Effect of hypnosis on metacognitive awareness of information processing

Abstract

Metacognition refers to the ability of an individual to reflect upon, understand, and control one’s learning. Researchers suggested that metacognitive awareness could be affected by various factors such as contextual effects and mood conditions. However, not much was known about how hypnosis may impact upon changing metacognitive awareness. The current study attempted to investigate the effect of hypnosis on metacognitive awareness, using the computer-based flanker task. Sixty-eight participants (mainly university students) were classified into low-, moderate-or high-susceptible groups according to their performance in Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility: Form A and they were randomly assigned into positive or negative hypnotic suggestion conditions. They all underwent similar hypnotic induction and were asked to perform the flanker task under hypnotic instruction. Results suggest that hypnosis could not improve metacognitive awareness. However, hypnosis could alter individuals’ metacognitive experience and potentially improve their actual performance, as well as changing the reaction time of the low-susceptible individuals. The current findings shed light on the possible use of hypnosis on metacognitive intervention.