Psychiatric Quarterly. XXIII, 1949: The Physiology of Hypnosis. Part II. A Review of the Literature. Bernard E. Gorton. Pp. 457–485.

This is part two of a review of the pertinent literature covering the past twenty-five years on the physiology of the GI system, kidney function, and muscular and reflex activities during hypnosis. It also includes the pharmacological aspects of hypnosis, hypnotic anesthesia, hypnosis in psychosomatic research, physiological changes associated with hypnotic age regression, and a bibliography. Part one appeared in the previous issue of The Psychiatric Quarterly, and covered the introduction, theories and methodological problems, the electroencephalogram, metabolism, respiration, circulation, vasomotor activity, and hematological changes during hypnosis.

This is an important review for the individual interested in psychosomatic relationships. The extraordinary effect of the psyche on the soma is well emphasized. It is Gorton's hope that the paper may act as a stimulus for additional psychosomatic research through the medium of hypnosis.

Hypnotic suggestion is capable of bringing about physiological changes which differ significantly both quantitatively and qualitatively from those produced by means of suggestion in the waking state. We know nothing about the basic mechanisms involved in the process of hypnosis. The paper lends credence to the supposition that in psychosomatic illness the organ response is more likely to be due to suggestion on an unconscious level with the effect of a hypnotic suggestion than to some peculiar organ compliance or weakness.