HypnosisNCT01135810
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Hypnosis and Mindfulness Meditation
An observational study of Hypnosis, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Hypnotic trance and mindfulness meditation have both been shown to have benefits for physical health. The current study seeks to determine if there are distinct patterns of brain activity that correlate with hypnotic trance, mindfulness meditation or both, and to relate these patterns to measurable markers of physical… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Hypnosis
- What is being tested?
- Hypnosis and Meditation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- How many people
- 102 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Sep 2009to Sep 2011
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: Healthy subjects who score in diverse ranges on hypnotic induction profiles or who are experienced Mindfulness Meditators.
Who may be able to join
- Participants must not have contraindications to the MRI exam, such as metal in the body.
Who cannot join
- Contraindications to the MRI exam, such as metal in the body.
- Use of psychotropic medications.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford, California, 94305
About this study
Official title: Resting State Functional MRI Investigation of Hypnotic Trance and Mindfulness Meditation
Hypnotic trance and mindfulness meditation have both been shown to have benefits for physical health. The current study seeks to determine if there are distinct patterns of brain activity that correlate with hypnotic trance, mindfulness meditation or both, and to relate these patterns to measurable markers of physical well-being. Precise neuroimaging of heightened attentional states will guide future researchers and practitioners toward more effective techniques of mind/body control.
Read the detailed description
Our goal is to determine the functional brain networks that define and distinguish two induced states of sustained attention -- hypnosis and mindfulness -- that may be of substantial relevance to medicine.
Defining the neural underpinnings of these states would have broad implications for understanding how cognitive states emerge from functional networks, how they affect peripheral autonomic nervous system activity, and how their therapeutic efficacy can be optimized.
We propose a functional MRI study using resting state methodology to study 20-40 subjects from each of the four following groups:
- Highly hypnotizable subjects
- Minimally hypnotizable subjects
- Experienced mindfulness meditators
- Novice mindfulness meditators. The ability to be hypnotized is a stable and measurable trait that can be pre-screened and quantified. Dr. Spiegel will select subjects according to their ability to be hypnotized prior to the MRI visit (see ?recruiting? below). We will seek greatest contrast between groups by enrolling those with the highest (8-10) and lowest (0-2) scores on the Hypnotic Induction Profile. The presence of a poorly hypnotizable group allows for a control condition of those who have undergone an identical induction routine without achieving hypnotic trance. Similarly, novice meditators will serve as a control for the group experienced in mindfulness meditation.
Prior studies have shown differences in both brain activation and grey matter volume associated with longer practice of meditation (> 4 years) compared with novice meditators. As such, experienced meditators will be defined as those with a regular meditation practice of four years or longer. Novice meditators will be new practitioners who are interested in mindfulness meditation practice, and who completed a one-hour meditation training during the week before their study participation.
- Conditions
- Hypnosis
- Being tested
- Hypnosis, Meditation
- Keywords
- healthy subjects
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
HypnosisBehavioural
MeditationBehavioural
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
MRI scan: brain activity
Measured: 1 hour
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Jun 2010 (estimated)
- Study startSep 2009
- Primary completionSep 2011
- Study completionSep 2011
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HypnosisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Stanford UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 102 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, David Spiegel, Stanford University
- Investigators
- David Spiegel, Principal investigator, Stanford University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01135810
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SU-05252010-6143
- Other IDs
- 17562
- Status last verified
- Dec 2013
- First submitted
- 1 Jun 2010
- Last updated
- 3 Dec 2013
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Dec 2013. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Resting State Functional MRI Investigation of Hypnotic Trance and Mindfulness Meditation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01135810
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SU-05252010-6143
- Conditions
- Hypnosis
- Keywords
- healthy subjects
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 102 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2009
- Primary completion
- Sep 2011 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2011 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Jun 2010 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Hypnotic trance and mindfulness meditation have both been shown to have benefits for physical health. The current study seeks to determine if there are distinct patterns of brain activity that correlate with hypnotic trance, mindfulness meditation or both, and to relate these patterns to measurable markers of physical well-being. Precise neuroimaging of heightened attentional states will guide future researchers and practitioners toward more effective techniques of mind/body control.
Detailed description
Our goal is to determine the functional brain networks that define and distinguish two induced states of sustained attention -- hypnosis and mindfulness -- that may be of substantial relevance to medicine.
Defining the neural underpinnings of these states would have broad implications for understanding how cognitive states emerge from functional networks, how they affect peripheral autonomic nervous system activity, and how their therapeutic efficacy can be optimized.
We propose a functional MRI study using resting state methodology to study 20-40 subjects from each of the four following groups:
- Highly hypnotizable subjects
- Minimally hypnotizable subjects
- Experienced mindfulness meditators
- Novice mindfulness meditators. The ability to be hypnotized is a stable and measurable trait that can be pre-screened and quantified. Dr. Spiegel will select subjects according to their ability to be hypnotized prior to the MRI visit (see ?recruiting? below). We will seek greatest contrast between groups by enrolling those with the highest (8-10) and lowest (0-2) scores on the Hypnotic Induction Profile. The presence of a poorly hypnotizable group allows for a control condition of those who have undergone an identical induction routine without achieving hypnotic trance. Similarly, novice meditators will serve as a control for the group experienced in mindfulness meditation.
Prior studies have shown differences in both brain activation and grey matter volume associated with longer practice of meditation (> 4 years) compared with novice meditators. As such, experienced meditators will be defined as those with a regular meditation practice of four years or longer. Novice meditators will be new practitioners who are interested in mindfulness meditation practice, and who completed a one-hour meditation training during the week before their study participation.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Healthy subjects who score in diverse ranges on hypnotic induction profiles or who are experienced Mindfulness Meditators.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Participants must not have contraindications to the MRI exam, such as metal in the body.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Contraindications to the MRI exam, such as metal in the body.
- Use of psychotropic medications.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Hypnosis | Behavioural | – |
| Meditation | Behavioural | – |
Primary outcome
MRI scan: brain activity
Time frame: 1 hour
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Dec 2013.
Related trials for Hypnosis
Recruiting
Virtual Reality-Based Hypnotherapy for Pain, Sleep, and Mood in Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI), Chronic Pain
Not yet recruiting
Clinical Hypnosis Versus Guided Imagery for Dissociative Symptoms in Adults
Dissociative Symptoms
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Patient State Index at Laryngoscopy and Tracheal Intubation Conditions
Anesthesia, Intubation, Endotracheal
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Feasibility of a Standardized Fascial Plane Block Protocol for Breast Cancer Surgery
Breast Cancer Surgery, Locoregional Anaesthesia
Not yet recruiting
Hypnosis Antalgia Emergency Stitching
Pain Management
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
David Spiegel principal investigator
Stanford University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Hypnosis, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Dec 2013. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
MRI scan: brain activity (time frame: 1 hour). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Dec 2013.