It seemed appropriate for the First International Symposium on the Psychophysiological Mechanisms of Hypnosis to be held in France, the country where hypnosis was rediscovered with the work of MESMER and where somnambulism was first described by his student, the MARQUIS DE PUYSEGUR. The classic studies of such authorities as CHARCOT, JANET, BERN HEIM, BINET, and FERE, as well as many lesser known French scholars, have provided many of the concepts that remain significant to this day. There have been many periods in the history of hypnosis when out standing members of the scientific community...