What Modern Neuroscience Reveals About Dave Elman’s Hypnosis Definition

Dave Elman was a pioneer of rapid and practical hypnosis. His simple yet profound definition — “Hypnosis is a state of mind in which the critical faculty is bypassed, and selective thinking is established” — continues to shape how we teach and practice hypnotherapy today. But what does this look like in the brain? Thanks to modern neuroscience, we now have a clearer understanding of what actually happens during hypnosis — and Elman’s words still map beautifully.

The Critical Faculty and the Prefrontal Cortex

The “critical faculty” refers to our logical, evaluative, and often skeptical filter — the part that questions, resists, and protects us from taking in unfiltered suggestions.

🧠 In neuroscience, this aligns with prefrontal networks, especially the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). During hypnosis, activity in these areas is reduced, making the mind more accepting and less resistant to suggestion.

Selective Thinking and the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

“Selective thinking” refers to a focused, narrow form of attention in which only the hypnotist’s suggestions — or the client’s internal reality — dominate awareness.

This maps to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which plays a key role in attentional control, and the default mode network, which quiets down during focused states like hypnosis.

Hypnosis Is Not Sleep — It’s a Shift

Despite its deep relaxation, hypnosis is not sleep. Brain scans show a distinct pattern:

• Reduced DLPFC activity

• Increased salience network connectivity

• Changes in sensory and emotional integration

  
  
  
  

Summary

Elman’s definition didn’t rely on complex brain terms — yet it describes closely what we now see in fMRI and EEG studies. It’s great to see old-school wisdom validated by science. Elman was ahead of his time — and neuroscience is just catching up.