AsapScience video looks at hypnosis using the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibilty

Hypnotism is viewed with a good dose of scepticism

Hypnotism is often viewed with a good dose of scepticism, with many dismissing it as nonsense despite the fact man science journals often cover the topic.

But with the subject seeing renewed interest in recent years, a new video from AsapScience may change your mind.

It explains that scientific researchers describe hypnotism as "a state of consciousness involving highly focused attention minimising competing thoughts and allowing an enhanced ability to respond to suggestion".

It is believed to be similar to the kind of focus experienced when reading a book or watching TV.

Watch the video below and see whether you are affected by any of the tests:

As well as the lemon test, the video cites the Stroop effect which occurs when you read the word of a colour while the font is shown in a different colour: tripping up our ability to name the colour quickly.

If the colours are shown using a language you do not speak, it becomes a lot easier to name the colour.

“The Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibilty shows that ‘hypnotisability’ follows a normal bell curve distribution," the video explains.

"Very few people experience no sensation of hypnotism, many people respond to ideomoto-ideosensory direct suggestions, such as lifting your arm involuntarily, and a small group of people respond to cognitive suggestions which impact memory and perception."