Music performance is both a natural human activity, present in all societies, and one of the most complex and demanding cognitive challenges that the human mind can undertake. Unlike most other sensory-motor activities, music performance requires precise timing of several hierarchically organized actions, as well as precise control over pitch interval production, implemented through diverse effectors according to the instrument involved. We review the cognitive neuroscience literature of both motor and auditory domains, highlighting the value of studying interactions between these systems in a musical context, and propose some ideas concerning the role of the premotor cortex in integration of higher order features of music with appropriately timed and organized actions.

Nat Rev Neurosci. 2007 Jul;8(7):547-58. Zatorre RJ, Chen JL, Penhune VB. Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. robert.zatorre@mcgill.ca

John has a degree in psychology and was a Certified Addictions Counselor (C.A.C). His first job in the field, before he even graduated from college, was as a full-time therapist in the Detoxification Unit of a local hospital. He entered graduate school, but became disillusioned with how impractical it was, compared to what he was encountering in the "real world" of mental health and drug & alcohol treatment. After working in the"trenches" in mental health and drug & alcohol treatment, he launched a very successful private practice at age 24. He soon became frustrated with the ineffectiveness of traditional approaches to therapy.

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Two lines of evidence about the association between the experience of pain and brain state (measured via electroencephalogram or EEG) have recently come to light. First, research from a number of sources suggests a link between brain EEG activity and the experience of pain. Specifically, this research suggests that the subjective experience of pain is associated with relatively lower amplitudes of slower wave (delta, theta, and alpha) activity and relatively higher amplitudes of faster wave (beta) activity. Second, there has been a recent increase in interest in interventions that impact the cortical neuromodulation of pain, including behavioral treatments (such as self-hypnosis training and neurofeedback) and both invasive and noninvasive brain stimulation. Although a direct causal link between experience of pain and brain activity as measured by EEG has not been established, the targeting of pain treatment at a cortical level by trying to affect EEG rhythms directly is an intriguing possibility. PERSPECTIVE: Preliminary evidence suggests the possibility, which has not yet adequately tested or proven, that the experience of chronic pain is linked to cortical activity as assessed via an electroencephalogram. Support for this hypothesis would have important implications for understanding the mechanisms that underlie a number of pain treatments, and for developing new innovative treatments for chronic pain management.

J Pain. 2007 Dec 18 Jensen MP, Hakimian S, Sherlin LH, Fregni F. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.

A defensive dominant was created in rabbits using rhythmic electrocutaneous stimulation of the left forelimb at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. After stimulation ended, the latent excitation state was tested using sound stimuli. Animals responded either with increases in non-rhythmic paw muscle activity or with rhythmic twitching of the paw at a frequency close to that of the electrocutaneous stimulation. After hypnotization, the incidence of rhythmic responses to the stimulation testing the dominant focus increased, while the incidence of non-rhythmic responses decreased.

Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2008 Jan;38(1):23-30. Galashina AG, Kulikov MA, Bogdanov AV. Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, bogdav@mail.ru.

Music has been used for therapeutic purposes since the beginning of cultural history. However, despite numerous descriptions of beneficial effects, the precise mechanisms by which music may improve human well-being remain unclear. METHODS: We conducted a randomized study in ten critically ill patients to identify mechanisms of music-induced relaxation using a special selection of slow movements of Mozart's piano sonatas. These sonatas were analyzed for compositional elements of relaxation. We measured circulatory variables, brain electrical activity, serum levels of stress hormones and cytokines, requirements for sedative drugs, and level of sedation before and at the end of a 1-hr therapeutic session. RESULTS: Compared with controls, we found that music application significantly reduced the amount of sedative drugs needed to achieve a comparable degree of sedation. Simultaneously, among those receiving the music intervention, plasma concentrations of growth hormone increased, whereas those of interleukin-6 and epinephrine decreased. The reduction in systemic stress hormone levels was associated with a significantly lower blood pressure and heart rate. CONCLUSION: Based on the effects of slow movements of Mozart's piano sonatas, we propose a neurohumoral pathway by which music might exert its sedative action. This model includes an interaction of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis with the adrenal medulla via mediators of the unspecific immune system

Crit Care Med. 2007 Dec;35(12):2709-13. Comment in: Crit Care Med. 2007 Dec;35(12):2858-9. Conrad C, Niess H, Jauch KW, Bruns CJ, Hartl W, Welker L. Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. cconrad1@partners.org

Tamara Andreas, M.M. is an international transformational seminar leader and co-author of the ground-breaking book, Core Transformation, upon which the workshop is based. She has conducted Core Transformation workshops all over the world, and has been instrumental in training Core Transformation trainers. She is also a sought-after NLP trainer at both Practitioner and Master Practitioner levels.

Tamara lives and works with her husband in Colorado.

For more information visit: www.CoreTransformations.org

"Pick-Klop" is a game based on cognitive behavioral therapy. It aims to change smokers' attitudes towards tobacco addiction. This study tests the feasibility and the impact of one brief session of the intervention in a naturalistic setting within a psychiatric hospital. METHOD: Fifty-one smokers were recruited during their stay in a psychiatric hospital with a prohibitive smoking policy. They were assessed pre- and post-treatment with visual analogue scales designed to evaluate their intention to stop smoking. RESULTS: All patients completed the intervention. The outcome shows that the intention to stop smoking becomes significantly stronger after the intervention. This pilot study supports the feasibility and the effectiveness of the "Pick-Klop" game in a psychiatric hospital setting. The game seems to improve the intention to quit smoking. The data, however, should be confirmed by a controlled trial. Moreover, follow-up studies are needed to examine the potential impact of the game on smoking cessation attempts. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The game seems to be a useful and simple tool for education about smoking in a psychiatric hospital setting.

Patient Educ Couns. 2008 Feb;70(2):205-8. Khazaal Y, Chatton A, Prezzemolo R, Hoch A, Cornuz J, Zullino D. Division of Substance Abuse, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: People with depressive disorders or subsyndromal symptoms of depression (SSD) often use complementary and alternative therapies, including massage therapy (MT). This systematic review evaluates the evidence, from randomised clinical trials (RCTs), for the effectiveness of multiple sessions of classical European (Swedish) MT for the treatment of depression. Methods: Eligible RCTs were identified via eight electronic databases and manual searches of references. Two reviewers independently selected trials, assessed trial quality and extracted data. Results: Four RCTs met our inclusion criteria. Three of these RCTs compared MT with relaxation therapies, but provided insufficient data and analyses to contribute meaningfully to the evaluation of MT for depression. The fourth included RCT used MT as a control condition to evaluate a depression-specific acupuncture treatment. This trial provided limited evidence that, in the early stages of treatment, MT is less effective than acupuncture for treating depression, a treatment which itself is not accepted for this condition. Conclusions: Despite previous research suggesting that MT may be an effective treatment for depression, there is currently a lack of evidence to support this assertion from RCTs that have selected participants for depression or SSD.

Int J Clin Pract. 2008 Feb;62(2):325-33. Coelho HF, Boddy K, Ernst E. Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, Exeter, UK.

A.L. Ward is a highly acclaimed experienced Hypnotist, Healer and Instructor with a 49-year track record. His contribution to a massive research project proved that hypnosis corrected 'non-medically responsive' health problems and that a universally consistent pattern of negative emotions caused the physical deficiencies.

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Two groups of participants, one susceptible to posthypnotic amnesia (PHA) and the other not, viewed a movie. A week later, they underwent hypnosis in the fMRI scanner and received a suggestion to forget the movie details after hypnosis until receiving a reversal cue. The participants were tested twice for memory for the movie and for the context in which it was shown, under the posthypnotic suggestion and after its reversal, while their brain was scanned. The PHA group showed reduced memory for movie but not for context while under suggestion. Activity in occipital, temporal, and prefrontal areas differed among the groups, and, in the PHA group, between suggestion and reversal conditions. We propose that whereas some of these regions subserve retrieval of long-term episodic memory, others are involved in inhibiting retrieval, possibly already in a preretrieval monitoring stage. Similar mechanisms may also underlie other forms of functional amnesia.

Neuron. 2008 Jan 10;57(1):159-70., Mendelsohn A, Chalamish Y, Solomonovich A, Dudai Y., Department of Neurobiology, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.

To illustrate a multidisciplinary group treatment for patients with fibromyalgia (FM) tailored to the patient's cognitive-behavioral pattern. METHOD: In a case-study design the tailored treatment approaches of two FM patients were described. One patient characterized by avoidance behavior (pain-avoidance pattern) participated in a group treatment aimed at changing pain-avoidance mechanisms and one patient characterized by continuing with activities in spite of pain (pain-persistence pattern) participated in a group treatment aimed at changing pain-persistence mechanisms. Assessments were made at baseline, post-treatment and at 6-months follow-up. RESULTS: Comparison of the pretest, post-test and follow-up scores on pain, functional disability, fatigue and psychological distress showed clinically significant improvements for both patients. CONCLUSION: The heterogeneity of patients regarding pain-related cognitive-behavioral mechanisms has been proposed to underlie varying treatment outcomes in FM patients. These results demonstrate that a group treatment tailored to pain-avoidance and pain-persistence patterns is feasible and can result in clinically significant changes for FM patients. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: FM offers a great challenge for clinicians due to the lack of effective treatment options. These case studies suggests that tailored CBT and exercise training directed at specific patient patterns can contribute to the improvement of the care of FM patients.

Patient Educ Couns. 2008 Jan 8 van Koulil S, van Lankveld W, Kraaimaat FW, van Helmond T, Vedder A, van Hoorn H, Cats H, van Riel PL, Evers AW. Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

John Smale is an experienced, fully trained and professionally qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist and NLP practitioner who specialises in anxiety disorders such as panic attacks, stress and phobias as well as smoking cessation and weight control. He operates a completely CONFIDENTIAL practice. His prime motivation is to achieve the result that each presenting client wishes. This demands the high quality of treatment which is offered.

Since opening The Fleet and District HypnoTherapy Centre in 1995 John have helped thousands of people to stop smoking, lose weight, overcome panic and anxiety attacks and learn to relax. Over the past few years he has helped childless couples to become parents working in conjunction with fertility clinics.

For more information visit: www.HypnoFleet.co.uk

Lullabies and laments promote new awareness, enculturation, adaptation, and grief expression. These concepts' relevance to palliative care, however, has not been examined. In this study, a music therapist used a grounded theory-informed design to reflexively analyze lullaby and lament qualities, evident in more than 20 years of personal palliative care practice. Thus, the construct "lullament" emerged, which signified helpful moments when patients' and families' personal and sociohistorical relationship with lullabies and laments were actualized. Specific music could be both a lullaby and a lament. A music therapist can enable the lullament through providing opportunities for music-contextualized "restorative resounding," expressed psychobiologically, verbally, musically, and metaphorically.

Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2008 Jan 15 O'Callaghan C. Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Caritas Christi Hospice, St Vincent's Health, Victoria, Australia.

Attention binds psychology to the techniques of neuroscience and exemplifies the links between brain and behavior. Associated with attentional networks, at least 3 brain modules govern control processes by drawing on disparate functional neuroanatomy, neuromodulators, and psychological substrates. Guided by data-driven brain theories, researchers have related specific genetic polymorphisms to well-defined phenotypes, including those associated with different attentional efficiencies and hypnosis. Because attention can modulate both cognitive and affective processes, genetic assays together with neuroimaging data have begun to elucidate individual differences. Findings from genetic assays of both attention and hypnotizability pave the way to answering questions such as how high hypnotizable individuals may differ from less-hypnotizable persons. These exploratory findings may extend to the identification of placebo responders.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jan;56(1):99-116.

Raz A.

Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA.

Psychophysiological studies with music have not examined what exactly in the music might be responsible for the observed physiological phenomena. The authors explored the relationships between 11 structural features of 16 musical excerpts and both self-reports of felt pleasantness and arousal and different physiological measures (respiration, skin conductance, heart rate). Overall, the relationships between musical features and experienced emotions corresponded well with those known between musical structure and perceived emotions. This suggests that the internal structure of the music played a primary role in the induction of the emotions in comparison to extramusical factors. Mode, harmonic complexity, and rhythmic articulation best differentiated between negative and positive valence, whereas tempo, accentuation, and rhythmic articulation best discriminated high arousal from low arousal. Tempo, accentuation, and rhythmic articulation were the features that most strongly correlated with physiological measures. Music that induced faster breathing and higher minute ventilation, skin conductance, and heart rate was fast, accentuated, and staccato. This finding corroborates the contention that rhythmic aspects are the major determinants of physiological responses to music.

Emotion. 2007 May;7(2):377-87. Gomez P, Danuser B. Institut Universtitaire Romand de Sante au Travail, Lausanne, Switzerland. patrick.gomez@hospvd.ch

Julie graduated from college with a degree in Psychology at age 19. While in her Master's program, at the age of twenty, she was hired as a Drug and Alcohol Case Manager. The following year she obtained a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and began working as a family therapist. She studied with Salvador Minuchin and Carl Whitaker (world renowned family therapists) in her search for techniques which would really help people change. She was a family therapist for five years before experiencing, what is commonly referred to in the field as "burnout." She left therapy and became self-employed in the real estate industry. She had an extremely successful real estate career, which included positions on the Board of Directors of the 1300 member real estate association in her area. By age 29, she was ready to return to something that was more personally meaningful. Her interest in NLP and Hypnosis had continued to flourish while away from psychology on a full-time basis. By utilizing the techniques of NLP and Hypnosis, she healed and rejuvenated herself and returned to the field of psychology in 1989, at the age of 30. She was in private practice until 1997, specializing in working with cancer survivors and their recovery. She is also a certified PhotoReading instructor and loves creating a learning environment which promotes fun and students' belief in themselves.

For more information visit: www.NLPtrainings.com.

by Mary Llewellyn, BSc(Hons),FHRS(UK),FRSA

In 2002 Guy was referred to me by a chest consultant for stress management following severe chest pains, panic attacks, high blood pressure and tinnitus. We used EFT effectively with some of the underlying causes of his blood pressure and gained improvements in this and his stress levels. He was sleeping better at night but we still made little lasting headway with his tinnitus.

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Developer of the Core Transformation Process

Connirae Andreas, Ph.D. is the mother of three, and has been a leader and innovator in the field of NLP for over two decades. She is well known for her groundbreaking work developing Core Transformation, and her contributions to the field in areas including Advanced Language Patterns, Timelines, Grief Resolution, and Shame.

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by Daniel J. Benor, M.D.

I am a frustrated psychiatrist. I trained back in the years when psychiatry was all psychotherapy. I continue to have a passion to help people deal with their problems through talking therapy – but Psychiatry has changed over the years into being only focused on prescribing medications. To maintain my own sanity, and to be able to continue to help people who came to me with the sorts of problems described below, I develop WHEE. WHEE is a potent, new, self-healing method that relieves stress and distress within minutes. Once you know this method, you can de-stress any time you want to. Its effects are deep and permanent.

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As a typical naturally derived drug, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has developed for several thousands of years and accumulated abundant human pharmacological information and experience to form an integrated theory system. However, the problems of lower product quality, substandard codes and standards, and under-enhancement of fundamental research have restricted its further development and acceptance internationally. In this review, we explain the origin and developmental history of TCM, species involved in TCM, and their distributions in biotaxy. According to the status and problems, it is concluded that TCM modernization has become necessary and urgent. Modernization of TCM means the combination of TCM with modern technology, modern academic thoughts, and modern scientific culture, in which the most important point is to elucidate the active component of TCM, especially the material foundation of compound prescriptions and their pharmacodynamic mechanisms. Technology of analytical chemistry (HPLC, HPCE, HSCCC, etc.) and molecular biology (patch clamp, gene clamp, gene chip, fluorescent probe, DNA TUNEL assay, in situ hybridization, etc.) are useful tools to realize the modernization of TCM. Based on those studies and achievements and coupled with computer technology, all TCM products will achieve digitalization and normalization. TCM modernization will provide the world with useful reference information on traditional medicines.

Arch Med Res. 2008 Feb;39(2):246-51. Li WF, Jiang JG, Chen J. College of Light Industry and Food, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.

According to recent evidence, neurophysiological processes coupled to pain are closely related to the mechanisms of consciousness. This evidence is in accordance with findings that changes in states of consciousness during hypnosis or traumatic dissociation strongly affect conscious perception and experience of pain, and markedly influence brain functions. Past research indicates that painful experience may induce dissociated state and information about the experience may be stored or processed unconsciously. Reported findings suggest common neurophysiological mechanisms of pain and dissociation and point to a hypothesis of dissociation as a defense mechanism against psychological and physical pain that substantially influences functions of consciousness. The hypothesis is also supported by findings that information can be represented in the mind/brain without the subject's awareness. The findings of unconsciously present information suggest possible binding between conscious contents and self-functions that constitute self-representational dimensions of consciousness. The self-representation means that certain inner states of own body are interpreted as mental and somatic identity, while other bodily signals, currently not accessible to the dominant interpreter's access are dissociated and may be defined as subliminal self-representations. In conclusion, the neurophysiological aspects of consciousness and its integrative role in the therapy of painful traumatic memories are discussed.

Conscious Cogn. 2008 Jan 18. Center for Neuropsychiatric Research of Traumatic Stress & Department of Psychiatry, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 11, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic.

The present study examined the relation between various self-report measures and two measures of hypnotizability within a multivariate framework. A group of 748 participants was tested on the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A), the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS), as well as the Preference for an Imagic Cognitive Style (PICS) questionnaire. One hundred ninety of these participants also completed the Paranormal Experiences Questionnaire (PEQ). Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression equations, and the results of the analyses indicated that both the TAS and PICS accounted for significant amounts of unique variance in each of two 373-member samples of HGSHS:A scores. A further sub-sample of participants (n = 161) was tested on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSS:C) to see if these results would generalize to another measure of hypnotizability. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that although the PEQ predicted significant amounts of unique SHSS:C variance over and above that predicted by the TAS, the PICS failed to do so. This inconsistency in results may be due in part to the generally low intercorrelation between the different hypnotizability scales and points to the need to develop new predictor variables that are orthogonal to each other.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 1996 Jul;44(3):250-64. Dixon M, Labelle L, Laurence JR. Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Language and music share a number of characteristics. Crucially, both domains depend on both rules and memorized representations. Double dissociations between the neurocognition of rule-governed and memory-based knowledge have been found in language but not music. Here, the neural bases of both of these aspects of music were examined with an event-related potential (ERP) study of note violations in melodies. Rule-only violations consisted of out-of-key deviant notes that violated tonal harmony rules in novel (unfamiliar) melodies. Memory-only violations consisted of in-key deviant notes in familiar well-known melodies; these notes followed musical rules but deviated from the actual melodies. Finally, out-of-key notes in familiar well-known melodies constituted violations of both rules and memory. All three conditions were presented, within-subjects, to healthy young adults, half musicians and half non-musicians. The results revealed a double dissociation, independent of musical training, between rules and memory: both rule violation conditions, but not the memory-only violations, elicited an early, somewhat right-lateralized anterior-central negativity (ERAN), consistent with previous studies of rule violations in music, and analogous to the early left-lateralized anterior negativities elicited by rule violations in language. In contrast, both memory violation conditions, but not the rule-only violation, elicited a posterior negativity that might be characterized as an N400, an ERP component that depends, at least in part, on the processing of representations stored in long-term memory, both in language and in other domains. The results suggest that the neurocognitive rule/memory dissociation extends from language to music, further strengthening the similarities between the two domains.

Neuroimage. 2007 Nov 1;38(2):331-45. Miranda RA, Ullman MT. Brain and Language Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, New Research Building, 3970 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA; Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University, USA.

Anne Teachworth, CGC, DAPA, CPC, Certified Gestalt Counselor, Diplomate, American Psychotherapy Assn., Certified Psychogenetics Coach is the Founder and Director of the Gestalt Institute of New Orleans/New York and a counselor in private practice since 1978. Anne received her Fellowship Diploma from the Gestalt Institute of Houston in 1977 and founded of the Gestalt Institute of New Orleans/New York, Inc., in 1977. Anne has conducted workshops and trainings here and all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Israel, and Europe. She has an office at 1537 Metairie Rd., in Metairie, Louisiana; a suburb of New Orleans and an office in New York City at 315 Central Park West. She currently has a The Psychogenetic System™ Coaching Practice once every month in New York City.

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In this study, participants who failed to exhibit pendulum movement in response to Chevreul's Pendulum (CP) instructions had lower Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form A (SHSS:A) scores and reported experiencing less subjective response to hypnosis than did their counterparts who exhibited CP movement. However, intensity scores on Shor's Personal Experiences Questionnaire (PEQ) did not differ between pass- and fail-CP groups. Additionally, pass-CP participants showed positive correlations between PEQ intensity scores and hypnotizability scores, while fail-CP participants showed negative correlations among these measures. These findings are consistent with the notion that CP failure may reflect a situation-specific unwillingness to become imaginatively involved rather than a general inability to do so. Additional analyses revealed that 5 of 10 participants who had failed the CP task scored 0 or 1 on the SHSS:A, while only 3 of 65 pass-CP participants scored 0 or 1.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jan;56(1):83-98.

Karlin RA, Hill A, Messer S.

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.

John G. Watkins PhD, Professor Emeritus of the University of Montana, is world renowned as a pioneering psychologist, particularly in the areas of hypnosis, dissociation, and multiple personality. He was a founder and past president of ISCEH, an international society in hypnosis. He has been the president of the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (SCEH), of the American Board of Psychological Hypnosis, and of the Hypnosis Division of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Watkins has also served as clinical editor of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. He has lectured all over the world and authored many groundbreaking books and articles on hypnosis and psychotherapy, making him one of the leading theorists in the field.

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a book review by Judith E. Pearson, Ph.D.

Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation: An NLP and Hypnotherapy Practitioner's Manual

Whether you are a newly-trained hypnotherapist, or a seasoned practitioner who has conducted smoking cessation programs for years, Hypnosis for Smoking Cessation, by David Botsford, has something for you. This book is the comprehensive manual for practitioners who want to become expert at helping people stop smoking and remain smoke-free.

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Executive Director, Phoenix Institute of Ericksonian Therapy Editor, American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Faculty Associate, Arizona State University Fellow, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Fellow, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Diplomate, American Hypnosis Board for Clinical Social Work Diplomate, American Psychotherapy Association Past President, American Hypnosis Board for Clinical Social Work Recipient, Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Psychotherapy

For more information visit: http://www.lankton.com

People attempting to communicate religious and mystical experiences tend to use the same language strategies employed in inducing hypnotic trance. Both incorporate vague language that provides receptive listeners the opportunity to insert their own content. This study examines whether people who have had mystical or religious experiences are also more likely to respond to the language of hypnosis. Eighty-one participants completed the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A and the Hood Mysticism Scale. Participants were divided into 3 equal groups based on "high," "ambiguous," and "low" mysticism scale scores. The high group scored significantly higher on hypnotizability compared to the low group. The relationship between openness to mystical and religious experience and susceptibility to hypnotic suggestion warrants further investigation.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jan;56(1):73-82.

Adams PJ.

University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Linda Otto has been actively involved in complementary healthcare since 1989. She is executive director of the International Association of Counselors and Therapists, and the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association. Her involvement in the profession has enabled her to travel extensively throughout the country to promote public awareness on the benefits of hypnosis. To her credit she has authored/produced several wellness programs.

In addition to hypnosis journals, her literary contributions can be found in the book she co-authored with Robert entitled "The Handbook of Hypnosis Scripts". Her professional responsibilities in addition to IACT and IMDHA include membership in the Council of Professional Hypnosis Organizations. She is also a lifetime member of the North Coast Hypnosis Society. Linda is the recipient of the 1997 NCHS 'Friendship Award', the 1999 IMDHA 'Teamwork Award', the 2002 'Pebble in the Pond Award', and has been nominated for "Woman of the Year" by the International Hypnosis Hall of Fame.

For more information visit: http://www.imdha.org

The study investigated the differences in pain perception in highly (Highs) and low (Lows) hypnotizable patients with chronic benign pain undergoing hypnotic suggestions of analgesia. Self reports of pain intensity were collected in different groups of fibromyalgic patients: (1) Highs and Lows during pre-hypnosis, neutral hypnosis, suggestions for analgesia, posthypnotic conditions; (2) Lows during suggestions for analgesia administered after a mental stress instead of neutral hypnosis; (3) healthy Lows receiving nociceptive stimulation during hypnotic relaxation and suggestions of analgesia. The results showed that Highs and Lows differed in their response to suggestions, but significant analgesia was reported also by Lows. These individuals did not report any difference in pain perception between the sessions including mental stress and hypnotic relaxation. No change in pain perception was observed in healthy Lows during nociceptive stimulation associated with relaxation and suggestions for analgesia. In conclusion, the presence of chronic pain seems to be responsible for the paradoxical response of non hypnotizable patients to hypnotic suggestions.

Arch Ital Biol. 2008 Jun;146(2):75-82. Carli G, Suman AL, Biasi G, Marcolongo R, Santarcangelo EL. Department of Physiology, University of Siena, Italy.

Although diabetes is one of the most serious global health problems, there is no real cure yet for it. The conventional insulin treatment programs aimed at life quality improvement do not take into account the psychological aspects of the disease. Because diabetes has important psychological components, it seems reasonable to consider hypnosis as an adjunct therapy for diabetes. This paper examines the empirical literature on the effectiveness of hypnosis in the management of diabetes, including regulation of blood sugar, increased compliance, and improvement of peripheral blood circulation. Despite some methodological limitations, the literature shows promising results that merit further exploration. Multimodal treatments seem especially promising, with hypnosis as an adjunct to insulin treatments in the management of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes for stabilization of blood glucose and decreased peripheral vascular complications.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2008 Jan;56(1):63-72.

Xu Y, Cardeña E.

Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Throughout history and across cultures, humans have created music using pitch intervals that divide octaves into the 12 tones of the chromatic scale. Why these specific intervals in music are preferred, however, is not known. In the present study, we analyzed a database of individually spoken English vowel phones to examine the hypothesis that musical intervals arise from the relationships of the formants in speech spectra that determine the perceptions of distinct vowels. Expressed as ratios, the frequency relationships of the first two formants in vowel phones represent all 12 intervals of the chromatic scale. Were the formants to fall outside the ranges found in the human voice, their relationships would generate either a less complete or a more dilute representation of these specific intervals. These results imply that human preference for the intervals of the chromatic scale arises from experience with the way speech formants modulate laryngeal harmonics to create different phonemes.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jun 5;104(23):9852-7. Ross D, Choi J, Purves D. Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.

Kevin Gaspard, PE, Cht., NLPM, CGCintern, CPCintern, has been practicing coaching and counseling work since the early 90's. Along the way he has obtained Master certification's in several mind-body fields such as NLP, Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Quantum Light language, Shamanistic Healing, Sound Healing, and Visionary Art. He is currently on staff at the Gestalt Institute of New Orleans and is completing his internship to become certified in Gestalt Therapy and Psychogenetics Coaching and counseling. He conducts workshops in the areas listed above and is currently working on three books: "The Psychogenetics System", "Subconscious Mastery", and "Life reframing".

Daniel G. Amen, MD is a child and adult psychiatrist, brain imaging specialist, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is the CEO and medical director of Amen Clinics, Inc. in Newport Beach and Fairfield, California, Tacoma, Washington and Reston, Virginia. Amen Clinics, Inc have the world's largest database of functional brain scans relating to psychiatric medicine, totaling now more than 34,000 scans, and the clinics have seen patients from 51 countries.

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Dr. Alman's twenty-five years of mind/body connection research and practical application of his Keep It Off methodology were refined and perfected through his professional tenure with:

• Harvard Medical School
• University of California
• University of Paris

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This study was conducted to discuss the treatment and management of a patient presenting with acute idiopathic costochondritis. CASE: 64 year old male patient presenting with acute anterior chest pain of one week duration. TREATMENT: High-velocity low-amplitude thrust manipulation was used to the zygapophyseal joints of the thoracic spine, costotransverse, and costochondral joints involved. Acupuncture, ischemic compression, cross fibre friction massage techniques, and cryotherapy were utilized on the local area of pain. Specific exercise prescription (low tech rehabilitation) was also utilized. Improvement of pain reported on the Visual Analog Scale was noted with a complete resolution of the condition at the conclusion of treatment. No recurrences were reported on an eleven month follow up of the patient. CONCLUSION: Conservative management, including manipulation and exercise prescription, may be beneficial in the treatment of benign costochondritis.

JCCA J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2008 Dec;52(4):224-8. Hudes K. Family Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, 168 Sheppard Ave., West, Toronto, Ontario.

Adam Eason is a prodigious talent in the world of hypnosis and personal development. One of the most qualified in his field, highly academically recognised as international best selling author, motivational speaker, therapist, consultant and trainer in the fields of hypnosis, body language, communication and personal development.

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The purpose of this study was to analyze the existing quantitative research evaluating the influence of music upon the symptoms of psychosis. A meta-analysis was conducted on 19 studies. Results indicated that music has proven to be significantly effective in suppressing and combating the symptoms of psychosis (d = +0.71). However, there were no differing effects between live versus recorded music and between structured music therapy groups versus passive listening. Nor were there differing effects between preferred versus therapist-selected music. Additionally, classical music did not prove as effective as nonclassical music in reducing psychotic symptoms. This supports the therapeutic potential of popular music while dispelling the theory that classical music provides the form and structure that can contribute to mental health and well-being. Further quantitative research is recommended and strongly warranted to refine unique aspects of music therapy interventions effective for those with psychotic symptoms.

J Music Ther. 2003 Spring;40(1):27-40. Silverman MJ. The Florida State University, USA.

Richard Kuhns B. S. ChE., AAEH certified and BCIA certified (for 20 yrs.), founded the Biofeedback Center of NJ, Hypnosis Consultants and the Stress Management Institute in the late 70's. Served as Vice President of the AAEH and on the board of directors for several years. Extensive experience in giving presentations at national conventions of the AAEH and MidWest Hypnosis Conference. Kuhns, a guest on several WOR radio shows, Channel 11, and Joe Franklin was in private practice for 20 years specializing in the treatment of anxiety and panic attacks among many other stress related illnesses. As a consultant to AT&T as well as IFF Corporation, he gave dozens of stress management trainings on and off site consisting of 2 day off site seminars and on-site lunch seminars. NJ Education Provider provides seminars for continuing ed credits for managing stress, character development, etc. Has one website for serving the general public www.DStressDoc.com and www.PanicBusters.com for clinicians.