StarTalk Radio Getting Hypnotized with David Spiegel
46 snips
Jan 10, 2025 
David Spiegel, a clinical psychiatrist from Stanford, joins the discussion to demystify hypnosis. He explores whether it's about losing or gaining control and its therapeutic potential beyond the stage. Spiegel highlights the brain's salience network's role in hypnosis and how self-hypnosis can aid stress relief, addiction recovery, and even pain management. The conversation also covers the delicate balance of hypnosis in memory recall, its challenges in medicine, and success stories of self-hypnosis aiding smoking cessation, showcasing its transformative power.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Hypnosis Defined
- Hypnosis is a state of highly focused attention, like using a telephoto lens.
- It involves dissociation, reducing awareness of surroundings, and trying out new behaviors.
Hypnotizability Test
- Test hypnotizability with a simple hand-raising technique.
- Observe if the hand feels different and rises involuntarily.
Chowchilla Kidnapping
- In the Chowchilla kidnapping, hypnosis helped a bus driver recall the license plate, leading to arrests.
- This contrasts with alien abduction claims under hypnosis, highlighting memory's complexity.