The psychedelic DMT shifts brain oscillations away from criticality—a state thought to support healthy brain function—in alpha and adjacent frequency bands, moving toward subcritical regimes. Entropy increases while complexity decreases during this shift. The magnitude of the criticality shift in alpha and theta bands correlates with the intensity of ego-dissolution, a core feature of the psychedelic experience. These results suggest that altered proximity to critical brain dynamics may underlie the neurological and subjective effects of psychedelics, with implications for understanding altered states of consciousness.
A psychedelic substance (DMT) shifts brain oscillations away from criticality—a state of balanced, complex activity—toward a quieter subcritical regime, particularly in alpha and adjacent frequency bands. This shift increases entropy while reducing complexity. The magnitude of the criticality shift in alpha and theta bands correlates with the intensity of self-dissolution, a core feature of the psychedelic experience. These findings suggest that altered proximity to critical dynamics underlies both the neurological and experiential effects of psychedelics, with implications for understanding altered states of consciousness.