What evidence have researchers found to suggest that hypnosis can produce changes in neural activity that are consistent with an altered state of consciousness? Areas involved in memory formation show decreased levels of activity when someone is led by a hypnotist to relive an incident from his or her past. Areas of the brain that process color can be activated through hypnotic suggestion, even if someone is looking at a grey picture. Areas that regulate emotional functioning show decreased activity after a person receives a course of hypnosis therapy, compared to pretreatment levels.

The nurse in a gynecology clinic is completing preoperative teaching for a patient scheduled for an abdominal hysterectomy next week. the patient states that she is currently taking 325 mg of aspirin daily for chronic joint pain, along with multivitamin. the patient has type 2 diabetes; she closely monitors her blood glucose levels. currently she is taking an oral hypoglycemic agent. the nurse advises her to ask the anesthesiologist whether she should take this medication the morning of surgery. q1. the nurse instructs the patient to stop taking the aspirin. what is the rationale for this action. q2. why is it important to assess the patient of use of herbal products prior to surgery. q3. the patient asks how surgery could affect her blood glucose; how should the nurse respond?