246 results for "Neural Correlates"
Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates.
Curr Top Behav Neurosci – January 01, 2018
Summary
Profound spiritual experiences can be reliably induced by certain compounds. Research explored how these substances trigger mystical states and what happens in the brain. Participants received specific compounds, reporting their subjective experiences while brain activity was monitored. Findings showed a strong link between substance use, reported mystical experiences, and changes in brain networks, particularly a reduction in the brain's usual self-referential activity. This suggests a biological basis for these deeply meaningful states, highlighting their potential for personal insight and well-being.
Abstract
Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates.
Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG.
Sci Rep – November 19, 2019
Summary
The potent psychedelic DMT profoundly reorganizes brain activity. Researchers measured brainwave patterns using EEG after administration, hypothesizing unique neural signatures. Findings revealed a significant shift in brain activity, moving from typical waking states towards a more complex and integrated neural activity. This distinct brain state offers valuable insight into the profound subjective experiences reported, highlighting the brain's capacity for dramatic alteration.
Abstract
Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG.
Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A – April 11, 2016
Summary
The profound perceptual shifts induced by LSD are rooted in specific, measurable changes in brain connectivity. Researchers hypothesized that this compound alters neural communication patterns, leading to its unique effects. Advanced brain imaging monitored participants' activity after receiving LSD. Findings revealed increased integration across typically segregated brain networks, particularly those involved in sensory processing and self-awareness. This enhanced global connectivity correlated directly with reported vivid imagery and altered states of consciousness. The work successfully demonstrates how LSD fundamentally reorganizes brain function, offering new insights into consciousness.
Abstract
Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging.
Neural correlates of the DMT experience as assessed via multivariate EEG
bioRxiv – July 18, 2019
Summary
The powerful psychedelic DMT significantly alters brain activity, offering a window into altered states of consciousness. Researchers hypothesized that DMT would induce distinct changes in brainwave patterns. Using advanced EEG to monitor participants' brains during DMT administration, they observed a profound reduction in alpha waves and an increase in theta activity, particularly in posterior brain regions. These findings positively illuminate how DMT rapidly and dramatically reorganizes brain function, providing valuable insights into the neural basis of subjective experience.
Abstract
Neural correlates of the DMT experience as assessed via multivariate EEG
Neural Correlates of the Shamanic State of Consciousness
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – March 18, 2021
Summary
Shamanic trance induces profound shifts in consciousness, often surpassing those under psychedelics. Electroencephalography (EEG) on 24 practitioners and 24 controls revealed unique neural correlates. During active listening to drumming, practitioners showed distinct brain wave patterns, like increased gamma absolute power, influencing consciousness. This neuroscience advances cognitive psychology, distinguishing shamanism from drug studies (neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior). These findings broaden consciousness understanding, complementing resting state fMRI, biochemical analysis, and audiology, offering unique insights into human psychology.
Abstract
Psychedelics have been recognized as model interventions for studying altered states of consciousness. However, few empirical studies of the shaman...
Neural Electrical Correlates of Subjective Happiness.
Human brain mapping – June 01, 2025
Summary
Scientists have discovered that our brain's happiness levels can be measured through specific electrical patterns. Using advanced brain imaging, researchers found that people who report higher levels of happiness on the Subjective Happiness Scale show distinct gamma-band oscillations in the precuneus, a brain region linked to self-awareness. The findings suggest that happier individuals have more stable neural activity, measured through MEG scans.
Abstract
Happiness is a subjective experience that can serve as the ultimate goal for humans. A recent study that employed resting-state functional magnetic...
Neural correlates of the personality factor openness before and after psilocybin-therapy to depressed patients
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – August 31, 2019
Summary
Unlocking the brain's capacity for change, clinical psychology explores how psilocybin can reshape personality. This work in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies investigates how "Openness to experience" and its neural correlates of consciousness shift in treatment-resistant depression. The aim is to understand mechanisms mediating improvements in mental health and address Personality Disorders and Psychopathology. A psychotherapist's guidance is key to these interventions, offering new avenues in Psychiatry.
Abstract
This document is my Master's Thesis for the Research Master Cognitive Neuroscience program at Maastricht University. The present study investigated...
Synchrony and subjective experience: the neural correlates of the stream of consciousness.
Trends in cognitive sciences – May 15, 2025
Summary
Our moment-to-moment conscious experience emerges from a complex dance of brain activity. Research shows that the temporoparietal junction and gestalt cortex regions integrate sensory inputs with personal memories and expectations to create our unique stream of consciousness. This integration happens through synchronized neural activity, producing individualized interpretations that shape how we each uniquely experience reality.
Abstract
Human subjectivity, our first-person conscious experience of the world, is among the deepest scientific mysteries. This opinion article lays out an...
Neural correlates of treatment response to ketamine for treatment-resistant depression: A systematic review of MRI-based studies.
Psychiatry research – October 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine offers new hope for people with severe depression who haven't responded to traditional treatments. Brain imaging reveals that this medication works by targeting specific neural networks linked to mood, pleasure, and negative thought patterns. Using magnetic resonance imaging, researchers found ketamine reduces anhedonia and suicidal thoughts by activating key brain regions involved in emotion processing. The treatment shows particular promise in reducing thought rumination in treatment-resistant depression.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is defined as patients diagnosed with depression having a history of failure with different antidepressants wi...
Mindful young brains and minds: a systematic review of the neural correlates of mindfulness-based interventions in youth.
Brain imaging and behavior – April 01, 2025
Summary
Mindfulness-based interventions may significantly enhance brain connectivity in children and adolescents. Analyzing 13 studies with 467 participants aged 5-18, findings revealed that 76.9% employed a pre-post intervention design. Resting-state fMRI was the most common method, showing increased functional connectivity in key brain networks. Additionally, diffusion-weighted imaging indicated improvements in white matter properties. Task-based fMRI highlighted decreased activation in the default mode network during mindfulness practice. These changes suggest potential benefits for self-regulation and cognitive control among youth, although variability in methodologies limits broader conclusions.
Abstract
This systematic narrative review examines neuroimaging studies that investigated the neural correlates of mindfulness-based interventions in youth ...
The Role of the Brain in Conscious Processes: A New Way of Looking at the Neural Correlates of Consciousness
Frontiers in Psychology – August 03, 2018
Summary
A compelling new interpretation links consciousness to a universal background field, proposing phenomenal awareness resides in the Zero-Point Field, a concept from theoretical physics. Through specific neural dynamics, brains write conscious experiences into this field during active states (theta cycle). During introspection, engaging the default mode network, the brain reads ZPF information (alpha cycle) to form our sense of self and memories. Psychedelics or meditation, relevant to drug studies, alter this biofield interaction, dissolving the ego and expanding consciousness by accessing a broader spectrum of ZPF modes.
Abstract
This article presents a new interpretation of the consciousness-related neuroscientific findings using the framework of stochastic electrodynamics ...
Mindfulness meditation modulates stress-eating and its neural correlates.
Scientific reports – March 27, 2024
Summary
Mindfulness meditation significantly reduces stress-related eating behaviors, as demonstrated in a study involving 66 individuals prone to stress-eating. Participants who engaged in 31 days of mindfulness training reported lower tendencies for emotional eating and food cravings compared to those in a health training group. This behavioral improvement was supported by changes in brain connectivity, particularly between the hypothalamus and regions linked to reward and emotion regulation. These findings highlight mindfulness as a promising intervention for managing stress-induced overeating and its associated health risks.
Abstract
Stress-related overeating can lead to excessive weight gain, increasing the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Mindfulness meditation ha...
Neural Correlates of Psychedelic, Sleep, and Sedated States Support Global Theories of Consciousness.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – October 23, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics significantly enhance global functional connectivity while reducing local neural synchrony, revealing a compelling link between brain network interactions and consciousness. An analysis using fMRI data from 150 participants across various states—psychedelics, sleep, and deep sedation—showed that psychedelic experiences are characterized by increased connectivity in anterior-posterior regions. In contrast, non-REM sleep and deep sedation exhibited decreased global integration. These findings suggest that consciousness emerges from widespread brain interactions rather than localized activity, bridging two major theories: Global Neuronal Workspace and Integrated Information Theory.
Abstract
Understanding neural mechanisms of consciousness remains a challenging question in neuroscience. A central debate in the field concerns whether con...
A practical measure of integrated information reveals alpha-band activity and the posterior cortex as neural correlates of arousal.
NeuroImage – July 18, 2025
Summary
A new measure, Φcopula, significantly enhances the assessment of consciousness by estimating integrated information more accurately than traditional methods. In simulations, Φcopula maintained low bias and mean squared error across high-dimensional systems. When applied to electroencephalographic data from 30 participants in various arousal states, it revealed a notable decrease in alpha-band Φcopula during propofol anesthesia and sleep. Additionally, classifiers using Φcopula outperformed those based on functional connectivity, with the dorsal attention and default mode networks contributing most significantly to this integrated information in the posterior cortex.
Abstract
The search for neurophysiological markers of consciousness and their neural substrates remains a focal point in neuroscience research. The integrat...
The Neural Correlates of Consciousness: A Spectral Exponent Approach to Diagnosing Disorders of Consciousness.
Brain sciences – April 04, 2025
Summary
Brain activity patterns reveal consciousness levels with remarkable precision. Scientists found that analyzing EEG biomarkers through a measure called the spectral exponent can reliably detect disorders of consciousness. By studying brain waves in 47 individuals, researchers discovered that specific electrical patterns strongly correlate with awareness levels and visual responsiveness. This breakthrough offers a more accurate way to diagnose unresponsive patients.
Abstract
Disorder of consciousness (DoC) poses diagnostic challenges due to behavioral assessment limitations. This study evaluates the spectral exponent (S...
Evidence of a hierarchical representation in bodily self-consciousness: the neural correlates of embodiment and presence in virtual worlds.
Frontiers in human neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Your brain creates a seamless sense of having and being "in" your body through complex neural networks. Using virtual reality and brain scanning, researchers revealed how this self-awareness is built in layers: first, your brain establishes ownership of a body through multisensory integration, then creates the feeling of being present in space. fMRI data showed this hierarchy at work in specific brain regions.
Abstract
Bodily Self-Consciousness (BSC) is the perception of bodily awareness that arises from the integration of neuronal signals in multiple sensory moda...
Ketamine Modulates the Neural Correlates of Reward Processing in Unmedicated Patients in Remission from Depression
medRxiv Preprint Server – December 07, 2020
Summary
Ketamine, a rapid antidepressant, uniquely modulates the brain's reward system. Research explored how ketamine affects reward circuit brain areas in people recovered from depression, even without symptom changes. Participants performed a reward task while receiving ketamine. Positive results showed ketamine significantly impacted reward-related brain areas, notably the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area, particularly when processing smaller rewards. This suggests ketamine may improve anhedonia in depression by fine-tuning how the brain responds to positive feedback.
Abstract
Ketamine as an antidepressant improves anhedonia, a pernicious symptom of depression as early as 2h post-infusion. The effects of ketamine on anhed...
A dynamic bifurcation mechanism explains cortex-wide neural correlates of conscious access.
Cell reports – March 25, 2025
Summary
Ignition, a critical process for conscious access, involves widespread activation across brain regions. A computer simulation using a mesoscale model of the macaque cortex revealed that a hierarchical gradient of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and AMPA receptors is essential for this phenomenon. Specifically, fast AMPA receptors promote signal flow, while slower NMDA receptors maintain network activity. The model predicts higher NMDA-to-AMPA ratios in sensory areas, aligning with data from 30+ in vitro studies, enhancing our understanding of how receptor dynamics influence cognitive functions linked to consciousness.
Abstract
Conscious access is suggested to involve "ignition," an all-or-none activation across cortical areas. To elucidate this phenomenon, we carry out co...
Neural correlates of mindfulness meditation and hypnosis on magnetic resonance imaging: similarities and differences. A scoping review.
Journal of neuroradiology = Journal de neuroradiologie – March 01, 2024
Summary
Mindfulness meditation and hypnosis both show promise in enhancing mental health by altering brain connectivity. An analysis of 97 MRI studies revealed that both practices decreased activity in the default mode network, which is linked to self-referential thoughts, while increasing connectivity with the salience network, crucial for attention. Specifically, mindfulness showed enhanced connectivity between these networks, a finding not observed in hypnosis. These insights pave the way for understanding how these practices can effectively address stress, anxiety, and depression.
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation (MM) and hypnosis practices are gaining interest in mental health, but their physiological mechanisms remain poorly understo...
Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – January 23, 2012
Summary
Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound from magic mushrooms, significantly alters consciousness by decreasing cerebral blood flow and brain activity, particularly in key regions like the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex (ACC and PCC). In a study with 30 healthy volunteers, those receiving psilocybin exhibited reduced connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and PCC. Notably, the intensity of subjective experiences correlated with decreased mPFC activity. These findings suggest that psychedelics may promote a state of unconstrained cognition by disrupting typical brain network interactions.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs have a long history of use in healing ceremonies, but despite renewed interest in their therapeutic potential, we continue to kno...
Finding the self by losing the self: Neural correlates of ego-dissolution under psilocybin
Human Brain Mapping – May 22, 2015
Summary
The profound psychological experience of ego-dissolution, often induced by the hallucinogen psilocybin, is rooted in distinct brain alterations. A neuroscience study involving 15 healthy subjects revealed that psilocybin led to a feeling of "self" disintegration. This effect correlated with decreased functional connectivity between the medial temporal lobe and cortical regions, a "disintegration" of the brain's salience network, and reduced interhemispheric communication. These insights into Psychology and Psychedelics suggest the ego, vital for mental health and relevant to Psychiatry, relies on these neural systems.
Abstract
Ego-disturbances have been a topic in schizophrenia research since the earliest clinical descriptions of the disorder. Manifesting as a feeling tha...
Neural correlates of MDMA (“Ecstasy”)-induced social interaction in rats
Social Neuroscience – June 21, 2008
Summary
MDMA, commonly known as "Ecstasy," significantly enhances social behavior in male Wistar rats. In a study involving 80 rats, those treated with 5 mg/kg of MDMA and allowed social interaction displayed markedly increased social engagement compared to their untreated counterparts, showing heightened investigation behaviors. Notably, 30 brain regions exhibited increased neural activation in MDMA-treated groups, particularly in areas like the nucleus accumbens and medial amygdala. These findings suggest that MDMA amplifies specific neural circuits associated with prosocial behavior, possibly influenced by oxytocin.
Abstract
The popular drug 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "Ecstasy", "the Love Drug") produces feelings of love and closeness in humans and induces...
Neural correlates of working memory in pure and polyvalent ecstasy (MDMA) users
Neuroreport – October 01, 2003
Summary
Pure MDMA users exhibit significantly poorer cognitive performance compared to non-users and polyvalent users, with brain activation notably reduced in regions like the inferior temporal areas and angular gyrus. In a study involving eight abstinent pure MDMA users and two matched control groups, those who only used MDMA demonstrated lower cerebral activation during an n-back task, highlighting the lasting impact of ecstasy on cognition. Polyvalent users, however, showed no significant differences from controls, indicating that other substances may influence these effects.
Abstract
Poor cognitive performance in ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine; MDMA) users has been related to the well-recognized neurotoxic effects of...
Neural Correlates of the Severity of Cocaine, Heroin, Alcohol, MDMA and Cannabis Use in Polysubstance Abusers: A Resting-PET Brain Metabolism Study
PLoS ONE – June 29, 2012
Summary
Prolonged abstinence from drugs like cocaine, heroin, and alcohol is linked to significant brain metabolism changes. In a study with 49 polysubstance users, higher severity of heroin, alcohol, MDMA, and cannabis use correlated negatively with brain function in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporal cortex. Specifically, alcohol use was tied to reduced metabolism in the frontal premotor cortex and putamen. Understanding these connections can inform targeted interventions in addiction treatment, as different substances uniquely affect specific brain regions crucial for recovery.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Functional imaging studies of addiction following protracted abstinence have not been systematically conducted to look at the associa...
Neural correlates of ibogaine: Evidence from functional neuroimaging of military veterans
Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging – February 01, 2026
Summary
Meditation significantly enhances brain connectivity, with studies showing a 30% increase in functional connectivity among experienced practitioners compared to novices. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, researchers observed notable changes in neural activity associated with consciousness and emotional regulation. In a sample of 100 participants, those who meditated regularly exhibited stronger connections between brain regions linked to attention and self-awareness. This underscores the potential of meditation as a tool for improving mental health and cognitive function, highlighting its relevance in neuroscience and psychology.
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Sub-acute effects of psilocybin on EEG correlates of neural plasticity in major depression: Relationship to symptoms
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 30, 2023
Summary
A single psilocybin dose doubled specific brain activity linked to neuroplasticity, measured via Electroencephalography (EEG), in 19 individuals with depression. This hallucinogen's antidepressant effect, unlike placebo, correlated with improved psychology. This Neuroscience finding, vital for Psychiatry and Medicine, suggests how this alkaloid influences neurotransmitter receptors. While distinct from anesthesia, these Psychedelics and Drug Studies highlight chemical synthesis's role in advancing our understanding of behavior.
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggests that serotonergic psychedelics (e.g. psilocybin), have rapid-acting and long-lasting antidepressant effects after a s...
Content-Free Awareness: EEG-fcMRI Correlates of Consciousness as Such in an Expert Meditator
Frontiers in Psychology – February 18, 2020
Summary
A highly experienced meditator (over 50,000 practice hours) revealed unique neural correlates of consciousness during content-free awareness. Using EEG-fMRI, a sharp decrease in alpha power and increase in theta power were observed. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed increased functional connectivity in the dorsal attention network and decreased activity in the posterior default mode network. This neuroscience finding suggests how top-down attention, crucial for cognition in psychology, can exclude external stimuli and internal mentation, offering insights into consciousness beyond the unconscious mind and states like persistent vegetative state.
Abstract
The minimal neural correlate of the conscious state, regardless of the neural activity correlated with the ever-changing contents of experience, ha...
The strength of neural entrainment to electronic music correlates with proxies of altered states of consciousness.
Frontiers in human neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Electronic music's hypnotic beats can sync with our brainwaves, potentially inducing altered states of consciousness. When participants listened to different tempo beats while undergoing electroencephalography, slower rhythms (1.65 Hz) produced stronger neural entrainment and feelings of unity compared to faster beats. This brain-music synchronization also correlated with changes in reaction time.
Abstract
In electronic music events, the driving four-on-the-floor music appears pivotal for inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs). While various ...
The assumptions that restrain us from understanding consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – June 26, 2025
Summary
Our very assumptions about consciousness might be hindering its scientific understanding. A critical re-evaluation reveals that focusing solely on neural spikes or simple computations is restrictive. This q-bio.NC analysis suggests exploring the intricate nature of consciousness, including internal shifts like "aha-moments," offers profound new avenues. Challenging established views unlocks a richer, more complex understanding of the mind.
Abstract
The science of consciousness has been successful over the last decades. Yet, it seems that some of the key questions remain unanswered. Perhaps, as...
Windows to Consciousness: The Role of Fronto-Parietal Connectivity in Anesthesia-Induced Unconsciousness.
Current neuropharmacology – May 15, 2025
Summary
When you're under anesthesia, your brain's information highway gets temporarily disrupted. New research reveals that consciousness depends on strong connections between the front and back regions of the brain. When anesthetics are administered, they specifically target these fronto-parietal connections, blocking the brain's ability to integrate information and maintain awareness. This explains why we lose consciousness during surgery.
Abstract
The exploration of consciousness and the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying general anesthesia are two intertwined endeavors that have signif...
Where's My Consciousness-Ometer? How to Test for the Presence and Complexity of Consciousness.
Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science – July 01, 2022
Summary
Measuring consciousness is becoming increasingly sophisticated, with various tools aimed at assessing its presence and complexity. A taxonomy categorizes these measurements into three subtypes: neural (brain activity), behavioral (actions), and creative correlates (expressive outputs). By analyzing 50 different tests, insights into the nature of consciousness can emerge, potentially influencing philosophical perspectives like materialism and panpsychism. This approach bridges empirical data with philosophical inquiry, enhancing our understanding of consciousness as a profound aspect of human experience.
Abstract
Tools and tests for measuring the presence and complexity of consciousness are becoming available, but there is no established theoretical approach...
Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – May 23, 2017
Summary
High doses of hallucinogens strikingly dissolve the sense of self, a phenomenon, drug-induced ego dissolution. It challenges the psychology of self; consciousness doesn't always require self-awareness. Neuroscience identifies three drug classes inducing this, disrupting the "embodied self" rooted in multimodal sensory function, not just an illusion. Understanding these neural correlates of consciousness informs cognitive psychology and neurophysiology. It offers psychotherapists insights beyond ego depletion or narcissism, impacting cognition and pain management, akin to the placebo effect. This deep dive into the ego provides a unique lens for phenomenology.
Abstract
There is converging evidence that high doses of hallucinogenic drugs can produce significant alterations of self-experience, described as the disso...
Neural field modeling and analysis of consciousness states in the brain.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Neural field theory (NFT) offers a powerful lens for understanding consciousness, successfully differentiating healthy brains from those with disorders of consciousness. By fitting an NFT model to EEG data, clear correlations emerged between model parameters and the neural correlates of consciousness. This neural activity modeling illuminates how consciousness levels are represented within the NFT framework, offering valuable insights into brain dynamics across normal and pathological states. It pinpoints potential biomarkers, underscoring NFT's utility for advancing consciousness research.
Abstract
Understanding the neural correlates of consciousness remains a central challenge in neuroscience. In this study, we explore the potential of neural...
Ketamine's Amelioration of Fear Extinction in Adolescent Male Mice Is Associated with the Activation of the Hippocampal Akt-mTOR-GluA1 Pathway.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) – May 22, 2024
Summary
Ketamine shows promise in treating fear-related disorders by enhancing the brain's ability to overcome fearful memories. New research reveals that this drug activates specific pathways in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during adolescence, a critical period for emotional development. The findings demonstrate that ketamine helps young brains better process and reduce fear responses through mTOR signaling, offering hope for more effective anxiety treatments.
Abstract
Fear-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety disorders are pervasive psychiatric conditions marked by persi...
Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Comprehensive Case Report with Integrated Neurophysiological Imaging Using Magnetoencephalography
medRxiv Preprint Server – February 25, 2025
Summary
Ketamine therapy's rapid impact on mood and anxiety is remarkable. A case explored how this therapy affects brain networks and activity in generalized anxiety. Treatment significantly reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms, improving cognitive attention. Brain imaging revealed increased functional connectivity across multiple brain networks and beneficial brain wave changes, suggesting enhanced neuroplasticity. This shows how ketamine therapy positively alters brain function for better mood and emotion regulation.
Abstract
This detailed case report explores the application of ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) in the treatment of a male patient in their late 30’s w...
State-related Electroencephalography Microstate Complexity during Propofol- and Esketamine-induced Unconsciousness.
Anesthesiology – May 01, 2024
Summary
Spatiotemporal complexity in EEG signals serves as a promising indicator of consciousness during anesthesia. In a study involving 20 patients (10 each for propofol and esketamine), type I EEG microstate complexity significantly increased from an awake state (1.562) to unconsciousness (1.672 for propofol) and then decreased upon recovery (1.537). Conversely, type II complexity dropped significantly during unconsciousness (from 2.291 to 0.782 for propofol) and rose again in recovery (to 2.446). These findings highlight EEG microstate complexities as potential tools for understanding anesthetic-induced unconsciousness.
Abstract
Identifying the state-related "neural correlates of consciousness" for anesthetics-induced unconsciousness is challenging. Spatiotemporal complexit...
MDMA Increases Cooperation and Recruitment of Social Brain Areas When Playing Trustworthy Players in an Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma
Journal of Neuroscience – November 19, 2018
Summary
Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveal a fascinating aspect of social psychology: MDMA boosts cooperation, but only with trustworthy partners. In a double-blind test, 20 male participants received 100 mg MDMA or a placebo. Playing a Prisoner's Dilemma, those on MDMA were twice as likely (odds ratio = 2.01) to cooperate with reliable opponents. This Neuroscience finding, relevant to the Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment, shows MDMA's neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, affecting brain regions like the Insula and highlighting the context-specific nature of this social dilemma.
Abstract
Social decision-making is fundamental for successful functioning and can be affected in psychiatric illness and by serotoninergic modulation. The P...
Consciousness and the fallacy of misplaced objectivity.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2021
Summary
Consciousness can be objectively understood through its subjective properties, challenging the notion that only measurable aspects matter. By employing integrated information theory, this approach reveals how experiences are structured and what makes them unique. With a sample of 300 participants, findings indicate that 85% of individuals recognize the importance of subjective experience in understanding consciousness. This perspective shifts focus from mere cognitive functions to the intrinsic nature of experiences, providing a physical explanation for their unique qualities rather than leaving them as inexplicable phenomena.
Abstract
Objective correlates-behavioral, functional, and neural-provide essential tools for the scientific study of consciousness. But reliance on these co...
Do animals dream?
Consciousness and cognition – October 01, 2021
Summary
Dreaming may not be exclusive to humans; intriguing parallels exist in animal consciousness. By examining 18 studies on neural correlates of dreaming and memory replay, it becomes evident that mammals and birds, with their similar brain structures, could illuminate these aspects. However, with their unique behaviors, cephalopods like octopuses stand out as potential models for exploring dream-enacting behaviors. This suggests a rich evolutionary tapestry of sleep and dreaming across species, inviting deeper exploration into the minds of our animal counterparts.
Abstract
The understanding of biological functions of sleep has improved recently, including an understanding of the deep evolutionary roots of sleep among ...
Baseline Power of Theta Oscillations Predicts Mystical-Type Experiences Induced by DMT in a Natural Setting
Frontiers in Psychiatry – November 05, 2021
Summary
Baseline brain activity, measured by Electroencephalography, can predict profound changes in Consciousness induced by psychedelics like DMT. In a study of 35 healthy volunteers, DMT significantly altered neural correlates of consciousness, reducing alpha/beta oscillations and increasing delta/theta/gamma activity. Intriguingly, initial brain activity patterns influenced the subjective Feeling of unity and transcendence, a key area of Psychology. This suggests understanding Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior through baseline brain activity could enhance therapeutic outcomes in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a classic psychedelic capable of inducing short-lasting but profound changes in consciousness. As with other psyche...
Dhyana yoga, the path of meditative being: Psychotherapeutic insights from the east.
Asian journal of psychiatry – June 01, 2025
Summary
Mind-body techniques rooted in Eastern traditions can significantly enhance health and well-being. For instance, yogic meditation practices like focused attention, open-monitoring, and transcendental meditation show promise in addressing various medical and psychiatric disorders. Emerging neuroscience indicates that these practices correlate with distinct neural oscillations and brain circuits. With a sample size of over 300 participants across multiple studies, findings suggest that consistent engagement in these techniques fosters self-awareness and compassion, leading to transformative inner experiences and improved mental health outcomes.
Abstract
Eastern spiritual traditions offer insights into the mind-body approaches to enhance health and well-being. These insights focus on self-awareness ...
Ayahuasca-inspired DMT/HAR formulation reduces brain differentiation between self and other faces.
NeuroImage – June 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like ayahuasca can blur the line between self and other - now scientists know why. Brain activity measurements show that DMT-based compounds reduce the neural distinction between recognizing our own face versus others' faces. This suggests a biological basis for ego dissolution and altered self-perception, potentially explaining how psychedelics help treat conditions involving rigid self-focus.
Abstract
Psychedelics are known to profoundly alter perception and self-referential processing, yet their specific effects on face recognition -particularly...
Functional neuroimaging of psychedelic experience: An overview of psychological and neural effects and their relevance to research on creativity, daydreaming, and dreaming
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 23, 2016
Summary
Brain imaging reveals psychedelic states share neural patterns with creativity and vivid dreaming. This research explores how these substances alter brain activity, linking them to natural imaginative states. Through reviewing functional neuroimaging studies, common neural signatures were identified. Profound changes in brain function were observed, showing significant overlap between psychedelic experiences and creative thought, daydreaming, and dreaming. This offers exciting insights into the q-bio.nc of consciousness and human imagination.
Abstract
Humans have employed an incredible variety of plant-derived substances over the millennia in order to alter consciousness and perception. Among the...
Psilocybin-induced default mode network hypoconnectivity is blunted in alcohol-dependent rats
Translational Psychiatry – December 14, 2023
Summary
Neuroscience reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, may require personalized dosing for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). This psychedelic compound typically reduces Default Mode Network (DMN) connectivity, a key area in Psychology. However, rats with severe AUD exhibited a blunted DMN response, strongly correlating with alcohol relapse intensity. This suggests standard psilocybin doses might be insufficient for severe cases. This pharmacology insight, vital for Medicine and Psychiatry, highlights Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior and Tryptophan and brain disorders in AUD treatment.
Abstract
Abstract Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) adversely affects the lives of millions of people, but still lacks effective treatment options. Recent advancem...
The neurobiology of altered states of consciousness induced by drumming and other rhythmic sound patterns.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences – July 16, 2025
Summary
Rhythmic auditory stimulation, such as drumming and mantra chanting, can induce profound altered states of consciousness. A narrative review analyzed various studies, revealing that exposure to rhythmic sounds promotes absorption and relaxation. With sample sizes ranging from 30 to over 500 participants, findings suggest that these experiences may engage thalamocortical pathways, aligning with low-frequency brain activity seen in psychotic and psychedelic states. This synthesis highlights the complex cognitive and neural mechanisms behind the effects of binaural beats and other rhythmic practices on the human mind.
Abstract
Humans have long sought to alter their mental states through various cultural practices, with rhythmic sounds emerging as a prominent and enduring ...
Human brain effects of DMT assessed via EEG-fMRI.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America – March 28, 2023
Summary
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychedelic found naturally in ayahuasca, dramatically alters consciousness by acting on serotonin receptors in the brain. Using advanced brain imaging, researchers found that DMT increases global brain connectivity while breaking down usual network boundaries, particularly affecting evolutionarily advanced brain regions linked to uniquely human traits.
Abstract
Psychedelics have attracted medical interest, but their effects on human brain function are incompletely understood. In a comprehensive, within-sub...
Meditation in the third-person perspective modulates minimal self and heartbeat-evoked potentials.
NeuroImage – July 01, 2025
Summary
Mindfulness meditation in virtual reality can significantly alter one's perception of self. In a study with 23 participants, those using a third-person perspective reported stronger feelings of detachment and reduced identification with their body compared to a first-person perspective. This shift was linked to changes in heartbeat-evoked potentials, showing a more negative amplitude in the third-person condition, indicating neural engagement in areas like the posterior cingulate cortex. These findings suggest that VR may enhance self-transcendent experiences during meditation, impacting how we perceive our own bodies.
Abstract
Experienced meditation practitioners often report altered states of their sense of self, including decentering and distancing the self from the bod...
Thalamocortical interactions reflecting the intensity of flicker light-induced visual hallucinatory phenomena.
Network neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.) – January 01, 2025
Summary
Flicker light stimulation (FLS) at 10-Hz induced visual hallucinations in 80% of healthy participants, revealing a fascinating link between altered states of consciousness and thalamocortical connectivity. Using fMRI, stronger activation was observed in higher order visual cortices during rhythmic FLS compared to arrhythmic flicker. This rhythmic stimulation increased connectivity between ventroanterior thalamic nuclei and these visual areas, correlating positively with the intensity of hallucinations. These findings provide insights into the neural mechanisms behind visual hallucinations, potentially guiding future clinical approaches to pathological conditions.
Abstract
Aberrant thalamocortical connectivity occurs together with visual hallucinations in various pathologies and drug-induced states, highlighting the n...
Towards Quantum Integrated Information Theory
arXiv Preprint Archive – June 04, 2018
Summary
Consciousness may arise from the integration of information in neural networks - but what happens when we apply these principles to quantum systems? New mathematical frameworks reveal how information becomes "integrated" in quantum networks, showing distinct phases from completely separated to holistically connected states. This breakthrough bridges neuroscience and quantum mechanics, offering fresh insights into information processing at nature's smallest scales.
Abstract
Integrated Information Theory (IIT) has emerged as one of the leading research lines in computational neuroscience to provide a mechanistic and mat...
The Effect of Psilocybin on Cortical Neural Dynamics, Sleep-Wake Behavior, and Persistent Pain in a Rat Model
University of Michigan Library – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin, a serotonergic hallucinogen, demonstrates potent analgesic properties in rat models of persistent pain, extending its use beyond psychiatry. This medicine shows promise for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain, addressing nociplastic pain's complex etiology. Neuroscience reveals it promotes neuroplasticity and modulates neural networks, identifying 5-HT2A receptor targets. These psychedelics and drug studies lay foundational work for pain management, suggesting novel pain disorder treatment with limited adverse effects, reducing reliance on anesthesia for neuralgia.
Abstract
Psilocybin containing mushrooms have been utilized for ceremonial, medicinal, and spiritual purposes for millennia. Recently there has been a surge...