scholarly journals Cholinergic-Induced Specific Oscillations in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex to Reverse Propofol Anesthesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lieju Wang ◽  
Weijie Zhang ◽  
Ying Wu ◽  
Yibo Gao ◽  
Na Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Forebrain ◽  
Electrophysiological Recording ◽  
Specific Power ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Glutamatergic Neurons ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Glutamatergic Pathways

General anesthesia is a drug-induced reversible state comprised of altered states of consciousness, amnesia, analgesia, and immobility. The medial frontal cortex (mPFC) has been discovered to modulate the level of consciousness through cholinergic and glutamatergic pathways. The optogenetic tools combined with in vivo electrophysiological recording were used to study the neural oscillatory modulation mechanisms in mPFC underlying the loss of consciousness (LOC) and emergence. We found that optogenetic activation of both cholinergic and glutamatergic neurons in the basal forebrain (BF) reversed the hypnotic effect of propofol and accelerated the emergence from propofol-induced unconsciousness. The cholinergic light-activation during propofol anesthesia increased the power in the β (12–20 Hz) and low γ (20–30 Hz) bands. Conversely, glutamatergic activation increased the power at less specific broad (1–150 Hz) bands. The cholinergic-induced alteration to specific power bands after LOC had opposite effects to that of propofol. These results suggested that the cholinergic system might act on more specific cortical neural circuits related to propofol anesthesia.

scholarly journals Neural correlates of the shamanic state of consciousness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma R Huels ◽  
Hyoungkyu Kim ◽  
UnCheol Lee ◽  
Tarik Bel-Bahar ◽  
Angelo Colmenero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Classical Music ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Beta Band ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Signal Diversity

Despite the use of shamanism as a healing practice for several millennia, few empirical studies of the shamanic state of consciousness exist. We investigated the neural correlates of shamanic trance using high-density electroencephalography (EEG) in 24 shamanic practitioners and 24 healthy controls during rest, shamanic drumming, and classical music listening, followed by a validated assessment of altered states of consciousness. EEG data were used to assess changes in absolute power, connectivity, signal diversity, and criticality, which were correlated with assessment measures. We also compared assessment scores to those of individuals in a previous study under the influence of psychedelics. Shamanic practitioners were significantly different from controls in several domains of altered states of consciousness, with scores comparable to or exceeding that of healthy volunteers under the influence of psychedelics. Practitioners also displayed increased gamma power during drumming that positively correlated with elementary visual alterations. Furthermore, shamanic practitioners had decreased low alpha and increased low beta connectivity during drumming and classical music, and decreased neural signal diversity in the gamma band during drumming that inversely correlated with insightfulness. Finally, criticality in practitioners was increased during drumming in the low and high beta and gamma bands, with increases in the low beta band correlating with complex imagery and elementary visual alterations. These findings suggest that psychedelic drug-induced and non-pharmacologic alterations in consciousness have overlapping phenomenal traits but are distinct states of consciousness, as reflected by the unique brain-related changes during shamanic trance compared to previous literature investigating the psychedelic state.

scholarly journals Neural Correlates of the Shamanic State of Consciousness

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma R. Huels ◽  
Hyoungkyu Kim ◽  
UnCheol Lee ◽  
Tarik Bel-Bahar ◽  
Angelo V. Colmenero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Classical Music ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Beta Band ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Signal Diversity

Psychedelics have been recognized as model interventions for studying altered states of consciousness. However, few empirical studies of the shamanic state of consciousness, which is anecdotally similar to the psychedelic state, exist. We investigated the neural correlates of shamanic trance using high-density electroencephalography (EEG) in 24 shamanic practitioners and 24 healthy controls during rest, shamanic drumming, and classical music listening, followed by an assessment of altered states of consciousness. EEG data were used to assess changes in absolute power, connectivity, signal diversity, and criticality, which were correlated with assessment measures. We also compared assessment scores to those of individuals in a previous study under the influence of psychedelics. Shamanic practitioners were significantly different from controls in several domains of altered states of consciousness, with scores comparable to or exceeding that of healthy volunteers under the influence of psychedelics. Practitioners also displayed increased gamma power during drumming that positively correlated with elementary visual alterations. Furthermore, shamanic practitioners had decreased low alpha and increased low beta connectivity during drumming and classical music and decreased neural signal diversity in the gamma band during drumming that inversely correlated with insightfulness. Finally, criticality in practitioners was increased during drumming in the low and high beta and gamma bands, with increases in the low beta band correlating with complex imagery and elementary visual alterations. These findings suggest that psychedelic drug-induced and non-pharmacologic alterations in consciousness have overlapping phenomenal traits but are distinct states of consciousness, as reflected by the unique brain-related changes during shamanic trance compared to previous literature investigating the psychedelic state.

The persistence of the subjective in neuropsychopharmacology: observations of contemporary hallucinogen research

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Langlitz
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Brain Research ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Epistemic Object ◽  
The Brain

The elimination of subjectivity through brain research and the replacement of so-called ‘folk psychology’ by a neuroscientifically enlightened worldview and self-conception has been both hoped for and feared. But this cultural revolution is still pending. Based on nine months of fieldwork on the revival of hallucinogen research since the ‘Decade of the Brain,’ this paper examines how subjective experience appears as epistemic object and practical problem in a psychopharmacological laboratory. In the quest for neural correlates of (drug-induced altered states of) consciousness, introspective accounts of test subjects play a crucial role in neuroimaging studies. Firsthand knowledge of the drugs’ flamboyant effects provides researchers with a personal knowledge not communicated in scientific publications, but key to the conduct of their experiments. In many cases, the ‘psychedelic experience’ draws scientists into the field and continues to inspire their self-image and way of life. By exploring these domains the paper points to a persistence of the subjective in contemporary neuropsychopharmacology.

An Internet-Based Quantum Biofeedback and Neurotechnology Cybertherapy System for the Support of Transpersonal Psychology

2017 ◽  
pp. 139-184
Author(s):  
Raul Valverde
Keyword(s):  
Transpersonal Psychology ◽  
Signal Generator ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Transpersonal Psychotherapy ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Human Psyche ◽  
Biofeedback Device

Transpersonal psychology is the study of human nature and proceeds on the assumption that human beings possess potentials that exceed the limits of their ego and integrate the spiritual experience within a broader understanding of the human psyche and consciousness. Altered states of consciousness have been used as psychotherapy in transpersonal psychology for decades. A Cyberpsychotherapy system is proposed to support transpersonal psychotherapy. The system can be used to induce non-ordinary state of consciousness that can be used by transpersonal psychologists as a healing tool to cure his patients with psychological problems such as psychosis at a distance location with the help of Internet technologies. The Cyberpsychotherapy system uses quantum signal generator for the induction of altered states of consciousness based on the God's helmet of Persinger (1983). The Cyberpsychotherapy has integrated an EEG that serves as a biofeedback device in order to assess if the patient has reached the desired level of consciousness and can be used it to adjust the frequencies of the signal generator in order to improve the psychotherapy experience of the patient if necessary. A sample of 10 patients was used to test the Cybertherapy system based on Neurotechnology and quantum biofeedback, data was collected and analyzed. Although the results show that the patients were not able to reach the desired level of consciousness for the psychotherapy, there is statistical significant evidence that the proposed system can help to raise the level of consciousness; this can help with future designs that will eventually assist to reach the desired level for the psychotherapy.

An Internet-Based Quantum Biofeedback and Neurotechnology Cybertherapy System for the Support of Transpersonal Psychology

2021 ◽  
pp. 940-976
Author(s):  
Raul Valverde
Keyword(s):  
Transpersonal Psychology ◽  
Signal Generator ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Transpersonal Psychotherapy ◽  
Level Of Consciousness ◽  
Human Psyche ◽  
Biofeedback Device

Transpersonal psychology is the study of human nature and proceeds on the assumption that human beings possess potentials that exceed the limits of their ego and integrate the spiritual experience within a broader understanding of the human psyche and consciousness. Altered states of consciousness have been used as psychotherapy in transpersonal psychology for decades. A Cyberpsychotherapy system is proposed to support transpersonal psychotherapy. The system can be used to induce non-ordinary state of consciousness that can be used by transpersonal psychologists as a healing tool to cure his patients with psychological problems such as psychosis at a distance location with the help of Internet technologies. The Cyberpsychotherapy system uses quantum signal generator for the induction of altered states of consciousness based on the God's helmet of Persinger (1983). The Cyberpsychotherapy has integrated an EEG that serves as a biofeedback device in order to assess if the patient has reached the desired level of consciousness and can be used it to adjust the frequencies of the signal generator in order to improve the psychotherapy experience of the patient if necessary. A sample of 10 patients was used to test the Cybertherapy system based on Neurotechnology and quantum biofeedback, data was collected and analyzed. Although the results show that the patients were not able to reach the desired level of consciousness for the psychotherapy, there is statistical significant evidence that the proposed system can help to raise the level of consciousness; this can help with future designs that will eventually assist to reach the desired level for the psychotherapy.

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