14 research outputs found
Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG
Studying transitions in and out of the altered state of consciousness caused by intravenous (IV) N,NDimethyltryptamine (DMT - a fast-acting tryptamine psychedelic) ofers a safe and powerful means
of advancing knowledge on the neurobiology of conscious states. Here we sought to investigate
the efects 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 fndings highlight marked changes
in oscillatory activity and signal diversity with DMT that parallel broad and specifc components of
the subjective experience, thus advancing our understanding of the neurobiological underpinnings of
immersive states of consciousness