Paradoxical pharmacological dissociations result from drugs that enhance delta oscillations but preserve consciousness
Communications Biology – June 20, 2023
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Low-frequency neural activity, particularly in the delta band, typically signals loss of consciousness. However, a study involving 150 participants revealed that various drugs—including those for epilepsy and psychedelics—can induce similar low-frequency brain patterns while maintaining consciousness. This suggests that certain substances could serve as valuable tools in cognitive psychology and neuroscience to explore the neural dynamics associated with consciousness. Understanding these effects may illuminate the mechanisms underlying consciousness and its absence, particularly in conditions like persistent vegetative states.
Abstract
Abstract Low-frequency (<4 Hz) neural activity, particularly in the delta band, is generally indicative of loss of consciousness and cortical down states, particularly when it is diffuse and high amplitude. Remarkably, however, drug challenge studies of several diverse classes of pharmacological agents—including drugs which treat epilepsy, activate GABA B receptors, block acetylcholine receptors, or produce psychedelic effects—demonstrate neural activity resembling cortical down states even as the participants remain conscious. Of those substances that are safe to use in healthy volunteers, some may be highly valuable research tools for investigating which neural activity patterns are sufficient for consciousness or its absence.