The Mystery of Hypnosis
People have been pondering and arguing over hypnosis(催眠) for more than 200 years，but science has yet to fully explain how it actually happens.We see what a person does under hypnosis，but it isn’t clear why he or she does it.This puzzle is really a small piece in a much bigger puzzle：how the human mind works.It’s unlikely that scientists will arrive at a definitive explanation of the mind in the foreseeable future，so whether it’s a good bet hypnosis will remain something of a mystery as well.
But psychiatrists do understand the general characteristics of hypnosis.It is a sleeplike state usually induced by extreme suggestibility，relaxation and heightened imagination.It’s not really like sleep，because the subject is alert the whole time.It is more often compared to daydreaming，or the feeling of “losing yourself” in a book or movie.You are fully conscious，but you tune out most of the stimulus around you.You focus intently on the subject at hand，to the near exclusion of any other thought.
In the everyday trance of a daydream or movie，an imaginary world seems somewhat real to you，in the sense that it fully engages your emotions.Some researchers categorize all such trances as forms of selfhypnosis.Most psychiatrists focus on the trance state brought on by international relaxation and focusing exercises.This deep hypnosis is often compared to the mental state between wakefulness and sleep.
In conventional hypnosis，you approach the suggestions of the hypnotist，or your own ideas，as if they were reality.If the hypnotist suggests that your tongue has swollen up twice its size，you’ll feel a sensation in your mouth and you may have trouble talking.If the hypnotist suggests that you are drinking a chocolate milkshake，you’ll taste the milkshake and feel it cooling your mouth and throat.But the entire time，you are aware that it’s all imaginary.Essentially，you’re “playing pretend” as kids do.
In this special mental state，people feel uninhibited and relaxed.Presumably，this is because they tune out the worries and doubts that normally keep their actions in check.You might experience the same feeling while watching a movie：As you get engrossed in the plot，worries about your job，family，etc.fade away，until all you’re thinking about is what’s up on the screen.
In the state，you are also highly suggestible.That is，when the hypnotist tells you to do something，you’ll probably embrace the idea completely.This is what makes stage hypnotist shows so entertaining.Normally reserved，sensible adults are suddenly walking around the stage clucking like chickens or singing at the top of their lungs.Fear of embarrassment seems to fly out the window.Of course，a hypnotist can’t get you to do anything you don’t want to do.
| Title | The Mystery of Hypnosis |
| Summary | People have been pondering and arguing over hypnosis for 76.________ 200 years，but science has yet to fully explain how it actually happens.It’s unlikely that scientists will 77.________ up with a definitive explanation of the mind in the foreseeable future. |
| General characteristics | It is a sleeplike state usually induced by extreme suggestibility,78.________ and heightened imagination.You are fully conscious，but you tune out most of the stimulus around you.You put your 79.________ into the subject at hand，to the near exclusion of any other thought. |
| Types | |
| Selfhypnosis | In the everyday trance of a daydream or movie，an imaginary world seems somewhat real to you，in the sense that it fully 80.________ your emotions. |
| Deep hypnosis | It is a trance state brought on by international relaxation and focusing exercises. |
| Conventional hypnosis | You 81.________ the suggestions of the hypnotist，or your own ideas，as if they were reality.But the entire time，you are aware that it’s all imaginary.As a matter of 82.________，you’re “playing pretend” as kids do. |
| Special state | |
| People feel uninhibited and relaxed.Presumably，this is because they tune out the worries and doubts that 83.________ keep their actions in check. | |
| You’re also highly suggestible.That is，when 84.________ to do something，you’ll probably embrace the idea completely.Of course，a hypnotist can’t have you 85.________ anything you don’t want to. |