A neurophenomenological fMRI study of a spontaneous automatic writer and a hypnotic cohort

Purpose: To evaluate the neurophenomenology of automatic writing (AW) in a spontaneous automatic writer (NN) and four high hypnotizables (HH). Methods: During fMRI, NN and the HH were cued to perform sponta-neous (NN) or induced (HH) AW, and a comparison task of copying complex symbols, and to rate their expe-rience of control and agency. Results: Compared to copying, for all participants AW was associated with less sense of control and agency and decreased BOLD signal responses in brain regions implicated in the sense of agency (left premotor cortex and insula, right premotor cortex, and supplemental motor area), and increased BOLD signal responses in the left and right temporoparietal junctions and the occipital lobes. During AW, the HH differed from NN in widespread BOLD decreases across the brain and increases in frontal and parietal regions. Conclusions: Spontaneous and induced AW had similar effects on agency, but only partly overlapping effects on cortical activity.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neurophenomenology of automatic writing in a spontaneous automatic writer and four high hypnotizables. The results showed that compared to copying, automatic writing was associated with decreased sense of control and agency and decreased BOLD signal responses in brain regions implicated in the sense of agency. Additionally, there were increased BOLD signal responses in certain cortical regions during automatic writing.