Electromyographic Feedback and Taped Relaxation Instructions to Modify Hypnotic Susceptibility and Amnesia

Abstract

The comparative effectiveness of electromyographic (EMG) feedback and taped verbal relaxation instructions in increasing both hypnotic susceptibility and hypnotic amnesia was assessed. Twenty-four moderately susceptible, nonamnesic subjects were pretested on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale — Form A and then randomly assigned to one of three conditions: EMG feedback, verbal relaxation training, or no contact control. All subjects were posttested with the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale — Form B, ten days after initial contact. The hypnotic susceptibility scores of the subjects who received EMG feedback increased significantly. Amnesia scores for these subjects did not change significantly. The relaxation and control groups did not change significantly on either measure. Implications of the results were discussed with respect to previous work in the area.