In my opinion, I feel that, for some reason Pavlovian findings have not been given the
attention, I feel
they should have been. Most people. I think leaving Psych 101, find his experiments somewhat
interesting
but wonder what good it is to know. I have yet to meet a psychology professor who knew why he did
the
experiments. I'm sure they must exist. I suspect it is because they have never read his book
“Conditioned Reflexes” or “The Word as a Physiological and Therapeutic Factor: The Theory and
Practice
of Psychotherapy according to Pavlov” by K. Platonov. It is a very difficult read, filled with
detailed
controls for scientific discovery and quite tedious. However if the reader skipped to the last
chapter
of “Conditioned Reflexes” for applications for man they would find him discussing hypnosis. His
experiments were specifically designed to demonstrate how hypnosis works.
I speculate it may have been because he did most of his subsequent work under Lenin and the Stalin
and we
simply could not learn anything from associated with communist countries. Added to that, the
pharmaceutical Industry cannot make a dime off Pavlovian approached to health care, or that his
findings
were used to support the communist atheistic position. However, his findings do nothing to prevent
religious beliefs anymore that Darwinism does. People still believe in both. The following is my
attempt
to bring forth points of interest, from Pavlov, for those working in hypnotherapy and psychotherapy.
“Owing to the entire preceding life of the human adult a word is connected with all the external and
internal stimuli coming to the cerebral hemispheres, signals all of them, replaces all of them and
can
therefore, evoke all the actions and reactions of the organism which these stimuli produce.” ~ Ivan
Pavlov
Conditioned reflexes were proven under Pavlov's guidance to effect all internal organs and systems.
Speech constitutes what he called the “second signal system of reality”. The first being the
original
source in the environment. The second signal system are formed on the first signal system. The basic
laws of the first signal system also govern the second. The social environment is reflected in the
joint
work of the second and first signal system.
The word is really far from immaterial to the human organism and can produce various changes in it.
Any
word is irrelevant to mankind until a conditioned reflex bond between the word and some
unconditioned
stimulus or conditioned stimulus to the first signal system.A word can provoke physiological changes
according to its association with the first signal system, thereby replacing them. The phenomenon of
suggestion is based on a conditioned reflex mechanism that produces objective and measurable
physiological responses. The word is exceptionally powerful and plays an essential part in the
individual and social life. It has long been known that verbal influence alone may evoke the
strongest
emotional reactions in humans possible and forming an imprint on the rest of that life. “a word can
make
or break a man.”
The content of verbal suggestion, however, must not oppose the moral principles of the subject for it
will not take and if persisted in it may eventually create a neurotic reaction. In an indirect
suggestion (post-hypnotic) the moment of execution is postponed, to be elicited by a specific time
or
place coming, from the first signal system. The suggestion recedes as it were into the background
becoming latently active. In A. Forel's words “Suggestion is stronger the more concealed it is.”
Pavlov linked post-hypnotic phenomena under autosuggestion as the symptoms of imagined pregnancy or
stigmatization. Pavlov repeatedly warned that, “numerous verbal stimulations have removed us from,
[and/or possibly dramatically enhance] reality and we must therefore constantly remember this in
order
not to distort our relationship with reality.” As he aptly puts it our consciousness “no longer
considers reality or hardly considers reality and is subject mainly to the emotional influences of
words
. . .” Of course all suggestion, verbal stimulations or words that is accepted by the subject
becomes
autosuggestion. Pavlov felt all this should be given much more importance than it has been given in
the
past.
Pavlov on Suggested Sleep
The process of hypnosis begins to concentrate a certain narrow region of the cortex and thus excludes
any
competing influences of all other present and old traces of stimulation. He identified the hypnotic
state as a transitional period between waking and sleep inhibition. He felt in hypnosis we were
dealing
with partial sleep. Suggested sleep refers to the hypnotic sleep produced by verbal suggestion. He
felt
that during traditional sleep a kind of sentry post remains on guard to protect the person. In
hypnosis
there is a rapport zone operating as a second signal phenomenon, produced by the hypnotizing words.
The
hypnotic subject reacts to the one with whom contact has been established. The phenomenon of rapport
is
one of the most vivid manifestations of the second signal system into sections of sleeping and
waking.
He felt there were two methods of putting a person into a state of suggested sleep. 1, A sudden,
strong
stimulation by words which leads to a nearly instantaneous onset of the state of suggested sleep.
and 2,
The action of numerously repeated, quiet, monotonous, hypnotic verbal stimulations which leads to a
gradual development of a hypnotic state of larger or smaller portions of the cerebral cortex and are
based on the mechanism of internal or conditioned inhibition.
Suggested sleep differs from natural sleep and appeared to consist of the following to Pavlov.
- A transitional Phase of concentrated excitation or the rapport zone created by verbal suggestion
through out the period of suggested sleep. This creates a state of heightened suggestibility.
- Suggested sleep creates a state in which certain section are excited or concentrated in a
rapport
zone while others are left out, relatively speaking, entirely.
- Such concentrated excitation of a restricted section which in turn isolates it from most if not
all
other influences.
- The depth of natural sleep cannot be controlled, while hypnotic sleeps depth can easily be
controlled.
- Suggested sleep can be produced at anytime by verbal stimulus and is not connected to fatigue or
exhaustion.
Relations Between the Basic Cortical Processes
It must certainly be believed that in the overwhelming majority of cases, the ailments of the
nervous
system are a disturbance of the proper relations between the excitatory and inhibitory processes. In
a
difficult encounter of the excitatory and inhibitory processes, we now have a preponderance of the
excitatory process, which disturbs the inhibitory process now a preponderance of the inhibitory
process
which disturbs the excitatory process, according to Pavlov.
In a healthy person the normal relations between the basic cortical processes, the excitatory and
inhibitory, if it was in any way disturbed, is rather quickly restored by itself. When under
considerable strain, between the inhibitory and excitatory processes, can lead to prolonged
disturbances
of both processes. Fortunately because verbal suggestion of a definite content, made in the waking
state
or during suggested sleep, it is possible to restore the system to normal functioning.
Pavlov noted that the of the most striking states, especially interesting and especially applicable
to
neurology and psychiatry is the inert state of the excitatory process, i.e., the state when the
excitatory process becomes more stubborn and more persistent, and thus yields less rapidly to the
lawfully emerging inhibitory influences. Since the environment of the organism constantly varies,
often
unexpectedly and greatly both processes keep time with these variations to inhibition and vice
versa.
For example, they must have the ability to recede and to give advantage of one kind of stimulation
to
another of excitation.
Pavlov said that if you experience a strong excitatory process while the circumstances imperatively
demand that you must inhibit it frequently leads to a disturbance in the normal activity of the
nervous
system. If the requirements of life exceed the ability to switch from excitatory to inhibition the
nervous system will be deranged because of this overstrain. A difficult meeting, an unusual
combination
of the two opposite processes - excitation and inhibition - either as it regards repetition over
time or
intensity, or both, leads to a long continued derangement of the normal balance between them. If a
strong excitatory process has arisen in the cortex and the situation imperatively demands that it be
inhibited, this “morbidly affects” the entire activity of the brain, frequently leading to a
prolonged
disturbance according to Pavlov. All this signifies that by verbal influence it is also possible to
change, within certain limits, the flexibility of the basic cortical processes.
Cortical Patterns
The cerebral hemispheres are continuously acted upon by innumerable stimulations of different quality
and
intensity both from the outer world and the internal environment of the organism . They all meet,
collide, interact and must finally be systematized. . . Eventually we have a dramatic pattern, i.e.,
an
organized, balanced system of internal processes. - Ivan Pavlov Pavlov observed that the inclusion
of
new stimuli, especially “at once and in a large number” or the transportation of many old stimuli
“is a
big nervous system process, an effort beyond the strength of many nervous systems, ending in a
collapse
of the system and expressing itself in an inability to function normally for some time,” whereas
visitations within established limits of this system are a relatively easy matter.” - Ivan Pavlov
It seems to me that frequently oppressive feelings due to a change in the usual mode of life, to
discontinuance of customary occupations, to a loss of loved ones, not to mention mental crisis and
loss
of faith, have their physiological basis to a large extent precisely in the change, the disturbance
of
the old dynamic pattern and a difficulty in establishing a new one. - Ivan Pavlov Often verbal
suggestion can help in removing such fixed “unremovable” dynamic patterns. It was concluded that
ailments conditioned by disturbances in the cortical dynamic pattern that psychotherapy is of
essential
importance. It can be administered on the conscious level or in suggestive therapy during suggested
sleep. Experience shows that the latter is necessary when psychotherapy produces no effect in the
waking
state
It was observed that verbal suggestion proved itself quite correct or moving in the best direction:
it
removed pathological firmly fixed dynamic patterns which had lost their social significance and thus
made it possible for new cortical structures to form.
Trace Processes in the Cerebral Cortex
That Pavlovian investigation of the higher nervous activity continued along a correct path, that they
could accurately ascertain the phenomenon which constitute it, and then correctly analyze the
mechanism,
is most vividly proven by the fact that in many cases they could functionally reproduce the
pathology
with great precision and restore the patient to normal at will.
The entire nervous system activity is spread through with the principle of history, which is the
basic
characteristic feature of the Pavlovian reflex paradigm. The succession of events is tremendously
important because it is possible to reproduce the chain of events that occurred in the past by means
of
verbal influence under hypnosis or in suggested sleep. According to Pavlov the cerebral cortex
presents
a picture of excited and inhibited reflexes that are ready for activity. Any stimulation or
suggestion
connection with traces of former stimulation may revive complex reflexes with which it is in some
way
connected to the past. Verbal stimuli can call to life, the most diverse and complicated reactions.
It
is well known that one word can elicit many memories. During hypnosis when there is a deep division
of
the cerebral cortex into sections of sleep and wakefulness facilitates reproduction of the traces of
the
past.
There are so many various cases of morbid nervous states when people are relatively normally active
until
they are affected by components, seemingly very insignificant, including the form of verbal
allusions
relating to or associated with the strong and complex stimuli which originally caused the nervous
ailment. ~Ivan Pavlov
It was determined possible to produce by verbal suggestion during suggested sleep (hypnosis) not only
hysterical syndromes, but also more complex pathological states such as the epileptic fit.
Reproductions
of skin diseases by suggestion was performed as well as their successful treatment. The possibility
of
reproducing bronchial asthma by suggestion was demonstrated, as well as malarial syndromes. It was
concluded that the phenomenon was based on real, actual reproduction of the processes which occurred
in
the subjects higher divisions of the cerebral cortex in the past, which confirmed the correctness of
the
Pavlovian school to the effect that the traces of past experiences are in a certain measure
indelible.
It follows the methods of psycho catharsis (during which the patient is forced keenly to relive the
experiences which have traumatized him/her in the past.) and of hypnoanalysis (reviving the memory
of
the patient, who is in a state of suggested sleep the factors that had traumatized his mind in the
past)
frequently used by psychotherapists for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, have a real basis in
fact.
Their observations gave them no reason to think that reproduction of the trace processes of the
pathological state were in any way harmful. The pathological syndrome did not recur in any of the
patients even after the psychic trauma subsequently sustained by them. “They had not encountered the
ease of which false memories can be developed and therefore I add this to the topic of discussion.”
~
Bill Ronan
Isolated Trigger Points in the Cerebral Cortex
We have sufficient reasons to believe that various pathogenic causes of a functioning character may
give
rise to sharply isolated pathological points or regions of the cerebral cortex. ~ Ivan Pavlov
We have sufficient reasons to believe that various pathogenic causes of a functioning character may
give
rise to sharply isolated pathological points or regions of the cerebral cortex. ~ Ivan Pavlov
It was observed that our life is “a continuous struggle, a conflict of aspirations, desires and
tastes
with natural and special conditions”. Pavlov said that all these reasons could, under certain
conditions
“concentrate the pathological inertia of the excitatory process receiving stimulations from both
external [the first signal system of reality] and internal agents, then in different cells,
kinesthetic,
auditory and visual, brought on by the verbal system [second signal system] with different degrees
of
intensity in both sections: sometimes on the level of ideas and by other times by raising the force
of
real sensations [hallucinations].” ~ Ivan Pavlov
It was felt that physicians often do not sufficiently appreciate the Psychosomatic aspects of many
diseases and give a stereotyped interpretation of it. That is why pharmacotherapy frequently fails,
where as psychotherapy during suggested sleep often fully removes the pathological syndromes. We can
regard “suggestion” as the most simple form of a conditioned reflex in man.
Conclusion
The word is as real a conditioned stimulus as any other yet more all-embracing than any other.. The
verbal stimulus which has physiological and social significance plays a unique part in higher
nervous
activity. The word replaces, reflects and generalizes the meaning of the original stimuli coming
from
without and within. Simultaneously it creates a complex system of abstract ideas based on “word
signalization” throughout the individuals and human history.
All processes within an organism are reflected in the cerebral cortex. The cortex influences the
internal, eliciting simple and complex reactions, and the most diverse, negative and perverted
reactions. The word influences metabolism, hunger and satiety, secretions in the gastrointestinal
tract,
regulates body temperature, constricts or dilates blood vessels, stimulates the activity of glands
etc.
The word can evoke endocrine-vegetative changes, instinctive and emotional activity and send the
immune
process in the desired direction. This happens in the traditional waking state, but more powerfully
during suggested sleep or hypnosis. ~ Ivan Pavlov in “Conditioned Reflexes” by Pavlov
Resources for “An Overview of Pavlovian understandings of Hypnosis and Suggestion as a Conditioned
Reflex” by Bill Ronan: Pavlov, IP, Conditioned Reflexes: An Investigation of the Physiological
Activity
of the Cerebral Cortex, Dover Publications, Inc, NY 1960 Platonov, KI, The word as a physiological
and
therapeutic factor: The theory and practice of psychotherapy according to IP Pavlov, Foreign
Languages
Publishing House Moscow,1995
