Peripheral skin temperature and vasomotor responses during hypnotic induction

Abstract
The present study is a further investigation of the hypothesis proposed by Reid and Curtsinger (1968) that hypnosis involves changes in peripheral vasomotor responses and skin temperature. 20 male Ss, screened for hypnotic susceptibility, participated in 2 experimental sessions. Each S was hypnotized in 1 session and simply given instructions to relax in the other session. Peripheral skin temperature and pulse volume were continuously monitored through-out each session. The resulting data were analyzed to determine the effects of hypnosis on these physiological measures. Under both conditions, a tendency for increased skin temperature and increased vasodilation was found. It was concluded that neutral hypnosis does not involve changes in these measures which are appreciably different from the changes associated with relaxation.