The therapeutic use of our visual field

The eyes are not just receptors of visual stimuli but are part of the neural network of the brain and body. We can therefore use our vision therapeutically to shift our mindset, induce relaxation, heighten concentration, and alter states of consciousness.

Eye fixation and lateral eye movements have long been used in hypnosis. Just think of the swaying pocket watch or the spinning disc as examples. Advances in neurosciences have provided a fascinating understanding of why these techniques were used.

In this post, I share some of the science behind the benefits of lateral eye movements and eye fixation. I then discuss the role of narrowed focused vision, of which lateral eye movements and eye fixation are generally considered examples, and the use of a wider softened gaze.

These different modalities of our visual field will be deployed at different times and with different effects in clinical work.

Lateral eye movements:

Reduce rumination and process trauma:

Lateral eye movements prevent the mind from fixating on specific stressors, negative thoughts, and worries. The continuous shifting focus can help break patterns of rumination, providing a sense of relief. Studies examining the effects of lateral eye movements on cognitive processes suggest that they decrease activation in brain regions associated with rumination, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (van den Hout et al., 2010).

Further, lateral eye movements can support the processing of emotional or traumatic experiences. This visual exercise stimulates both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously, facilitating communication between brain regions involved in emotional processing and cognitive control. It helps to decrease distress associated with traumatic memories and increase connectivity between brain regions involved in memory integration, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (Pagani et al., 2012). This integration of emotional and cognitive aspects of trauma facilitates healing and resolution.

Relaxation and balance:

Lateral eye movements activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting a relaxation response. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University, has spoken about the benefits of lateral eye movement in his podcast, The Huberman Lab. Huberman explains that when we move our eyes from side to side, it creates a visual phenomenon called optic flow. Optic flow is the sensation of movement that we experience when we are moving through an environment. Huberman says that optic flow can help to calm the amygdala because it signals to the brain that we are not threatened by predators or other dangers.

EEG studies have shown that lateral eye movements lead to an increase in alpha and theta brainwave activity which are associated with relaxed states and enhanced attention (Andrade et al., 2019). These brain waves are slower and have arisen from synchronised electrical activity of large groups of neurons.

A lateral eye movement exercise:

On a relaxing walk, allow your eyes to make steady sweeping movements from side to side. Continue moving your eyes back and forth for 2-3 minutes. Quite quickly, you may notice a greater sense of relaxation.

Eye Fixation

Relaxation and wellbeing:

Eye fixation, particularly when combined with a spinning disc or repetitive visual pattern, has been observed to elicit the production of alpha brain waves. Alpha waves are associated enhanced relaxation and a sense of calmness (Klimesch, 1999).

Research, by psychologists Matthew A. Killingsworth and Daniel T. Gilbert of Harvard University, have shown that the mind is happier when focused. Killingsworth and Gilbert write: ‘The ability to think about what is not happening is a cognitive achievement that comes at an emotional cost […] How often our minds leave the present and where they tend to go is a better predictor of our happiness than the activities in which we are engaged.’ When we use our vision to focus the mind we are promoting wellbeing. While particularly relevant to eye fixation, these benefits are also associated with lateral eye movements.

Focused attention and suggestibility:

Eye fixation provides a focal point that directs our attention. Neuroscientific research demonstrates that focused attention engages specific neural networks. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have revealed increased activation in brain regions associated with attention and concentration, such as the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex (Bressler et al., 2008). This focused attention promotes a state of mental absorption, a shift away from external distractions and readiness for suggestion.

Eye fixation, particularly when combined with visual stimulus, offers a powerful tool for inducing an ideal context for suggestion. When the mind is focused and receptive, suggestions can have a greater impact on shaping beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours. Research suggests that the state of focused attention induced by eye fixation enhances neural plasticity, allowing for the restructuring of neural networks and the formation of new cognitive patterns (Banks & Hirsch, 2010).

An eye fixation exercise:

1. Choose a video from youtube that has a repetitive visual pattern (I can recommend: Fractal patterns from Maths Town on www.youtube.com)

2. Play some enjoyable music that is neutral and relaxing.

3. Maintain an easy and relaxed visual focus on the focal point.

4. Sit back and enjoy the focused attention of the mind for a few minutes.

Quite quickly, you may notice a greater sense of relaxation.

Narrow focused vision:

Both eye fixation and lateral eye movement tend to be, although not exclusively, considered examples of narrowing visual attention. Narrow focused vision refers to directing our gaze to a specific focal point or object, limiting our visual field. This narrow focus is used in hypnosis for the reasons mentioned above.

Wide soft focused vision:

In contrast to narrow focused vision, wide focused vision encompasses a relaxed and open visual perspective without concentrating on a specific point. Wide focus vision has its own benefits and applications.

Engaging in wide, soft focus or allowing the mind to rest can facilitate the activation of the default mode network (DMN). The DMN is a network of interconnected brain regions that show coordinated activity when the brain is at rest and not actively engaged in goal-oriented tasks. When the DMN is activated, it plays a role in self-referential thinking, daydreaming, introspection, and processing information related to oneself and others. This brain network appears to be involved in constructing internal narratives about oneself and the world, contributing to self-reflection and introspective processes.

When we use wide soft gaze visual techniques we might notice the following:

Mindfulness and present-moment awareness:

By adopting a relaxed and expansive gaze, we can encourage a non-judgmental, present-moment awareness of our surroundings characteristic of meditation and mindfulness practices.

Detachment and creative thinking:

By taking in a wider visual field, we can detach from external circumstances and invite divergent thinking and creativity. When we gaze softly at an object, we are more likely to access an altered state of consciousness seeing patterns and connections that we would not normally see. This can help us to come up with new ideas, see beyond narrow perspectives, and inspiring new insights and ideas.

In the context of hypnosis and relaxation practices, both narrow focused and wide focused vision have their applications and benefits. While narrow focused vision has historically been associated with inducing trance states and suggestibility, wide focus vision complements techniques like mindfulness and creative visualization. Depending on the desired outcome and the specific approach used by the hypnotherapist, both types of focused vision can be effectively employed.

Conclusion:

The way we direct our visual attention influences our mental and emotional states.

The utilization of visual exercises, lateral or fixed, narrow or wide, is powerful. We can activate changes of perception by stimulation of different parts of the brain and altering the brain waves emitted by the cellular activity. There is also evidence to suggest these techniques can change the chemistry in the brain, with increased levels of serotonin and dopamine, that play an essential role in neuroplasticity.

Therapeutically, we can use these techniques to promote cognitive and emotional integration, ease rumination, process trauma, relax and enhance wellness of the mind and body, focus the mind and heighten suggestibility, increase creativity and mindfulness, and access our narrativising and self reflecting faculties.

Understanding the neuroscience behind these mechanisms increases the effectiveness of these techniques and enhances the transformative potential of hypnosis. It's important to note that individual responses to these techniques may vary. Factors such as personal preferences, past experiences, and individual neurobiology can influence the specific effects experienced. By understanding the specific neurological and biological aspects of these techniques hypnotherapists can tailor their approach to best suit the needs of clients.

References:

Andrade, J., Kavanagh, D., & Baddeley, A. (2019). Eye-movements and visual imagery: A working memory approach to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(2), 202-220.

Baddeley, J. L., Andrade, J., & May, J. (2010). Working memory and the vividness of imagery.

Kirsch, I. (1994). The swaying pocket watch in hypnosis: A critical review. Contemporary Hypnosis, 11(4), 215-219.

Banks, S. J., & Hirsch, J. (2010). Hypnotic suggestion reduces conflict in the human brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(50), 21851-21855.

Bressler, S. L., Tang, W., Sylvester, C. M., Shulman, G. L., & Corbetta, M. (2008). Top-down control of human visual cortex by frontal and parietal cortex in anticipatory visual spatial attention. Journal of Neuroscience, 28(40), 10056-10061.

Pagani, M., Di Lorenzo, G., Verardo, A. R., Nicolais, G., Monaco, L., Lauretti, G., ... & Siracusano, A. (2012). Neurobiological correlates of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) monitoring—an EEG study. PLoS One, 7(9), e45753.

Klimesch, W. (1999). EEG alpha and theta oscillations reflect cognitive and memory performance: A review and analysis. Brain Research Reviews, 29(2-3), 169-195.

Van den Hout, M. A., Kindt, M., van der Does, A. J. W., & Verwoerd, T. J. (2010). Lateral eye movements reduce rumination and prefrontal cortex activation: A randomized controlled trial. Biological Psychiatry, 67(5), 426-434.

https://hubermanlab.com/the-science-of-vision-eye-health-and-seeing-better/

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/11/wandering-mind-not-a-happy-mind/