Sakari Kallio

The most important findings in my career so far have been the changes in cortex functional connectivity associated with hypnosis and the first report of behaviorally verified hypnotic state in a hypnotic virtuoso.

Research

At the moment, I am investigating the nature of hypnotic hallucinations. The current theories are debating whether e.g. hypnotic visual hallucinations are best explained as a result of active goal directed imagery or can they in some cases be totally automatic without the use of top down strategies.

I started to work with my PhD at the University of Turku Finland around 1995 having a working title “The neural mechanism of Hypnosis”. I had a part time work as a neuropsychologist at University hospital in Paimio and in 1998 I also became a part time lecturer in University of Skövde Sweden. These two posts helped me to finance my research in its early phase. I finished my PhD at 2003 and was appointed to a lectors post in Skövde. During the time period 1995-2003 I had valuable experience from empirical research, clinical work as well as teaching at a University. The common themes with all these posts were cognitive neuroscience and hypnosis. They were important “tools” when carrying out experiments in Turku, treating patients in Paimio hospital as well as when teaching my students in University of Skövde, Sweden.

During my research years in Sweden I have still carried out my data collection mainly in University of Turku due to their excellent facilities and important research contacts. The most important findings in my career so far have been the changes in cortex functional connectivity associated with hypnosis and the first report of behaviorally verified hypnotic state in a hypnotic virtuoso.

Selected articles

Kallio S., Revonsuo A. (2003) Hypnotic phenomena and altered states of consciousness: A multilevel framework of description and explanation. Contemporary Hypnosis 20:111-164.

Kallio, S., Hyönä, J., Revonsuo, A., Sikka, P., & Nummenmaa, L. (2011) Altered Eye Movements Reveal a Hypnotic State. PlosOne, 6(10): e26374.

Fingelkurts An., A., Fingelkurts Al., A., Kallio S., Revonsuo A (2007) Cortex Functional Connectivity as a Neurophysiological Correlate of Hypnosis: an EEG Case Study. Neuropsychologia 45: 1452-1462.

Kallio S., Revonsuo A., Hämäläinen H., Markela J., Gruzelier J. (2001) Anterior Brain Functions and Hypnosis - A Test of the Frontal Hypothesis. The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 49: 95-108.

Kallio S., Revonsuo A., Lauerma H., Hämäläinen H., Lang H. (1999) The MMN amplitude increases in hypnosis - A case study. NeuroReport, 10: 3579-3582.

Scientific acknowledgements

(2009) Claes Cedercreutz prize for outstanding research in hypnosis. The Finnish Society for Scientific Hypnosis.

(2008) Henry Guze Award for Best Research Paper in Hypnosis published during 2007, Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.
Paper: Fingelkurts An., A., Fingelkurts Al., A., Kallio S., Revonsuo A (2007). Cortex Functional Connectivity as a Neurophysiological Correlate of Hypnosis: an EEG Case Study. Neuropsychologia 45: 1452-1462.