James Braid

1795 - 1860



This English physician linked suggestion to Mesmerism.

In 1840 Braid re-termed Mesmerism into "neurhypnotism" later shortened to hypnosis.

He speculated that sonambulism was caused by the paralysis of nerve centres induced by fixation of the eyes on an object.

He used a form of eye fixation on his pocket watch to induce light trance.

Later he concluded that hypnosis was due to the subject's concentration on a single thought (monoideism) rather than physiological fatigue.