File:Pitres.1891.jpeg

English: Pitres, A., Leçons Cliniques sur l'Hystérie et l'Hypnotisme: Faites à l'Hôpital Saint-André de Bordeaux: Tome 2 (Ouvrage précédé D'une Lettre-Préface de M. le Professeur J.-M. Charcot), Octave Doin (Paris), 1891.

Diagram taken from p.499.

The French neurologist Albert Pitres (1848–1928) claimed (p.98) that there were:
(a) zones hypnogènes (‘hypnogenetic zones’), which induced hypnotism when stimulated — “regions… de provoquer instantanément le sommeil hypnotique” (‘zones that provoke hypnotic sleep instantaneously’); and

(b) zones hypnofrénatrices (‘hypno-arresting zones’) — “le font cesser brusquement le sommeil hypnotique” (‘that abruptly terminate the hypnotic sleep’).

Although the locations of the “zones” varied from person to person, they were distinct and constant for any given individual; viz., they had a “position habituelle” (p.497).

According to Pitres, the “zones” are bi-lateral.

This diagram, drawn by Pitres, of his patient, “Paule C—“, on 13 October 1884, shows the ‘hypnogenetic zones’ for the right-hand side of his body, and the ‘hypno-arresting zones’ for the left-hand side of his body.