Dynamic Neural State Transitions Predict Psychedelic Phenomenal Richness: Magnitude, Not Direction, Drives Subjective Intensity
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) June 9, 2026 Emma Dobbin
During psychedelic experiences induced by DMT, the intensity of altered consciousness—particularly feelings of disembodiment and out-of-body experiences—is predicted by how much the brain's neural state changes over time, not by any fixed level of brain activity. Static measures of neural integration and complexity showed no link to subjective richness. Instead, the magnitude of neural state transitions, whether increasing or decreasing, correlated with phenomenal intensity and ego dissolution. This suggests that conscious richness depends on dynamic exploration of neural states rather than occupying a specific brain state, challenging static theories of consciousness.