The Neurophenomenology of a Self-Induced Transcendental Visionary State: A Case Study.

A participant who can reliably enter a self-induced non-ordinary state of consciousness (NOC) characterized by vivid imagery, altered bodily perception, and a sense of unity underwent 20 fMRI sessions. Compared to a control group, during the transition into the NOC state, functional connectivity became more variable, indicating temporary destabilization of network organization. In the NOC state, connectivity between brain networks broadly decreased, especially visual cortex coupling with auditory, sensorimotor, and other regions, while frontoparietal and salience networks increased coupling with precuneus and temporal areas, matching reports of inward attention and absorption. Entropy and complexity measures tracked the experience and returned to baseline afterward.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOC) offer a way to examine how large-scale brain dynamics reorganize as experience changes. We studied a participant able to reliably enter a self-induced NOC state characterized by vivid imagery, altered bodily perception, and a sense of unity. Across 20 fMRI sessions, we measured functional connectivity in four conditions (Baseline, Transition, NOC, and Residual) and compared the results with a matched control group. During the Transition phase, connectivity became more variable, indicating a temporary destabilization of network organization. In the NOC state, inter-network connectivity decreased broadly, with visual cortex showing reduced coupling to auditory, sensorimotor, orbitofrontal, thalamic, and cerebellar regions, and the somatomotor-dorsal network disengaging from auditory and language cortices, paralleling the reported visual phenomena and changes in bodily experience. In contrast, frontoparietal and salience networks showed increased coupling with precuneus/posterior cingulate, multimodal temporal cortex, and cerebellar hubs, in agreement with subjective reports of sustained inward-directed attention and stable absorption. Entropy and complexity analyses revealed systematic shifts that tracked the experiential sequence and returned to baseline in the Residual condition. This single-case study brings together something uncommon: controlled experimentation, voluntary induction of NOC states, and rich phenomenological data. Taken together, these elements offer a strong foundation for neurophenomenological research and illustrate why pairing structured paradigms with lived experience is useful for understanding non-ordinary states of consciousness.