Association between Anterior Cingulate Neurochemical Concentration and Individual Differences in Hypnotizability

Abstract Hypnosis is the oldest form of Western psychotherapy and a powerful evidence-based treatment for numerous disorders. Hypnotizability is variable between individuals; however, it is a stable trait throughout adulthood, suggesting that neurophysiological factors may underlie hypnotic responsi...

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Published in:Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. 1991) N.Y. 1991), 2020-05, Vol.30 (6), p.3644-3654
Main Authors: DeSouza, Danielle D, Stimpson, Katy H, Baltusis, Laima, Sacchet, Matthew D, Gu, Meng, Hurd, Ralph, Wu, Hua, Yeomans, David C, Willliams, Nolan, Spiegel, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Female
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism
Glutamic Acid - metabolism
Gyrus Cinguli - diagnostic imaging
Gyrus Cinguli - metabolism
Humans
Hypnosis
Individuality
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Male
Original
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary:Abstract Hypnosis is the oldest form of Western psychotherapy and a powerful evidence-based treatment for numerous disorders. Hypnotizability is variable between individuals; however, it is a stable trait throughout adulthood, suggesting that neurophysiological factors may underlie hypnotic responsiveness. One brain region of particular interest in functional neuroimaging studies of hypnotizability is the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Here, we examined the relationships between the neurochemicals, GABA, and glutamate, in the ACC and hypnotizability in healthy individuals. Participants underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session, whereby T1-weighted anatomical and MEGA-PRESS spectroscopy scans were acquired. Voxel placement over the ACC was guided by a quantitative meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging studies of hypnosis. Hypnotizability was assessed using the Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP), and self-report questionnaires to assess absorption (TAS), dissociation (DES), and negative affect were completed. ACC GABA concentration was positively associated with HIP scores such that the higher the GABA concentration, the more hypnotizable an individual. An exploratory analysis of questionnaire subscales revealed a negative relationship between glutamate and the absorption and imaginative involvement subscale of the DES. These results provide a putative neurobiological basis for individual differences in hypnotizability and can inform our understanding of treatment response to this growing psychotherapeutic tool.
ISSN:1047-3211
1460-2199
DOI:10.1093/cercor/bhz332