Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Experimental Brain Research 2/2012

01-08-2012 | Research Article

Hypnotizability and haptics: visual recognition of unimanually explored ‘nonmeaningful’ objects

Authors: E. Castellani, G. Carli, E. L. Santarcangelo

Published in: Experimental Brain Research | Issue 2/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

The cognitive trait of hypnotizability modulates sensorimotor integration and mental imagery. In particular, earlier results show that visual recognition of ‘nonmeaningful’, unfamiliar objects bimanually explored is faster and more accurate in subjects with high (Highs) than with low hypnotizability (Lows). The present study was aimed at investigating whether Highs exhibit a similar advantage after unimanual exploration. Recognition frequency (RF) and Recognition time (RT) of correct recognitions of the explored objects were recorded. The results showed the absence of any hypnotizability-related difference in recognition frequencies. In addition, RF of the right and left hand was comparable in Highs as in Lows, while slight differences were found in RT. We suggest that hemispheric co-operation played a key role in the better performance of Highs in the bimanual task previously studied. In the unimanual exploration, the task’s characteristics (favoring the left hand), hypnotizability-related cerebral asymmetry (favoring the right hand in Highs) and the possible preferential verbal style of recognition in Lows (favoring the right hand in this group) antagonize each other and prevent the occurrence of major differences between the performance of Highs and Lows.
Literature
go back to reference Amedi A, Raz N, Azulay H, Malach R, Zohary E (2010) Cortical activity during tactile exploration of objects in blind and sighted humans. Restor Neurol Neurosci 28:143–156PubMed Amedi A, Raz N, Azulay H, Malach R, Zohary E (2010) Cortical activity during tactile exploration of objects in blind and sighted humans. Restor Neurol Neurosci 28:143–156PubMed
go back to reference Badan M, Caramazza A (1997) Haptic processing by the left hemisphere in a split-brain patient. Neuropsychologia 35:1275–1287PubMedCrossRef Badan M, Caramazza A (1997) Haptic processing by the left hemisphere in a split-brain patient. Neuropsychologia 35:1275–1287PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Bloom JS, Hynd GW (2005) The role of corpus callosum in interhemispheric transfer of information: excitation or inhibition? Neuropsychol Rev 15:59–71PubMedCrossRef Bloom JS, Hynd GW (2005) The role of corpus callosum in interhemispheric transfer of information: excitation or inhibition? Neuropsychol Rev 15:59–71PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Castellani E, Carli G, Santarcangelo EL (2011) Visual identification of haptically explored objects in high and low hypnotizable subjects. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 59:250–265PubMedCrossRef Castellani E, Carli G, Santarcangelo EL (2011) Visual identification of haptically explored objects in high and low hypnotizable subjects. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 59:250–265PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Cikurel K, Gruzelier J (1990) The effect of an active-alert hypnotic induction on lateral asymmetry in haptic processing. Br J Exp Clin Hypn 7:17–25 Cikurel K, Gruzelier J (1990) The effect of an active-alert hypnotic induction on lateral asymmetry in haptic processing. Br J Exp Clin Hypn 7:17–25
go back to reference Cohen H, Levy J (1986) Cerebral and sex differences in the categorization of haptic information. Cortex 22:253–259PubMed Cohen H, Levy J (1986) Cerebral and sex differences in the categorization of haptic information. Cortex 22:253–259PubMed
go back to reference De Pascalis V, Bellusci A, Russo PM (2000) Italian norms for the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 48:15–23 De Pascalis V, Bellusci A, Russo PM (2000) Italian norms for the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 48:15–23
go back to reference Draca S (2010) Gender-specific functional cerebral asymmetries and unilateral cerebral lesion sequelae. Rev Neurosci 21:421–425PubMedCrossRef Draca S (2010) Gender-specific functional cerebral asymmetries and unilateral cerebral lesion sequelae. Rev Neurosci 21:421–425PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Eshel N, Ruff CC, Spitzer B, Blankenburg F, Driver J (2010) Effects of parietal TMS on somatosensory challenge interhemispheric rivalry accounts. Neuropsychologia 48:3470–3481PubMedCrossRef Eshel N, Ruff CC, Spitzer B, Blankenburg F, Driver J (2010) Effects of parietal TMS on somatosensory challenge interhemispheric rivalry accounts. Neuropsychologia 48:3470–3481PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Findlay R, Ashton R, McFarland K (1994) Hemispheric differences in image generation and use in the haptic modality. Brain Cogn 25:67–78PubMedCrossRef Findlay R, Ashton R, McFarland K (1994) Hemispheric differences in image generation and use in the haptic modality. Brain Cogn 25:67–78PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Gazzaniga MS (2000) Cerebral specialization and interhemispheric communication: does the corpus callosum enable the human condition? Brain 123:1293–1326PubMedCrossRef Gazzaniga MS (2000) Cerebral specialization and interhemispheric communication: does the corpus callosum enable the human condition? Brain 123:1293–1326PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Green JP, Barabasz AF, Barrett D, Montgomery GH (2005) Forging ahead: the 2003 APA Division 30 definition of hypnosis. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 53:259–264PubMedCrossRef Green JP, Barabasz AF, Barrett D, Montgomery GH (2005) Forging ahead: the 2003 APA Division 30 definition of hypnosis. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 53:259–264PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Gruzelier JH (2006) Frontal functions, connectivity and neural efficiency underpinning hypnosis and hypnotic susceptibility. Contemp Hypn 23:15–32CrossRef Gruzelier JH (2006) Frontal functions, connectivity and neural efficiency underpinning hypnosis and hypnotic susceptibility. Contemp Hypn 23:15–32CrossRef
go back to reference Gruzelier JH, Brow TD, Perry A, Rhonder J, Thomas M (1984) Hypnotic susceptibility: a lateral predisposition and altered cerebral asymmetry under hypnosis. Int J Psychophysiol 2:131–139PubMedCrossRef Gruzelier JH, Brow TD, Perry A, Rhonder J, Thomas M (1984) Hypnotic susceptibility: a lateral predisposition and altered cerebral asymmetry under hypnosis. Int J Psychophysiol 2:131–139PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Horton JE, Crawford HJ, Harrington G, Downs JH 3rd (2004) Increased anterior corpus callosum size associated positively with hypnotisability and the ability to control pain. Brain 127:1741–1747PubMedCrossRef Horton JE, Crawford HJ, Harrington G, Downs JH 3rd (2004) Increased anterior corpus callosum size associated positively with hypnotisability and the ability to control pain. Brain 127:1741–1747PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Luce RD (1963) Detection and recognition. In: Luce RD, Bush RR, Galanter E (eds) Handbook of mathematical psychology, vol 1. Wiley, New York, pp 103–189 Luce RD (1963) Detection and recognition. In: Luce RD, Bush RR, Galanter E (eds) Handbook of mathematical psychology, vol 1. Wiley, New York, pp 103–189
go back to reference Lynn SJ, Green JP (2011) The sociocognitive and dissociation theories of hypnosis: toward a reapproachment. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 59:277–293PubMedCrossRef Lynn SJ, Green JP (2011) The sociocognitive and dissociation theories of hypnosis: toward a reapproachment. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 59:277–293PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Menzocchi M, Paoletti G, Huber A, Carli G, Cavallaro FI, Manzoni D, Santarcangelo EL (2010) Hypnotizability and sensorimotorintegration: an Italian space agency project. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 58:122–135PubMedCrossRef Menzocchi M, Paoletti G, Huber A, Carli G, Cavallaro FI, Manzoni D, Santarcangelo EL (2010) Hypnotizability and sensorimotorintegration: an Italian space agency project. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 58:122–135PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Menzocchi M, Santarcangelo EL, Carli G, Berthoz A (2012) Hypnotizability-dependent accuracy in the reproduction of haptically explored paths. Exp Brain Res 216:217–222PubMedCrossRef Menzocchi M, Santarcangelo EL, Carli G, Berthoz A (2012) Hypnotizability-dependent accuracy in the reproduction of haptically explored paths. Exp Brain Res 216:217–222PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Miquée A, Xerri C, Rainville C, Anton JL, Nazarian B, Roth M, Zennou-Azogui Y (2008) Neuronal substrates of haptic shape encoding and matching: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neuroscience 152:29–39PubMedCrossRef Miquée A, Xerri C, Rainville C, Anton JL, Nazarian B, Roth M, Zennou-Azogui Y (2008) Neuronal substrates of haptic shape encoding and matching: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Neuroscience 152:29–39PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Norman JF, Norman HF, Clayton AM, Lianekhammy J, Zielke G (2004) The visual and haptic perception of natural object shape. Percept Psychophys 66:342–351PubMedCrossRef Norman JF, Norman HF, Clayton AM, Lianekhammy J, Zielke G (2004) The visual and haptic perception of natural object shape. Percept Psychophys 66:342–351PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Oldfield RC (1971) The assessment and analysis of handedness: the Edinburgh inventory. Neuropsychology 9:97–113CrossRef Oldfield RC (1971) The assessment and analysis of handedness: the Edinburgh inventory. Neuropsychology 9:97–113CrossRef
go back to reference Razumnikova OM, Bryzgalov AO (2006) Frequency-spatial organization of brain electrical activity in creative verbal thought: the role of the gender factor. Neurosci Behav Physiol 36:645–653PubMedCrossRef Razumnikova OM, Bryzgalov AO (2006) Frequency-spatial organization of brain electrical activity in creative verbal thought: the role of the gender factor. Neurosci Behav Physiol 36:645–653PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Ricciardi E, Pietrini P (2011) New light from the dark: what blindness can teach us about brain function. Curr Opin Neurol 24:357–363PubMedCrossRef Ricciardi E, Pietrini P (2011) New light from the dark: what blindness can teach us about brain function. Curr Opin Neurol 24:357–363PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Santarcangelo EL, Scattina E, Carli G, Macerata A, Manzoni D (2008a) Hypnotizability-dependent modulation of postural control: effects of alteration of the visual and leg proprioceptive inputs. Exp Brain Res 191:331–340PubMedCrossRef Santarcangelo EL, Scattina E, Carli G, Macerata A, Manzoni D (2008a) Hypnotizability-dependent modulation of postural control: effects of alteration of the visual and leg proprioceptive inputs. Exp Brain Res 191:331–340PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Santarcangelo EL, Scattina E, Orsini P, Bruschini, Ghelarducci B, Manzoni D (2008b) Effects of vestibular and neck proprioceptive stimulation on posture as a function of hypnotizability. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 56:170–184PubMedCrossRef Santarcangelo EL, Scattina E, Orsini P, Bruschini, Ghelarducci B, Manzoni D (2008b) Effects of vestibular and neck proprioceptive stimulation on posture as a function of hypnotizability. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 56:170–184PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Santarcangelo EL, Scattina E, Carli G, Ghelarducci B, Orsini P, Manzoni D (2010) Can imagery become reality ? Exp Brain Res 206:329–335PubMedCrossRef Santarcangelo EL, Scattina E, Carli G, Ghelarducci B, Orsini P, Manzoni D (2010) Can imagery become reality ? Exp Brain Res 206:329–335PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Savazzi S, Mancini F, Marzi CA (2008) Interhemispheric transfer and integration of imagined visual stimuli. Neuropsychologia 46:803–809PubMedCrossRef Savazzi S, Mancini F, Marzi CA (2008) Interhemispheric transfer and integration of imagined visual stimuli. Neuropsychologia 46:803–809PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Scattina E, Huber A, Menzocchi M, Paoletti G, Carli G, Manzoni D, Santarcangelo EL (2012) Postural effects of imagined leg pain as a function of hypnotizability. Exp Brain Res 216:341–348PubMedCrossRef Scattina E, Huber A, Menzocchi M, Paoletti G, Carli G, Manzoni D, Santarcangelo EL (2012) Postural effects of imagined leg pain as a function of hypnotizability. Exp Brain Res 216:341–348PubMedCrossRef
go back to reference Sergent J (1990) The neuropsychology of visual image generation: data, method, and theory. Brain Cogn 13:98–129PubMedCrossRef Sergent J (1990) The neuropsychology of visual image generation: data, method, and theory. Brain Cogn 13:98–129PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Hypnotizability and haptics: visual recognition of unimanually explored ‘nonmeaningful’ objects
Authors
E. Castellani
G. Carli
E. L. Santarcangelo
Publication date
01-08-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Experimental Brain Research / Issue 2/2012
Print ISSN: 0014-4819
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1106
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3154-0

Other articles of this Issue 2/2012

Experimental Brain Research 2/2012 Go to the issue