Baseline Power of Theta Oscillations Predicts Mystical-Type Experiences Induced by DMT in a Natural Setting

Bibliographic Data

ID15516845
AuthorsEnzo Tagliazucchi (0000-0003-0421-9993, Adolfo Ibáñez University, corresponding author), Federico Zamberlán (Universidad de Buenos Aires), F Cavanna (0000-0001-8135-6479, Universidad de Buenos Aires), Laura De La Fuente (0000-0003-4527-1608, Universidad de Buenos Aires), Celeste Romero (0000-0001-6232-392X), Yonatan Sanz Perl (0000-0002-1270-5564, Universidad de Buenos Aires), Carla Pallavicini (0000-0001-9589-7735, Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia)
Year2021
Volume12
Pages720066-720066
Publication date2021-11-05
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2021.720066
PMID34803754
OpenAlexW3213175387
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited66

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a classic psychedelic capable of inducing short-lasting but profound changes in consciousness. As with other psychedelics, the experience induced by DMT strongly depends upon contextual factors, yet the neurobiological determinants of this variability remain unknown. The present study investigated changes in neural oscillations elicited by inhaled DMT, and whether baseline electroencephalography (EEG) recordings could predict the subjective effects reported by the participants. Healthy volunteers ( N = 35) were measured with EEG before and during the acute effects of DMT consumed in a natural setting. Source-localized neural oscillations were correlated with the results of multiple questionnaires employed to assess the subjective effects of the drug. DMT resulted in a marked reduction of alpha and beta oscillations, and increased posterior spectral power in the delta, theta and gamma bands. The power of fronto-temporal theta oscillations was inversely correlated with scales indexing feelings of unity and transcendence, which are an integral part of the phenomenology of mystical-type experiences. The robustness of these results was supported using a machine learning model for regression trained and tested following a cross-validation procedure. These results are consistent with the observation that the state of mind prior to consuming a psychedelic drug influences the ensuing subjective experience of the user. They also suggest that baseline EEG screenings before administration of a serotonergic psychedelic could be useful to estimate the likelihood of inducing mystical-type experiences, previously linked to sustained positive effects in well-being and improved outcome of therapeutic interventions

Audiology · Brain activity and meditation · Cognition · Consciousness · Developmental psychology · Electroencephalography · Feeling · Neural correlates of consciousness · Medicine · Neuroscience · Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior · Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies · Psychedelics and Drug Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology

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