Hypnosis and Movement Re-Education in Partially Paralysed Subjects

Abstract

In this preliminary study 3 partially paralysed individuals were subjected to certain hypnotic and other attention diverting procedures in an endeavour to gain improvements in their voluntary motor functioning. Marked improvements in some, but not all of the movements investigated were gained with each S. Possible mechanisms underlying the improvements are discussed, and ways of testing some of these hypotheses are indicated. While the over-all results suggest that hypnosis may be a useful tool in movement re-education programmes with some partially paralysed individuals, more direct methods may be equally advantageous. Finally, it is suggested that the significance of the study lies in the demonstration that psychological manipulation led to motor performance well beyond Ss' range of normal voluntary capacity.