Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modulation of the postural effects of cognitive load by hypnotizability

  • Research Note
  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 08 April 2009

Abstract

Aim of the experiment was to study whether cognitive load affects postural control more in low (Lows) than in highly hypnotizable (Highs) subjects due to the latter’s greater attentional abilities. Standing Highs and Lows underwent an experimental session (closed eyes) consisting of a basal condition and of mental computation in an easy (stable support) and a difficult (unstable support) postural condition. Variability [standard deviation (SD)] and complexity [sample entropy (SampEn)] of the movement of the centre of pressure (CoP), its mean velocity (Velocity), the area swept by the CoP (Area) and the ratio between the CoP trajectory length and area [length for surface (LFS)] were measured. Few hypnotizability-related differences were detected (reduction in the Highs’ SD and increases in the Lows’ LFS in the difficult postural condition). Thus, the hypnotizability-related postural differences observed in previous studies during sensory alteration could not be accounted mainly by attentional abilities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson RP, Crawford HJ (1992) Individual differences in afterimage persistence: relationships to hypnotic susceptibility and visuospatial skills. Am J Psychol 105:527–539

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balasubramaniam R, Wing AM (2002) The dynamics of standing balance. Trends Cogn Sci 6:531–536

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Balthazard GC, Woody EZ (1989) Bimodality, dimensionality, and the notion of hypnotic types. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 37:70–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carli G, Cavallaro FI, Rendo CA, Santarcangelo EL (2007a) Imagery of different sensory modalities: hypnotizability and body sway. Exp Brain Res 179:147–154

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carli G, Cavallaro FI, Santarcangelo EL (2007b) Hypnotizability and imagery modality preference: do Highs and Lows live in the same world? Contemp Hypn 24:64–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carli G, Manzoni D, Santarcangelo EL (2008) Hypnotizability-related integration of perception and action. Cogn Neuropsychol 25:1065–1076

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho C, Kirsch I, Mazzoni G, Leal I (2008) Portuguese norms for the Waterloo-Stanford Group C (WSGC) scale of hypnotic susceptibility. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 56:295–305

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Castellani E, D’Alessandro L, Sebastiani L (2007) Hypnotizability and spatial attentional functions. Arch Ital Biol 145:23–37

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cavanaugh JT, Mercer VS, Stergiou N (2007) Approximate entropy detects the effect of a secondary cognitive task on postural control in healthy young adults: a methodological report. J Neuroeng Rehabil 4:42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collins JJ, De Luca CJ (1993) Open-loop and closed-loop control of posture: a random-walk analysis of centre-of-pressure trajectories. Exp Brain Res 95:308–318

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davis JR, Campbell AD, Adkin AL, Carpenter MG (2009) The relationship between fear of falling and human postural control. Gait Posture 2:275–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Pascalis V, Bellusci A, Russo PM (2000) Italian norms for the Stanford hypnotic susceptibility scale, form C. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 48:315–323

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Donker SF, Roerdink M, Greven AJ, Beek PJ (2007) Regularity of center-of-pressure trajectories depends on the amount of attention invested in postural control. Exp Brain Res 181:1–11

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farthing GW, Brown SW, Venturino M (1982) Effects of hypnotizability and mental imagery on signal detection sensitivity and response bias. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 30:289–305

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fraizer EV, Mitra S (2008) Methodological and interpretive issues in posture-cognition dual-tasking in upright stance. Gait Posture 27:271–279

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman H, Taub HA, Sturr JF, Church KL, Monty RA (1986) Hypnotizability and speed of visual information processing. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 34:234–241

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Green JP, Barabasz AF, Barrett D, Montgomery GH (2005) Forging ahead: the 2003 APA division 30 definition of hypnosis. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 53:259–264

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gruzelier JH (2006) Frontal functions, connectivity and neural efficiency underpinning hypnosis and hypnotic susceptibility. Contemp Hypn 23:15–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong SL, Manor B, Li L (2007) Stance and sensory feedback influence on postural dynamics. Neurosci Lett 423:104–108

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huxhold O, Li SC, Schmiedek F, Lindenberger U (2006) Dual-tasking postural control: aging and the effects of cognitive demand in conjunction with focus of attention. Brain Res Bull 69:294–305

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jamieson GA, Sheehan PW (2002) A critical evaluation of the relationship between sustained attentional abilities and hypnotic susceptibility. Contemp Hypn 19:62–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim S, Nussbaum MA, Madigan ML (2008) Direct parametrization of postural stability during quiet upright stance: effects of age and altered sensory conditions. J Biomech 41:406–411

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manckoundia P, Pfitzenmeyer P, d’Athis P, Dubost V, Mourey F (2006) Impact of cognitive task on the posture of elderly subjects with Alzheimer’s disease compared to healthy elderly subjects. Mov Disord 21:236–241

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olivier I, Cuisinier R, Vaugoyeau M, Nougier V, Assaiante C (2007) Dual-task study of cognitive and postural interference in 7-year-olds and adults. Neuroreport 18:817–821

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raymakers JA, Samson MM, Verhaar HJJ (2005) The assessment of body sway and the choice of the stability parameter(s). Gait Posture 21:48–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raz A (2005) Attention and hypnosis: neural substrates and genetic associations of two converging processes. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 53:237–258

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santarcangelo E, Busse K, Carli G (1989) Changes in electromyographically recorded human monosynaptic reflex in relation to hypnotic susceptibility and hypnosis. Neurosci Lett 104:157–160

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santarcangelo EL, Busse K, Carli G (2003) Frequency of occurrence of the F wave in distal flexor muscles as a function of hypnotic susceptibility and hypnosis. Cogn Brain Res 16:99–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santarcangelo EL, Scattina E, Orsini P, Bruschini L, Ghelarducci B, Manzoni D (2008a) Effects of vestibular and neck proprioceptive stimulation on posture as a function of hypnotizability. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 56:170–184

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Santarcangelo EL, Scattina E, Carli G, Macerata A, Manzoni D (2008b) Hypnotizability-dependent modulation of postural control: effects of alteration of the visual and leg proprioceptive inputs. Exp Brain Res 191:331–340

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel D (2003) Negative and positive visual hypnotic hallucinations: attending inside and out. Int J Clin Exp Hypn 51:130–146

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tellegen A, Atkinson G (1974) Openness to absorbing and self-altering experiences (“absorption”), a trait related to hypnotic susceptibility. J Abnorm Psychol 83:268–277

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vuillerme N, Vincent H (2006) How performing a mental arithmetic task modify the regulation of centre of foot pressure displacements during bipedal quiet standing. Exp Brain Res 169:04–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Woody EZ, Barnier AJ, McConkey KM (2005) Multiple hypnotizabilities: differentiating the building blocks of hypnotic response. Psychol Assess 17:200–211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Woollacott M, Shumway-Cook A (2002) Attention and the control of posture and gait: a review of an emerging area of research. Gait Posture 16:1–14

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI-DCMC project).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Physiology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno, 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy

    Enrica Laura Santarcangelo, E. Scattina, A. Macerata & D. Manzoni

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    G. Carli

  3. Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy

    R. Balocchi & A. Macerata

Authors
  1. Enrica Laura Santarcangelo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Scattina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Carli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Balocchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. Macerata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. Manzoni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Enrica Laura Santarcangelo.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1788-3

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary Table (XLS 27 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Santarcangelo, E.L., Scattina, E., Carli, G. et al. Modulation of the postural effects of cognitive load by hypnotizability. Exp Brain Res 194, 323–328 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1740-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1740-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation