02/04/2026
State of the Art in Hypnosis Neuroimaging
Advances in neuroimaging applied to hypnosis have progressed substantially since the 1980s. Today, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become the reference modality. fMRI has transformed the understanding of neurobiological processes by revealing key functional connections and large-scale neural networks.
Brain Networks Involved
fMRI studies have identified three fundamental networks involved in hypnosis:
🔸 Salience Network (SN) — attentional switching
Composed primarily of the bilateral anterior insula and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), this network detects internal and external salient events, resolves conflicts, and directs attention toward relevant stimuli.
→ It plays a major role in hypnosis, pain modulation, and memory encoding.
Dysfunction of the SN is associated with numerous neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Rich in dopaminergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic receptors, it constitutes a key target of antipsychotic medications.
🔸 Default Mode Network (DMN) — involuntary attention
The DMN is involved in autobiographical memory, introspection, self-referential awareness, and rumination. It includes the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Predominant during routine or passive activities, it is dynamically modulated by the SN.
In hypnosis: decreased DMN activity and increased engagement of prefrontal attentional systems → a shift from passive attention to directed, goal-oriented focus.
🔸 Central Executive Network (CEN) — voluntary attention
This network includes the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the posterior parietal cortex. It governs decision-making, planning, working memory, and attentional regulation.
Imbalanced activation of the CEN is associated with chronic stress and various psychiatric disorders.
Individual Variability in Hypnosis
Highly hypnotizable individuals exhibit enhanced attentional focus, greater openness to suggestion, and specific neural signatures, particularly within the dACC and DLPFC. During hypnosis, increased DLPFC–dACC connectivity (CEN–SN coupling) reflects improved attentional integration.
Concurrently, decreased DMN activity leads to reduced reflective self-awareness and self-criticism, thereby facilitating immersive experience.
Strengthened DLPFC–insula connectivity constitutes the neurophysiological basis of altered bodily perception.
Electrophysiological studies further reveal a dominance of right-hemisphere activity during deep hypnotic states, especially in parieto-temporal regions.
Finally, anatomical variations of the corpus callosum—specifically the rostrum—have been observed: increased thickness in highly hypnotizable individuals suggests enhanced interhemispheric communication and more refined attentional control.
Dr Olivier Benarroche
