The impact of videotape playback of hypnotic events on posthypnotic amnesia.

The breakdown of amnesia was examined by showing subjects a videotape of the hypnotic events that they had experienced. The extent of the amnesia for these events was defined precisely, and simulating procedures were employed to analyze the cues existing in the overall test situation. Videotape display of the hypnotic events was presented via application of the Experiential Analysis Technique and served to optimize conditions for breakdown. Results demonstrated that some hypnotic subjects' amnesia cannot be broken down even when they are exposed via videotape playback to the events to be recalled and when suggestions for the period of amnesia are quite explicit. Simulators showed breaching of amnesia but attributed their recall to the videotape rather than to the hypnotic session. Hypnotic subjects were distinctive in their inability to recall experiential aspects of their performance even though they could recall behavioral aspects. Alternative interpretations of the data are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that dissociative cognitive mechanisms underlie posthypnotic amnesia.