Research 

• Stanford University School of Medicine: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/01/brain-stimulation-hypnosis.html

This research focused on the neurological basis of hypnosis, identifying specific brain activity patterns in highly hypnotizable individuals. Another study also demonstrated a way to temporarily heighten hypnotizability using brain stimulation.

• Harvard Medical School: https://healthlibrary.brighamandwomens.org/library/diseasesconditions/adult/compaltmed/85,P00183

Research from Harvard Medical School has explored the use of hypnosis as a pain reliever during surgeries and dental procedures. They also noted its potential for smoking cessation, anxiety reduction, and physical healing.

• National Institutes of Health (NIH) - NCCIH: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/hypnosis

The NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) provides an overview of what hypnosis is and summarizes research on its use for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pain management, anxiety before medical procedures, and menopause symptoms.

• Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/cls-20540953

Mayo Clinic has conducted clinical studies on hypnotherapy, particularly for its use in managing gastrointestinal disorders. One study focused on a digital hypnotherapy protocol for patients with symptomatic bloating.

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/298996238_Standardized_hypnosis_treatment_for_irritable_bowel_syndrome_The_North_Carolina_protocol

The university developed and tested a standardized, seven-session hypnosis protocol specifically for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), finding it to be highly effective for most patients in reducing symptoms.

• American Psychological Association (APA): https://www.apadivisions.org/division-30/about/education

The APA provides a directory of academic programs and faculty involved in hypnosis research, including a list of universities and their research areas. They've also highlighted research on hypnotherapy for pain management and other health issues in their publications.

• University of Virginia School of Medicine: https://news.virginia.edu/content/hypnosis-power-suggestion-also-power-heal

Researchers at UVA have studied altered states, including hypnosis, from a cognitive and neuroscientific perspective. Their work examines how hypnosis works and its effectiveness for various conditions like IBS, sleep disorders, and anxiety.

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02637297

This institution conducted a clinical trial on the use of hypnotherapy to treat chronic pain in cancer survivors. The study aimed to test the feasibility and efficacy of using hypnosis to improve pain and associated anxiety.

• Mindful.org: https://www.mindful.org/category/science/mindfulness-research/ 

This organization serves as a central hub for scientific findings, translating complex research into accessible articles. Their website features numerous studies and articles on topics ranging from how mindfulness changes the brain to its effectiveness in treating anxiety and stress, with some reporting significant decreases in symptoms.

• Harvard University: https://www.harvard.edu/in-focus/mindfulness-meditation/ 

Harvard's research, particularly from institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital, provides the definitive science on how meditation changes the brain. Their studies have shown that an eight-week mindfulness program can increase gray matter in the hippocampus and decrease it in the amygdala, a direct neural marker of reduced stress.

• American Psychological Association (APA): https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness

The APA is a leading source for psychological research on mindfulness. Their website compiles evidence-based findings and meta-analyses, which have shown that mindfulness-based therapies are as effective as other established treatments for conditions like anxiety and depression, and have a significant impact on emotional regulation.

• The Mindfulness Center at Brown University: https://mindfulness.sph.brown.edu/ 

This center focuses on the public health science of mindfulness-based interventions. Their research examines the effectiveness of programs like MBSR, conducting rigorous studies that have demonstrated statistically significant reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression.

• Johns Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty-areas/mindfulness 

The Johns Hopkins Mindfulness Program is dedicated to the clinical application of mindfulness. Their research focuses on its use in medical settings, with a comprehensive review of multiple studies providing strong evidence that mindfulness can improve symptoms for patients with chronic pain and various medical illnesses.

• Mind & Life Institute: https://www.mindandlife.org/online-learning/topics/mindfulness/ 

The Mind & Life Institute bridges contemplative traditions with science. Their research explores the brain mechanisms behind compassion and other positive social behaviors. They have found that long-term meditators develop a more efficient default mode network, leading to a significant decrease in mind-wandering and an increase in present-moment awareness.

• University of Massachusetts Medical School: https://www.umassmed.edu/ 

As the birthplace of MBSR, this institution's research is foundational. Their early studies demonstrated the program's effectiveness in reducing chronic pain and stress, and their website provides an overview of the ongoing research that has made mindfulness a respected clinical treatment.

• UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC): https://www.uclahealth.org/uclamindful 

MARC's research focuses on the neuroscience and clinical applications of mindfulness. A key study found that participants who completed their mindfulness program showed a high rate of continued practice three months later, demonstrating the long-lasting impact of their research-backed interventions.

• The Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison: https://hminnovations.org/

Led by neuroscientist Richard Davidson, this center conducts pioneering research on the neural basis of well-being. Their studies have shown that mindfulness can increase activity in the prefrontal cortex (associated with positive emotion) and decrease activation in the amygdala, highlighting the brain's ability to be trained for emotional regulation.