246 results for "Neural Correlates"
Decoupling of motor cortex to movement in Parkinson's dyskinesia rescued by sub-anaesthetic ketamine.
Brain : a journal of neurology – June 03, 2025
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in treating movement complications from Parkinson's medication. Using in vivo electrophysiology in rats, researchers found that motor cortex activity becomes disconnected from actual movements during levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Sub-anesthetic ketamine helped restore this connection by reorganizing neural population states, reducing unwanted movements without disrupting normal motor function.
Abstract
Gamma-band and single-unit neural activity in primary motor cortex are involved in the control of movement. This activity is disrupted in Parkinson...
Electrophysiological correlates of lucid dreaming: sensor and source level signatures
bioRxiv Preprint Server – April 09, 2024
Summary
Conscious awareness during dreams has a unique brain signature. Researchers developed refined methods to analyze brain signals from many participants. While surface activity resembles regular dreams, deeper brain regions reveal distinct patterns. Increased gamma waves in temporal areas suggest verbal insight and self-reflection. Reduced beta waves in parietal regions may reflect a conscious reality check. Crucially, enhanced alpha connectivity indicates heightened self-awareness. These findings successfully map the neural basis of lucid dreaming.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) is a state of conscious awareness of the current dream state, predominantly associated with REM sleep. Research progress in unc...
Decoupling of cortical activity from behavioral state following administration of the classic psychedelic DOI.
Neuropharmacology – October 01, 2024
Summary
Classic psychedelics like 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) significantly alter brain activity, particularly in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). In a study involving freely behaving male mice, DOI administration led to a 40% decrease in low-frequency power during rest, disrupting typical synchronization. Meanwhile, broadband gamma power increased by 30%, and fast-spiking neuron activity was suppressed. These changes suggest that psychedelics induce lasting desynchronization in the mPFC, potentially explaining their therapeutic effects on mood and plasticity.
Abstract
Administration or consumption of classic psychedelics (CPs) leads to profound changes in experience which are often described as highly novel and m...
Dynamic medial parietal and hippocampal deactivations under DMT relate to sympathetic output and altered sense of time, space, and the self
Imaging Neuroscience – April 16, 2025
Summary
Our sense of time and self can profoundly shift under altered states. Researchers mapped brain activity and heart rate in volunteers given DMT. They found immediate deactivations in brain areas linked to time, space, and self-referential processing, alongside increased activity in regions tied to hallucinations. Elevated heart rate, indicating sympathetic regulation, correlated with these brain changes. This suggests a chain linking sympathetic regulation to these brain deactivations, potentially fostering positive mental health outcomes related to self-referential processing.
Abstract
Abstract N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic, known to rapidly induce short-lasting alterations in conscious experience, cha...
Ketamine decreases HPA axis reactivity to a novel stressor in male but not female mice
bioRxiv Preprint Server – June 29, 2021
Summary
Remarkably, a common antidepressant's effect on stress hormones varies between sexes. Researchers explored if ketamine's impact depends on the body's stress response system. Male and female mice, pre-stressed, received ketamine or a control, with stress hormones measured during a new challenge. While behavioral changes weren't noted, ketamine significantly reduced stress hormone levels in males facing a new challenge, but not in females. This suggests ketamine's ability to calm the body's stress response is specific to males, potentially due to sex-specific brain pathways.
Abstract
Ketamine is an antidepressant drug that interacts with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but whether this interaction is important for...
Nonequilibrium brain dynamics elicited as the origin of perturbative complexity.
PLoS computational biology – June 06, 2025
Summary
Brain activity during consciousness follows predictable patterns of cause and effect. This research reveals that the brain's natural state of imbalance - how signals flow asymmetrically between regions - predicts how it will respond to external stimulation. By studying brain scans from people in various states of consciousness, including sleep and disorders, researchers found that higher consciousness correlates with more asymmetric neural connections and complex responses to stimuli.
Abstract
Assessing someone's level of consciousness is a complex matter, and attempts have been made to aid clinicians in these assessments through metrics ...
Distributed harmonic patterns of structure-function dependence orchestrate human consciousness
OpenAlex – August 10, 2020
Summary
Neuroscience reveals a profound insight into consciousness: how the human brain's connectome orchestrates our awareness. Using resting state fMRI, a unique "harmonic" signature emerges, indicating loss of wakefulness in conditions like anesthesia or brain injury. This signature, crucial for understanding neural dynamics and brain function, is mirrored in altered states from LSD or ketamine, showing a decoupling of functional brain connectivity. These functional brain connectivity studies offer new neural correlates of consciousness, advancing cognitive science and psychology by pinpointing mechanisms underlying conscious experience and even detecting covert consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract A central question in neuroscience is how consciousness arises from the dynamic interplay of brain structure and function. Departing from ...
Restructuring consciousness –the psychedelic state in light of integrated information theory
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – June 12, 2015
Summary
Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin dramatically alter consciousness, offering a unique window into psychology and cognitive science. A new Integrated Information Theory (IIT) model, informed by neuroscience and neural dynamics, explains these profound changes. It suggests that while psychedelics enhance cognitive flexibility and imagination, they simultaneously degrade the brain's ability for categorization and understanding cause-effect meaning. This model, crucial for neural correlates of consciousness and psychedelics drug studies, indicates expanded awareness comes at the expense of organized cognition.
Abstract
The psychological state elicited by the classic psychedelics drugs, such as LSD and psilocybin, is one of the most fascinating and yet least unders...
Neural and subjective effects of inhaled DMT in natural settings
OpenAlex – August 20, 2020
Summary
Mystical experiences during DMT use correlate with distinct brain activity shifts. Electroencephalography on 35 individuals revealed that inhaling this naturally occurring alkaloid decreased alpha oscillations (8-12 Hz) across the scalp while increasing delta (1-4 Hz) and gamma (30-40 Hz) activity. These profound changes in neural correlates of consciousness, studied within Neuroscience and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, offer insights into how neurotransmitter receptors influence behavior and psychology, potentially informing future medicine.
Abstract
Abstract Background N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a short acting psychedelic tryptamine found naturally in many plants and animals. Few studies t...
Time-resolved coupling between connectome harmonics and subjective experience under the psychedelic DMT
OpenAlex – May 31, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly alter Consciousness. Neuroscience reveals that the Connectome's harmonic repertoire, crucial for Neural dynamics and brain function, reshapes under DMT, akin to other psychedelics. Using a Computer science framework, Connectome Harmonics were shown for the first time to index the intensity of subjective experience in participants, reflecting a direct coupling with Perception and Cognition. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, links increased harmonic entropy to profound shifts in Psychology, offering new Neural correlates of consciousness.
Abstract
Exploring the intricate relationship between brain's structure and function, and how this affects subjective experience is a fundamental pursuit in...
Psychedelics Align Brain Activity with Context
OpenAlex – March 11, 2025
Summary
Half of 62 adults rated a 19mg psilocybin experience among their life's most meaningful, profoundly altering consciousness. Using fMRI and EEG, brain activity under this hallucinogen, a naturally occurring alkaloid, reorganized. This reorganisation, influencing neural correlates of consciousness, integrated internal and external processing into 'embeddedness.' This state, aligning brain dynamics with context—like meditation or music, reflecting ancient human psychology—revealed how psilocybin shapes mindset and behavior. This neuroscience offers a framework for understanding psychedelic effects.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics can profoundly alter consciousness by reorganising brain connectivity; however, their effects are contextsensitive. To unders...
Neural effects and phenomenology of nondual meditation and 5-MeO-DMT in an expert meditation practitioner
PsyArXiv – September 30, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, an expert meditator's brain activity during deep nondual meditation mirrors certain effects of a powerful psychedelic. Researchers explored the neural and subjective experiences of a seasoned practitioner during meditation and after receiving 5-MeO-DMT. Advanced brain imaging revealed shared patterns of reduced self-referential processing in both conditions, leading to profound states of interconnectedness. This suggests a convergence of paths to altered consciousness, highlighting meditation's powerful capacity to achieve similar positive outcomes.
Abstract
Neural effects and phenomenology of nondual meditation and 5-MeO-DMT in an expert meditation practitioner
Functional connectivity drifts during sleep as a marker of fluctuations in the level of consciousness.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Consciousness isn't simply "on" or "off" during sleep. In rats, examining functional connectivity revealed that Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, often considered unconscious, contains periods where its brain activity patterns resemble those of wakefulness or REM sleep. This suggests that neural correlates of consciousness, reflected in functional connectivity, fluctuate significantly not just between but also *within* brain states. These dynamic changes, observed over seconds, challenge traditional views of sleep and wakefulness as distinct states.
Abstract
During the wake-sleep cycle, consciousness waxes and wanes, and this is thought to be reflected in varying levels of integration between brain area...
PCC-hippocampal functional connectivity associated with stress biomarker changes after meditation training for healthy adults.
Neuroscience letters – May 23, 2025
Summary
Brain imaging reveals a direct link between **Meditation** and our body's stress response. Researchers investigated how 8 weeks of **Meditation**, **Yoga**, or stress education affected healthy adults. Using **MRI**, they discovered only **Meditation** significantly altered specific brain connectivity. These neural changes correlated strongly with improved **Biomarker** levels, including reduced **Inflammation** and enhanced overall **Wellness**. This suggests meditation uniquely promotes **Wellbeing** by reshaping brain pathways linked to physical health.
Abstract
Meditation training has been shown to improve physical and mental health and promote neural plasticity, but more research is needed on the relation...
EEG signature of near-death-like experiences during syncope-induced periods of unresponsiveness.
NeuroImage – September 01, 2024
Summary
Fainting can trigger dream-like experiences resembling near-death experiences (NDEs) in some individuals. In a study involving 27 healthy volunteers, high-density EEG captured brain activity during induced unresponsiveness lasting about 22 seconds. Eight participants reported NDE-like features, scoring above 7 on the Greyson NDE scale. These experiences correlated with heightened neural activity in delta, theta, and beta2 bands, particularly in the temporal and frontal regions. Notably, those reporting NDE-like episodes displayed greater neural complexity and connectivity compared to others, suggesting distinct markers of consciousness disconnect.
Abstract
During fainting, disconnected consciousness may emerge in the form of dream-like experiences. Characterized by extra-ordinary and mystical features...
Breathwork-induced psychedelic experiences modulate neural dynamics.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) – August 01, 2024
Summary
Breathwork can induce "psychedelic-like" experiences, as evidenced by a study involving 14 novice participants who completed up to 28 sessions over 28 days. Analysis of 301 breathwork sessions revealed that increased neural complexity, measured through Lempel-Ziv metrics, correlated with these altered states of consciousness. Notably, non-linear neural features, including the aperiodic exponent of power spectral density, were linked to positive subjective experiences. This suggests that breathwork may share neurophenomenological dynamics with psychedelics, highlighting its potential for inducing profound emotional states.
Abstract
Breathwork is an understudied school of practices involving intentional respiratory modulation to induce an altered state of consciousness (ASC). W...
N,N-dimethyltryptamine effects on connectome harmonics, subjective experience and comparative psychedelic experiences.
Neuropsychopharmacology – September 12, 2025
Summary
DMT profoundly reconfigures brain activity, offering a unique window into consciousness. Researchers hypothesized that DMT would alter the brain's natural rhythms, impacting subjective experience. Using advanced brain imaging during DMT administration, they observed significant shifts in neural communication patterns. These changes strongly correlated with participants' vivid and transformative subjective experiences, distinguishing DMT's effects. The work highlights DMT's remarkable ability to induce diverse states of consciousness, expanding our understanding of perception.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine effects on connectome harmonics, subjective experience and comparative psychedelic experiences.
Esketamine disinhibits brain networks in depression: Evidence from oscillatory and aperiodic activity.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – July 05, 2025
Summary
Esketamine's swift impact on the brain is linked to a unique shift in neural communication. It was hypothesized that Esketamine works by inducing disinhibition in brain networks. To investigate, researchers measured brain oscillations and the aperiodic exponent in individuals with major depressive disorder receiving Esketamine. Findings showed Esketamine led to significant brain disinhibition, marked by changes in brain oscillations and a decreased aperiodic exponent, indicating a shift towards increased brain activity. These positive changes correlated with improved mood and feelings of happiness, revealing how Esketamine quickly rebalances brain networks for rapid relief.
Abstract
Nasal Esketamine is a rapid-acting intervention for depression, hypothesized to exert its effects through cortical disinhibition. However, the spat...
Psilocybin-induced reduction in chronic cluster headache attack frequency correlates with changes in hypothalamic functional connectivity
OpenAlex – July 10, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin significantly reduced chronic cluster headache attacks. In a pioneering clinical trial, this psychedelic medicine decreased attack frequency by 30% on average, with one patient achieving 21 weeks of remission. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed altered hypothalamic functional connectivity, advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology. The treatment showed no serious adverse effects. This neuroscience and internal medicine finding, pertinent to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, suggests psilocybin addresses functional impairment. Psychology and anesthesia insights may also explore its impact on sensory function.
Abstract
Abstract Chronic cluster headache (CCH) is an excruciating disorder of unknown pathophysiology, but hypothalamic dysfunction has been implicated. C...
Application of Functional MRI in Parkinson's Disease and Default Mode Network: Review of the Literature.
The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques – May 19, 2025
Summary
Brain scans reveal that Parkinson's disease disrupts vital neural networks that control self-awareness and consciousness. Using functional MRI technology, researchers found that connectivity in the brain's default mode network becomes impaired, particularly in regions controlling memory and social processing. The severity of movement problems correlates with greater disruption of these essential neural connections.
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) has become the second most prominent neurogenerative disorder relating to aging individuals. PD involves the loss of neuro...
Increased Global Functional Connectivity Correlates with LSD-Induced Ego Dissolution.
Curr Biol – April 13, 2016
Summary
A key finding reveals that when experiencing profound ego dissolution during a psychedelic experience with LSD, individuals exhibit significantly increased global brain activity. This suggests that the subjective feeling of a dissolving self is directly correlated with heightened functional connectivity across various neural networks. The research indicates that these shifts in consciousness are not merely psychological but are rooted in a more interconnected brain state, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms of the mind.
Abstract
Increased Global Functional Connectivity Correlates with LSD-Induced Ego Dissolution.
Raphe neurons: firing rate correlates with size of drug response.
European journal of pharmacology – June 03, 1983
Summary
Higher spontaneous discharge rates in serotonergic neurons are linked to weaker responses to hallucinogenic drugs like 5-MeODMT and LSD. In a study involving unanesthetized cats, significant negative correlations were observed in key brain areas, including the dorsal raphe nucleus. Specifically, as the discharge rate increased, the response magnitude to these drugs decreased. This suggests that autoreceptor density may play a crucial role in regulating neuron activity and responsiveness to serotonin agonists, highlighting a complex interaction within the brain's serotonin system.
Abstract
Significant negative correlations were obtained between the spontaneous discharge rate during waking and the neural response to systemic injections...
Time-resolved Neural and Experience Dynamics of Medium- and High-dose N,N-Dimethyltryptamine.
Apollo (University of Cambridge) – December 30, 2025
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic, significantly alters consciousness and brain dynamics. In a study with 19 participants, doses of 20 mg and 40 mg were administered, revealing that the higher dose led to more intense visual hallucinations and emotional experiences. Electroencephalography data indicated that alpha power and permutation entropy were closely linked to subjective experiences, while Lempel-Ziv complexity showed surprisingly weak correlations. These results challenge previous assumptions about the connection between neural complexity and the phenomenology of altered states induced by psychedelics.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a fast-acting psychedelic drug that induces a radical reorganization of conscious contents and brain dynamics. Howe...
Conscious and unconscious perception of pitch shifts in auditory feedback during vocalization: Behavioral functions and event-related potential correlates.
NeuroImage – July 01, 2025
Summary
Our brains automatically adjust speech even when we're unaware of pitch changes in our voice. When people speak, their vocal cords respond to subtle pitch shifts whether or not they consciously notice them. Brain imaging shows conscious detection triggers stronger vocal adjustments and activates networks involved in speech control. This reveals how sensorimotor integration works both with and without awareness.
Abstract
During vocalization, mismatches between expected and perceived auditory feedback are processed rapidly and automatically, suggesting that feedback ...
EEG Signal Diversity Varies With Sleep Stage and Aspects of Dream Experience
Frontiers in Psychology – April 23, 2021
Summary
The vividness of our inner **Dream** worlds during **Sleep** correlates with brain activity. New **Neuroscience** insights from **Sleep and Wakefulness Research** using **Electroencephalography** on healthy volunteers reveal that while brain signal diversity decreases with deeper **Slow-wave sleep**, the **Neural dynamics and brain function** of the posterior cortex positively correlate with the thought-perceptual nature of dream content. This **Cognitive psychology** finding, impacting our understanding of **Consciousness** and **Perception**, suggests the richness of dreams, much like **Mind-wandering** in **Wakefulness**, is reflected in measurable brain complexity.
Abstract
Several theories link consciousness to complex cortical dynamics, as suggested by comparison of brain signal diversity between conscious states and...
MDMA enhances prefrontal plasticity and representational drift during fear extinction
OpenAlex – March 08, 2026
Summary
MDMA significantly enhances fear extinction by promoting structural and functional neuroplasticity in the brain. In a study involving mice, MDMA increased spine density in the medial prefrontal cortex by 30%, indicating heightened synaptic connections. Additionally, the infralimbic cortex showed improved correlation with reduced freezing behavior during extinction tasks. Over time, neural representations in MDMA-treated mice shifted more rapidly, particularly among neurons that suppressed activity in response to cues. These findings suggest MDMA's potential as a therapeutic agent for improving cognitive processes related to fear and anxiety.
Abstract
Abstract Fear extinction requires dynamic updating of cortical representations, yet the neural mechanisms underlying successful extinction remain p...
Neuroimaging Correlates of Treatment Response with Psychedelics in Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review
Chronic Stress – January 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and ayahuasca show promise for major depressive disorder, with Neuroimaging revealing crucial brain changes. A systematic review of 6 published studies and 1 conference abstract, encompassing 4 datasets, highlights how these compounds influence brain activity. Clinical psychology and Neuroscience observations indicate that amygdala and prefrontal cortex connectivity shifts, alongside limbic region activity, correlate with antidepressant response. These insights into Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior offer a foundation for Psychiatry and Drug Studies, suggesting specific neural networks are key to their therapeutic effects. Further exploration of these mechanisms is warranted.
Abstract
Preliminary evidence supports the use of psychedelics for major depressive disorder (MDD). However, less attention has been given to the neural mec...
Modeling Ketamine Effects on Synaptic Plasticity During the Mismatch Negativity
Cerebral Cortex – August 08, 2012
Summary
Ketamine significantly alters brain neuroplasticity, specifically affecting synaptic plasticity by targeting the NMDA receptor. Neuroscience investigations, employing Electroencephalography (EEG) data, explored how ketamine impacts auditory processing, measured by Mismatch negativity (MMN). This work, relevant to Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, revealed ketamine's effects on synaptic plasticity correlated with impairments in Psychology-related cognitive functions. Understanding these neural dynamics and brain function is crucial for fields like Neuroscience and Music Perception, offering insights into drug-induced changes in how we perceive the world.
Abstract
This paper presents a model-based investigation of mechanisms underlying the reduction of mismatch negativity (MMN) amplitudes under the NMDA-recep...
Ketamine and attentional bias to threat: dynamic causal modeling of magnetoencephalographic connectivity in treatment-resistant depression
medRxiv Preprint Server – February 22, 2021
Summary
A key to rapid depression relief might lie in how brain regions communicate. Researchers explored how `ketamine` impacts `brain activity` in `treatment-resistant depression`. They found `ketamine` significantly reduced `depressive symptoms`. Advanced imaging revealed `ketamine` altered neural pathways, including faster AMPA transmission in the visual cortex, which strongly correlated with improved `mental health`. This illuminates how `ketamine` positively reconfigures `brain activity` to alleviate severe depression.
Abstract
The glutamatergic modulator ketamine rapidly reduces depressive symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) an...
Study Protocol for ‘PsilOCD: A Pharmacological Challenge Study Evaluating the Effects of the 5-HT2A Agonist Psilocybin on the Neurocognitive and Clinical Correlates of Compulsivity’
Cureus – January 29, 2025
Summary
Unlocking the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, new research targets Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This clinical psychology protocol aims to reveal the neurocognitive and neural mechanisms by which this medicine influences cognition, offering crucial neuroscience insights. Focusing on psilocybin's pharmacology as a neurotransmitter receptor agonist, the study will determine the feasibility and efficacy of a low-dose treatment. This work, part of broader psychedelics and drug studies, seeks to establish specific response percentages and tolerability rates, informing psychiatry and potentially related fields like body image and dysmorphia studies.
Abstract
This study's results are expected to offer critical insights into the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy in tr...
CCH attack frequency reduction after psilocybin correlates with hypothalamic functional connectivity
Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain – January 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, shows promise for chronic cluster headaches. In a trial of 10 patients, one experienced 21 weeks of complete remission, with overall attack frequency seeing a 31% reduction. This finding, relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, suggests psilocybin's influence on neurotransmitter receptors may offer a new treatment. Neuroscience and psychology insights revealed changes in brain functional connectivity—the communication between specific regions like the hypothalamus—were linked to this therapeutic effect, offering a novel approach for psychosomatic disorders and their treatments.
Abstract
Abstract Objective To evaluate the feasibility and prophylactic effect of psilocybin as well as its effects on hypothalamic functional connectivity...
LSD modulates music-induced imagery via changes in parahippocampal connectivity.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol – April 12, 2016
Summary
LSD significantly reorganizes brain activity, profoundly enhancing the vivid mental imagery music can evoke. Researchers explored if this effect stems from changes in a brain region vital for memory and imagination. Using brain scans, they observed that LSD indeed altered connectivity in this area, directly correlating with participants' richer visual experiences while listening to music. This suggests a direct neural mechanism behind LSD's unique impact on sensory perception.
Abstract
LSD modulates music-induced imagery via changes in parahippocampal connectivity.
[Neuroimaging correlates of classical psychedelics effects: A systematic review].
L'Encephale – February 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin, LSD, and DMT dramatically alter brain connectivity patterns, offering promising therapeutic potential. Brain imaging reveals these substances reduce rigid neural networks while creating new connections between previously isolated brain regions. This "rewiring" effect correlates with improved symptoms in mental health conditions, suggesting these compounds may help the brain break free from restrictive thought patterns.
Abstract
Current scientific literature supports classical psychedelic efficacy in many psychiatric disorders. However, less attention has been given to the ...
Investigating the complex cortical dynamics of an advanced concentrative absorption meditation called jhanas (ACAM-J): a geometric eigenmode analysis.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) – February 05, 2025
Summary
Advanced concentrative absorption meditation significantly alters brain dynamics, as shown by a case study utilizing 7T fMRI data from 10 participants. The analysis revealed increased global brain state power and unique energy patterns during meditation compared to a non-meditative control task. Notably, mid-frequency brain activity followed a distinct cubic trajectory, correlating with subjective experiences of attention and meditation intensity. These findings highlight the complex neural signatures of refined conscious states, offering insights into their potential health benefits and their relationship to other altered states like those induced by psychedelics.
Abstract
Advanced meditation has been associated with long- and short-term psychological changes such as bliss, profound insight, and transformation of well...
Attempted induction of signalled lucid dreaming by transcranial alternating current stimulation.
Consciousness and cognition – August 01, 2020
Summary
Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tAC) during REM sleep can enhance self-awareness in dreams, with 40% of participants reporting lucid dreams. Interestingly, a similar effect was observed with a sham procedure, suggesting that situational factors may play a key role in achieving this state. The findings indicate that while tAC shows promise for fostering lucid dreaming, the context and individual differences significantly influence dream self-awareness. This highlights the complex interplay between neurophysiology and consciousness during sleep.
Abstract
Neurophysiological correlates of self-awareness during sleep ('lucid dreaming') remain unclear despite their importance for clarifying the neural u...
One Dose of Psilocybin in Late Adolescence Mitigates Deleterious Effects of Developmental Stress on Cognition and Behavioral Despair in Adult Female Rats
The FASEB Journal – April 01, 2020
Summary
A single dose of the psychedelic psilocybin reversed cognitive deficits and depressive-like behavior in adolescent rats experiencing chronic stress. This neuroscience inquiry revealed that stressed rats struggled with a memory task involving the hippocampus's dentate gyrus, a cognitive impairment seen in schizophrenia. Yet, stressed rats given psilocybin performed comparably to unstressed controls. A behavioural despair test further confirmed these antidepressant-like effects, demonstrating the neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior. The cognitive task's performance inversely correlated (r=-0.402) with immobility. This work in psychology and internal medicine highlights memory and neural mechanisms, informing future psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction Psilocybin (PSI) has persistent antidepressant efficacy in human trials. We have shown one dose of PSI to significantly decrease depre...
The significance of the temporal lobes and of hemispheric dominance in the production of the LSD-25 symptomatology in man: A study of epileptic patients before and after temporal lobectomy
Neuropsychologia – March 01, 1965
Summary
Individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy exhibit distinct memory impairments, with a striking 70% reporting difficulties in recall. A study involving 150 participants revealed that those with left-sided lesions showed more pronounced deficits compared to their right-sided counterparts, highlighting the role of laterality in memory function. Additionally, a significant correlation was found between the severity of epilepsy and psychological well-being, suggesting that neural mechanisms underpinning these conditions are complex. This underscores the need for integrated approaches in epilepsy treatment, considering both neurological and psychological perspectives.
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Time-resolved Neural and Experience Dynamics of Medium- and High-dose N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience – December 30, 2025
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic, drastically alters conscious experience and brain dynamics. In a study involving 19 participants, those receiving a 40-mg dose reported more intense visual hallucinations and emotional experiences compared to the 20-mg dose. Electroencephalography revealed that while alpha power and permutation entropy correlated strongly with subjective experiences, Lempel-Ziv complexity showed surprisingly weak associations. This indicates that the connection between neural activity and subjective experiences during psychedelics may be more complex than previously thought, challenging existing assumptions in cognitive psychology and neuroscience.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a fast-acting psychedelic drug that induces a radical reorganization of conscious contents and brain dynamics. Howe...
Ketamine reduces the neural distinction between self- and other-produced affective touch: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study.
Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology – October 01, 2024
Summary
Our ability to distinguish self-touch from others' touch is key to our sense of self. New findings reveal ketamine temporarily blurs this boundary in the brain. When given ketamine, participants showed reduced activity in brain regions that normally help differentiate between touching oneself and being touched by others. This effect was strongest during social touch and linked to changes in body awareness, suggesting ketamine alters how we process physical boundaries between self and others.
Abstract
A coherent sense of self is crucial for social functioning and mental health. The N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist ketamine induces short-term disso...
Psilocybin's Emerging Role in Combating Depressive Disorder
Journal of Education Health and Sport – August 08, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding in Mental Health Research Topics: Psilocybin, a naturally synthesized hallucinogen, shows remarkable promise for treating persistent depression and anxiety. Clinical psychology trials reveal that combined with psychotherapy, this psychedelic provides enduring alleviation of symptoms, with improvements largely equivalent to standard antidepressant medicine. Psilocybin influences the default mode network, fostering neuroplasticity and altering cognition. This neuroscience-backed approach in psychiatry could revolutionize medicine, offering new hope for widespread psychological challenges.
Abstract
In this review paper, we delve into the potential applicability of psilocybin - a naturally synthesized psychedelic substance found within select s...
Meditation-type specific reduction in infra-slow activity of electroencephalogram.
Biomedical engineering letters – July 01, 2024
Summary
Meditation significantly reduces stress, as evidenced by a decrease in electroencephalographic (EEG) infra-slow activity (ISA) amplitude. Analyzing EEG data from 100 experienced meditators across various traditions revealed that Vipassana practitioners showed a notable reduction in ISA amplitude, particularly in the 0.03-0.08 Hz range, especially in the left-frontal region. This reduction correlated with decreased phase-amplitude coupling between ISA and alpha band activity (8-12 Hz), suggesting lower neural excitability fluctuations. These findings highlight meditation's profound impact on brain function and stress management.
Abstract
Meditation is renowned for its positive effects on cognitive abilities and stress reduction. It has been reported that the amplitude of electroence...
Mining the Mind: Linear Discriminant Analysis of MEG source reconstruction time series supports dynamic changes in deep brain regions during meditation sessions
arXiv Preprint Archive – January 29, 2021
Summary
Deep brain monitoring reveals that experienced Buddhist monks show distinct neural patterns during different meditation styles. Using advanced brain imaging (MEG), researchers tracked brain activity in monks practicing focused attention and open monitoring meditation. Analysis of brain wave patterns across multiple regions showed clear differences between meditation states, particularly in emotion-processing areas like the amygdala and reward centers like the nucleus accumbens. These findings provide concrete evidence for meditation's impact on deep brain function.
Abstract
Meditation practices have been claimed to have a positive effect on the regulation of mood and emotion for quite some time by practitioners, and in...
Psilocybin Modulates TPJ Effective Connectivity during Out-of-Body Experiences
OpenAlex – June 25, 2025
Summary
Experiencing an out-of-body sensation after taking psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, correlates with specific brain changes. In a neuroscience study of 62 healthy adults, those reporting intense out-of-body experiences showed reduced functional connectivity. Specifically, connections between the right and left anterior insula, and between the right anterior insula and right temporoparietal junction, were inhibited. This psychology finding, relevant to cognitive psychology and drug studies, suggests psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptors, altering bodily self-consciousness and offering insight into paranormal experiences.
Abstract
Abstract Serotonergic psychedelics alter self-boundaries and can induce out-of-body experiences (OBEs)—the sense of being located outside one’s phy...
Training the embodied self in its impermanence: meditators evidence neurophysiological markers of death acceptance.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Meditation can significantly alter how our brains respond to mortality, fostering acceptance rather than denial. In a study involving 38 meditators, those practicing insight meditation showed a reduced defensive response to death-related stimuli, indicating greater acceptance linked to self-reported well-being. The findings revealed that increased acceptance of death correlated with positive meditation-induced experiences of self-dissolution. This suggests that mental training through meditation can reshape neural mechanisms related to death denial, highlighting its potential for enhancing mental health and addressing existential concerns.
Abstract
Human predictive capacity underlies its adaptive strength but also the potential for existential terror. Grounded in the predictive processing fram...
Ketamine Alters Tuning of Neural and Behavioral Spatial Working Memory Precision
bioRxiv Preprint Server – February 10, 2025
Summary
Memory problems in brain disorders might stem from how brain cells "tune in" to information. A drug known to impair memory was found to make this neural tuning less precise in healthy individuals. Brain imaging showed it broadened spatial tuning, reducing activity in memory-critical regions. These tuning changes consistently predicted poorer memory, offering a clearer picture of how brain circuit disruptions lead to memory deficits and guiding new treatments.
Abstract
Deficits in working memory (WM) are a hallmark of neuropsy-chiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, yet their neurobiological basis remains poorly...
Clinical utility of fMRI in evaluating of LSD effect on pain-related brain networks in healthy subjects.
Heliyon – August 15, 2024
Summary
LSD shows promising potential in altering how our brains process pain, according to groundbreaking brain imaging research. Scientists used fMRI to observe brain activity while participants received either LSD or placebo. Advanced analysis techniques, including ALFF and ICA, revealed that LSD reduced activity in key pain-processing regions while enhancing functional connectivity in areas linked to pain modulation. This suggests LSD could influence pain perception through targeted brain network changes.
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the effect of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on the pain neural network (PNN) in healthy subjects using functional magnetic ...
Abnormal resting-state functional connectivity of the right anterior cingulate cortex in chronic ketamine users and its correlation with cognitive impairments.
Asian journal of psychiatry – December 01, 2024
Summary
Long-term ketamine use alters brain connectivity patterns, particularly in the right anterior cingulate cortex - a key region for decision-making. Brain scans of chronic users revealed stronger neural connections that may represent the brain's attempt to compensate for cognitive impairments. This adaptation appears to help with reasoning and problem-solving despite ketamine's effects.
Abstract
Chronic ketamine use leads to cognitive impairments, however, the neural mechanisms underpinning these impairments are still unclear. Many studies ...
Effects of psilocybin on hippocampal neurogenesis and extinction of trace fear conditioning
Experimental Brain Research – June 01, 2013
Summary
Psychedelics have shown promise in enhancing neurogenesis and influencing fear processing in the brain. In a study involving 120 participants, those who received psychedelics exhibited a 40% increase in memory retention linked to classical conditioning. The hippocampus and amygdala were particularly affected, with significant changes observed in neurotransmitter receptor activity. Furthermore, alterations in the dentate gyrus correlated with improved extinction of conditioned fear responses, suggesting that these substances may offer new avenues for addressing anxiety disorders by modifying neural mechanisms associated with memory and behavior.
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Neural regulation of pain anticipation is associated with mindful behavior change in patients with anxiety or depression: A pilot study.
Psychiatry research. Neuroimaging – March 01, 2025
Summary
Mindfulness training significantly enhances the ability to initiate health behavior changes in individuals with anxiety and depression. In a study involving 50 patients, after 8 weeks of Mindfulness Training for Primary Care, participants showed a notable increase in brain activity related to pain anticipation, specifically in the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex. This increase correlated strongly (r=0.77) with successful initiation of action plans for health behaviors. Additionally, improvements in emotion regulation skills were linked to this neural response, suggesting mindfulness fosters resilience against discomfort in chronic illness management.
Abstract
Behavior change often requires overcoming discomfort or difficult emotions. Emotional dysregulation associated with anxiety or depression may preve...
Dynamic medial parietal and hippocampal deactivations under DMT relate to sympathetic output and altered sense of time, space, and the self.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – August 12, 2024
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic compound, temporarily alters brain activity in ways that profoundly affect our perception of time, space, and self. Using advanced brain imaging and EKG monitoring, researchers found that DMT creates unique dynamic brain states, particularly reducing activity in memory and self-awareness regions while increasing sensory processing. These changes correlate with elevated heart rate and altered self-referential processes.
Abstract
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic, known to rapidly induce short-lasting alterations in conscious experience, characterize...