Ep135: What does neuroscience mean by hypnosis? with David Spiegel

Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman • January 05, 2026

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Guest Role Confidence Extraction Method Actions
Dr. David Spiegel Guest 80% RULES Login to Follow

Description

What exactly is hypnosis? We’ve all heard of circus-like versions, but is there a real element to hypnosis that psychiatrists and neuroscientists are able to leverage? Can attention and expectation change what we feel (such as pain or anxiety)? What do suggestible states reveal about the brain’s pathways? How does hypnosis compare to meditation, flow states, or psychedelic drugs? Today we speak with David Spiegel, Stanford psychiatrist and one of the world’s experts in hypnosis.

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