scholarly journals Electrocortical (EEG) correlates of music and states of consciousness

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lazar Skaric ◽  
Milorad Tomasevic ◽  
Dejan Rakovic ◽  
Emil Jovanov ◽  
Vlada Radivojevic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Response ◽  
Hemispheric Specialization ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Multidisciplinary Research ◽  
Frequency Bands ◽  
Alpha Frequency ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
The Difference

The study of the perception of music is a paramount example of multidisciplinary research. In spite of a lot of theoretical and experimental efforts to understand musical processing, attempts to localize musical abilities in particular brain regions were largely unsuccessful, save for the difference between musicians and non musicians, especially in hemispheric specialization and in EEG correlational dimensions. Having in mind that human emotional response to music and to art in general is limbic dependent, this motivated us to address our question to a similar possible neurobiological origin of musicogenic altered states of consciousness and its possible EEG correlates, “resonantly” induced by deep spiritual music. For example, as in sound-induced altered states of consciousness cultivated in some Eastern yogic practices. The musicogenic states of consciousness are evaluated within a group of 6 adults, upon the influence of 4 types of spiritual music. The most prominent changes in theta or alpha frequency bands were induced in two subjects, upon the influence of Indian spiritual music, Bhajan.

scholarly journals Neural Correlates of a Trance Process and Alternative States of Consciousness in a Traditional Healer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca G. Rogerson ◽  
Rebecca Barnstaple ◽  
Joseph F.X. DeSouza
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Auditory Stimuli ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Bold Signal ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Neural Signature ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractTrance processes are a form of altered states of consciousness (ASC) widely reported across cultures. Entering these states is often linked to auditory stimuli such as singing, chanting, or rhythmic drumming. While scientific research into this phenomenon is relatively nascent, there is emerging interest in investigating the neural correlates of altered states of consciousness such as trance. This report aims to add to this field of ASC through exploring how the perception of an experienced Sangoma--traditional South African healer--entering a trance process correlates to BOLD signal modulation with auditory stimuli. Functional MRI data were analyzed using a General Linear model comparing music versus no music condition multiplied by the percept of experiencing trance (High or Low). Positive BOLD activation was shown in auditory cortex in both hemispheres during a trance process. Other brain regions tightly correlated to trance perception were right parietal, right frontal, and area prostriata (P<0.05, Bonferroni corrected). Orbitofrontal cortex (part of the Default Mode Network) was negatively activated and most correlated with music when trance was high, showing the largest differential between high and low trance perception. This is the first study to directly correlate BOLD signal variations in an expert subject’s percept of trance onset and intensity, providing insight into the neural signature and dynamics of this unique form of ASC. Future studies should examine in greater detail perception of trance processes in expert subjects, adding other neuroimaging modalities to further investigate how these brain regions are modulated by trance expertise.

scholarly journals Neural Correlates of a Trance Process and Alternative States of Consciousness in a Traditional Healer

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Rebecca G. Rogerson ◽  
Rebecca E. Barnstaple ◽  
Joseph FX DeSouza
Keyword(s):  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Blood Oxygen Level Dependent ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Auditory Stimuli ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Bold Signal ◽  
Blood Oxygen Level ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
The Right

Trance processes are a form of altered states of consciousness (ASC) widely reported across cultures. Entering these states is often linked to auditory stimuli such as singing, chanting, or rhythmic drumming. While scientific research into this phenomenon is relatively nascent, there is emerging interest in investigating the neural correlates of altered states of consciousness such as trance. This report aims to add to this field of ASC through exploring how the perception of an experienced Sangoma (traditional South African healer) entering a trance process correlates to blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal modulation with auditory stimuli. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data were analyzed using a General Linear Model comparing music versus no music condition multiplied by the percept of experiencing trance (High or Low). Positive BOLD activation was shown in the auditory cortex in both hemispheres during a trance process. Other brain regions tightly correlated to trance perception were the right parietal, right frontal, and area prostriata (p < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected). The orbitofrontal cortex (part of the Default Mode Network) was negatively activated and most correlated with music when trance was high, showing the largest differential between high and low trance perception. This is the first study to directly correlate BOLD signal variations in an expert subject’s percept of trance onset and intensity, providing insight into the neural signature and dynamics of this unique form of ASC. Future studies should examine in greater detail the perception of trance processes in expert subjects, adding other neuroimaging modalities to further investigate how these brain regions are modulated by trance expertise.

Sadomasochism as a path to altered states of consciousness

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
James K. Ambler ◽  
Ellen M. Lee ◽  
Kathryn R. Klement ◽  
Tonio Loewald ◽  
Brad J. Sagarin
Keyword(s):  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Consciousness

Virtual Unreality

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Weinel
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Interactive Video ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Visual Systems

This chapter explores altered states of consciousness in interactive video games and virtual reality applications. First, a brief overview of advances in the sound and graphics of video games is provided, which has led to ever-more immersive capabilities within the medium. Following this, a variety of games that represent states of intoxication, drug use, and hallucinations are discussed, in order to reveal how these states are portrayed with the aid of sound and music, and for what purpose. An alternative trajectory in games is also explored, as various synaesthetic titles are reviewed, which provide high-adrenaline experiences for ravers, and simulate dreams, meditation, or psychedelic states. Through the analysis of these, and building upon the previous chapters of Inner Sound, this chapter presents a conceptual model for ‘Altered States of Consciousness Simulations’: interactive audio-visual systems that represent altered states with regards to the sensory components of the experience.

Synaesthetic Overdrive

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Weinel
Keyword(s):  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Visual Media ◽  
Altered States Of Consciousness ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Visual Music ◽  
Background Theory ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Feature Films ◽  
Expanded Cinema ◽  
Improved Accuracy

This chapter discusses altered states of consciousness in audio-visual media, such as films, psychedelic light shows, and VJ performances. First, some background theory is introduced, explaining the main categories of film sound, and what research tells us regarding the way in which sound influences the perception of visual images and vice versa. Following this background section, a tour is provided through various films that represent altered states of consciousness, including surrealist movies, ‘trance films’, and Hollywood feature films. These demonstrate a progression, where more recent movies are able to make use of digital audio and visual effects to represent the subjective experience of altered states with improved accuracy. Meanwhile, beyond the traditional confines of the cinema, ‘expanded cinema’ works such as visual music, psychedelic light shows, and VJ performances have provided increasingly sophisticated synaesthetic experiences, which are designed to transform the consciousness of their audience.

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