Functional neuroanatomy of altered states of consciousness: The transient hypofrontality hypothesis
Consciousness and Cognition May 19, 2003 Arne Dietrich 486 citations
Altered states of consciousness—such as dreaming, endurance running, meditation, daydreaming, hypnosis, and drug-induced states—are primarily caused by temporary reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region supporting higher-order cognitive functions. This transient hypofrontality is proposed as the unifying feature across all altered states, while the unique qualities of each state arise from which specific frontal circuits remain more or less active. Consciousness is conceptualized as a hierarchy of cognitive functions, with the prefrontal cortex at the top contributing the most sophisticated content. The framework generates testable hypotheses about how subtle prefrontal changes produce diverse conscious experiences.