Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG.
Christopher Timmermann, Leor Roseman, Michael Schartner, Raphaël Millière, Luke T. J. Williams, David Erritzøe, Suresh Muthukumaraswamy, Michael Ashton, Adam Bendrioua, Okdeep Kaur, Samuel Turton, Matthew M. Nour, Camilla M. Day, Robert Leech, David J. Nutt, Robin L. Carhart-Harris
Sci Rep November 19, 2019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51974-4 via PubMed Central
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractIntravenous DMT, a fast-acting psychedelic, markedly reduces alpha and beta brain wave power and increases spontaneous signal diversity in the human brain, as measured by EEG. The emergence of delta and theta oscillatory activity correlates with the peak of the subjective experience, especially its eyes-closed visual component. Relationships between changes in subjective experience and brain activity were observed across time, linking specific brain changes to specific aspects of the experience.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 13 |
| Population | 6 female, 7 male human participants |
| Intervention | N-Dimethyltryptamine |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness DMT |
| Keywords | Brain activity EEG Studies |
| Citations | 325 |
| Key finding | DMT reduced alpha and beta oscillatory power and increased signal diversity, with delta and theta activity correlating with the peak of the subjective visual experience. |
Abstract
Studying transitions in and out of the altered state of consciousness caused by intravenous (IV) N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT - a fast-acting tryptamine psychedelic) offers a safe and powerful means of advancing knowledge on the neurobiology of conscious states. Here we sought to investigate the effects of IV DMT on the power spectrum and signal diversity of human brain activity (6 female, 7 male) recorded via multivariate EEG, and plot relationships between subjective experience, brain activity and drug plasma concentrations across time. Compared with placebo, DMT markedly reduced oscillatory power in the alpha and beta bands and robustly increased spontaneous signal diversity. Time-referenced and neurophenomenological analyses revealed close relationships between changes in various aspects of subjective experience and changes in brain activity. Importantly, the emergence of oscillatory activity within the delta and theta frequency bands was found to correlate with the peak of the experience - particularly its eyes-closed visual component. These findings highlight marked changes in oscillatory activity and signal diversity with DMT that parallel broad and specific components of the subjective experience, thus advancing our understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of immersive states of consciousness.