be discussed in terms of the potential for top down drives to influence neuroendocrine-immune system relationships that either support physical health or the lack thereof.

Utilizing learning and memory system dynamics in clinical practice does not necessitate an advanced neuroscience degree. Fundamental constituents of the character of these systems will be recognizable and adapt to clinical applications in a straightforward fashion. Clinicians that view cognition through the lens of learning and memory will be empowered to more directly access and influence cognitive system processing with insightful hypnotic interventions designed to realize patient/client goals.