Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. Hypnotized subjects are not asleep, even though they are told that they are going into a deep sleep. In fact, as can be seen by their brain waves if they are hooked up to an EEG machine, they are fully awake. But they are in a heightened state of suggestibility and they can experience unusual feelings and sensations. They can focus their concentrations and in some cases improve their memories for past events. However, due to the heightened state of suggestions, they can also produce false memories of past events. Some people can block out the perception of pain under hypnosis, so that they can undergo dental work or delivery of a baby without experiencing discomfort.
What are your experiences/observations/questions about hypnosis?