Hypnosis-Based Machine Learning Biomarker Study

This is an interventional study that will acquire data to characterize the time course of physiological biomarkers and audiovisual observations of depth of trance before, during and upon emergence from a standardized hypnotic susceptibility protocol. The subjects will also complete the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) immediately before and after the hypnosis protocol. The differences in the biomarker signals among subjects of different degrees of hypnotic susceptibility and different pre-post levels of state anxiety will facilitate between- and within-subjects comparisons that will be supplemented by computer vision analysis of subject responses. The full data set will be used to facilitate derivation and validation of a novel machine-learning monitoring tool to measure instantaneous emotional/arousal levels along a spectrum that spans anxiety through calmness and trance.

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent obtained from participant and ability and willingness for participant to comply with the requirements of the study.
• Adults of all genders, ages 18-65
• Healthy volunteers
• English-speaking

Exclusion criteria

• Participating currently in experimental drug trials.
• Recent (<1 year) or current history of substance use disorder.
• Diabetes T1 or T2, major cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, major neurological diseases, or limited mobility
• Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the investigator would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data.
• Adults that cannot consent.
• Chronic use of psychoactive medications.
• Chronic use of antiepileptic medications.
• Active substance use disorder.
• Participants reporting significant phobias or anxiety disorders triggered by imagery or situations involving insects (specifically flies), enclosed spaces or elevators (claustrophobia), or heights (acrophobia).