EEG-Based Analysis of Emotional Effects of Hypnotic Guided Imagery (HGI) on Employees with Burnout: A Feasibility Study.
Moniek Vidia Pramestri, Kwartarini Wahyu Yuniarti, Frederick Travis, Nida Ul Hasanat
The International journal of clinical and experimental hypnosis July 6, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2026.2682864 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractUnregulated negative emotion raises burnout risk by 67%, impairing performance and causing physical symptoms. Hypnotic guided imagery (HGI), a deep relaxation intervention, aims to shift negative to positive emotion, but its physiological basis is unclear. This feasibility study tested HGI's effects on emotional valence and arousal in employees with burnout, using electroencephalography (EEG). Valence was measured by frontal alpha asymmetry; arousal by the frontal beta/alpha ratio. Participants were randomly assigned to HGI (n=19) or control (n=13). EEG analyses showed no significant changes, while self-report indicated increased positive and reduced negative affect in the HGI group. Discrepancies may stem from small samples and variability, highlighting the need for methodological rigor in EEG-based intervention studies.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 32 |
| Population | Employees with burnout |
| Intervention | Hypnotic guided imagery |
| Keywords | Arousal EEG Frontal alpha asymmetry Emotion |
| Key finding | Hypnotic guided imagery did not produce significant EEG changes in frontal alpha asymmetry or beta/alpha ratio, but self-reported positive affect increased and negative affect decreased. |
Abstract
Unregulated negative emotion increases the risk of burnout by 67%, which can impair performance and cause physical symptoms. Hypnotic guided imagery (HGI) is a deep relaxation-based intervention designed to shift negative to positive emotion. However, the physiological basis of emotional changes remains unclear. This feasibility study examined the acceptability and effects of HGI on emotional valence and arousal in employees with burnout using electroencephalography (EEG). Valence was indexed by frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), calculated as ln[rel(F4)] - ln[rel(F3)] and arousal by the frontal beta/alpha Ratio. Participants were randomly assigned to an HGI group (n = 19) or control group (n = 13). EEG analyses revealed no significant changes in MANOVA analysis (p = .425), whereas the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Extended (PANAS-X) results indicated increased positive affect and reduced negative affect in the HGI group. These discrepancies may result from small samples, FAA protocol, and variability in burnout severity. Overall, the study underscores the importance of methodological rigor in EEG-based psychological intervention studies and provides a foundation for advancing HGI evaluation.