The first has to do with hypnosis. This is not new. Hypnotism was a parlor trick invented by Anton Mesmer in France in the 18th century, and Benjamin Franklin was a part of an international group of individuals who was brought in to challenge this and figure out what the trick is, and it led to a real questioning of the inherent basis of hypnosis. Nonetheless, over the past century, hypnosis has evolved as a practice for certain conditions.

And contrary to what this cartoon suggests, that hypnosis involves putting people to sleep, it actually involves inducing a state of intense focus on a suggested response. And it’s believed that that focus can induce involuntary changes in perception, mood, memory or physiology.