Exploring aperiodic, complexity and entropic brain changes during non-ordinary states of consciousness
arXiv (Cornell University) September 23, 2025 Victor Oswald, Karim Jerbi, Corine Sombrun et al.
A self-induced, substance-free trance state called Auto-Induced Cognitive Trance (AICT) engages frontal regions, the posterior cingulate cortex, and the left parietal cortex, brain areas linked to rich subjective experiences. Analysis of EEG recordings from 27 trained participants showed that the aperiodic component of the power spectrum, entropy, and complexity measures distinguished AICT from rest, with the aperiodic component being the strongest discriminator. Baseline neural activity in frontal and parietal regions predicted how much brain activity changed when entering the trance. These results suggest that self-induced trance states alter neural functioning in ways that may explain their intense and unique subjective qualities.