Articles

In the quest for safe methods of inducing sleep, experiments have also been made with electric current. However, before reporting on some experiences and thoughts about this problem, some references to various published materials on the topic are in place.

Electrohypnotherapy has been in use for several years. Its use was inspired in particular by Soviet scientists following the doctrines of Pavlow, who regarded sleep as a protective mechanism of the organism. The method could be only partially implemented, although indications

for its use were surprisingly extensive. Various initial reports concerning the use of this method were more or less optimistic. But voices were soon raised, cautioning against a too hasty utilization of electrosleep, particularly warning against electroanaesthesia since too little is known about the possible damage to cerebral tissue caused by electric shock therapy.

The same author, Mrs. Sommer, also reports on the results of experiments using electric shock therapy on animals. Preliminary tests confirmed that the indicated stimuli for electrohypnotherapy used on humans (in the realm of 20 to 30 hertz frequencies and voltages of 0.2 to 0.8 milliampere) did not induce sleep among experimental animals. She then describes the further course of investigation and ultimately the microscopic findings concerning the anatomy of the brain. These illustrations impressively show that the use of electrical stimuli definitely results in organic changes in the brain. Therefore, it is evidently impossible to induce sleep among humans through the aid of electrical current, because to do so would require the use of stimuli at a strength harmful to the brain. Lower voltages such as those used in animal experiments are not capable of inducing sleep in humans. As soon as the voltage is too high, or if it exceeds 13 milliampere, unpleasant sensations take place in the area of the sensory nerves of the face (trigeminus), especially in the forehead and back of the head.

Since the current ostensibly travels across the cranial bone, possible damage to the retinae of the eyes must be kept in mind. Under the safe limit of 13 milliampere, however, it is evidently never possible to induce sleep or a state resembling sleep.

Another author, Heppner, made similar statements critical of electrohypnotherapy by proving that only through external quiet and autosuggestions but not through electric shock therapy of the brain is it possible to induce a state resembling sleep.

Experiences in our clinic support his assertion; Many experiments clearly show that the effect is entirely psychological. As soon as the effect of the sleep machine abates, the same psychological patterns resume, as is the case in heterosuggestive treatment. Heterosuggestion differs from autosuggestive treatment and autogenic training, for example, in that an outsider makes the suggestion rather than the person carrying out the suggestion. Since the suggestion is made unintentionally and without the recipient's noticing the event or recognizing it as a suggestion, this method is also called unintentional or unnoticed suggestion (according to Stokvis and Pflanz).

To summarize, this means that so-called human electrohypnotherapy consists solely of light electric shock therapy of the brain. As long as it is administered within safe levels, it must remain ineffective for purposes of inducing sleep. For this reason, the term, electrohypnotherapy, should be completely avoided, since there is no such thing at present. Nor can sleep be induced by any of the electrical impulse machines constantly appearing on the market. Use of the term, electrohypnotherapy, does nothing but produce false hopes.

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