The use of short-term hypnotic effect for the development of autosuggestion in athletes

Aim. The study aims to explore the effectiveness of hypnosis for the development of autosuggestion in athletes. Materials and methods. Ten male athletes aged from 20 to 32 years without previous experience of hypnosis and self-hypnosis were involved in the study. The baseline level of autosuggestion was evaluated with a rapid hypnotizability test and EEG recording during the unassisted altered state of consciousness. Then the sample was randomly divided into the experimental (5 subjects) and control (5 subjects) groups. Each subject from the experimental group was given 5 hypnosis sessions for the development of autosuggestion. Repeated tests were performed three weeks later (hypnotizability test and EEG recording). The control group had no hypnosis sessions. Results. The results of the first and second measurements showed increased alpha-wave correlation synchrony in the occipital leads as a result of 5 hypnosis sessions. In the control group, the data obtained were ambiguous: decreased and slightly decreased synchrony from measurement to measurement was found in 3 and 2 participants respectively. The results of the rapid hypnotizability test were higher after the second measurement in all subjects of the experimental group. In the control group, the results of the first and second measurements did not differ for the majority of subjects. Conclusion. The results obtained demonstate that hypnosis sessions were effective for the development of autosuggestion in athletes. The EEG data obtained during hypnosis reflected the involvement of the right hemisphere and the more synchronous activity of the brain.