Ideomotor Reflex

The term ideomotoric or also psychomotoric describes movements or actions, which are executed without participation of the will. They are triggered only by ideas. A quite typical example is the secretion of saliva as soon as something tasty to eat is imagined. In hypnosis ideomotor movements play a central role. In the state of hypnotic trance, (auto)-suggestions can be used to execute a movement that is not controlled arbitrarily by the client. Thus, the arm or the leg lifts under hypnosis, as if by itself, respectively by the power of imagination.