Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and music together alter brain state dynamics, particularly in task-positive networks. In 15 participants, functional MRI scans under LSD and placebo conditions included resting-state runs before and after music listening. K-Means clustering identified repetitive brain activity patterns. The interaction of music and LSD changed the time-varying activity of the task-positive state. LSD alone affected states combining the default mode, somatomotor, and visual networks. Music itself may have a lasting influence on resting-state activity, especially in task-positive networks. These findings suggest music is a crucial element of the 'setting' in psychedelic experiences, though replication with larger samples is needed.
Listening to music while under the influence of LSD alters the brain's moment-to-moment patterns of activity, particularly in networks linked to attention and task performance. In a study of 15 participants who underwent functional MRI scans after taking LSD or a placebo, the combination of music and LSD changed how long the brain stayed in a task-positive state. LSD alone, regardless of music, affected the dynamics of a state involving the default mode, somatomotor, and visual networks. Music itself appeared to have a lingering effect on resting-state brain activity, especially on networks associated with tasks. These findings suggest that music, as part of the setting, can shape the psychedelic experience at a neural level.