Psilocybin-induced spiritual experiences and insightfulness are associated with synchronization of neuronal oscillations
This double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects study (n=50) investigated the psilocybin-induced spiritual experiences and insightfulness in healthy humans to understand the state of consciousness-related neuronal mechanisms using high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. The results identified a correlation between the intensity levels of psilocybin-induced spiritual experience and EEG measures. The study proposed that the identified mechanism may help find a way for modulating mental health considering that spiritual experiences improve well-being and psychological resilience.
Authors
- Erich Seifritz
- Franz Vollenweider
- Matthias Kometer
Published
Abstract
Rationale
During the last years, considerable progress has been made toward understanding the neuronal basis of consciousness by using sophisticated behavioral tasks, brain-imaging techniques, and various psychoactive drugs. Nevertheless, the neuronal mechanisms underlying some of the most intriguing states of consciousness, including spiritual experiences, remain unknown.
Objectives
To elucidate state of consciousness-related neuronal mechanisms, human subjects were given psilocybin, a naturally occurring serotonergic agonist and hallucinogen that has been used for centuries to induce spiritual experiences in religious and medical rituals.
Methods
In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 healthy human volunteers received a moderate dose of psilocybin, while high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings were taken during eyes-open and eyes-closed resting states. The current source density and the lagged phase synchronization of neuronal oscillations across distributed brain regions were computed and correlated with psilocybin-induced altered states of consciousness.
Results
Psilocybin decreased the current source density of neuronal oscillations at 1.5-20 Hz within a neural network comprising the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices and the parahippocampal regions. Most intriguingly, the intensity levels of psilocybin-induced spiritual experience and insightfulness correlated with the lagged phase synchronization of delta oscillations (1.5-4 Hz) between the retrosplenial cortex, the parahippocampus, and the lateral orbitofrontal area.
Conclusions
These results provide systematic evidence for the direct association of a specific spatiotemporal neuronal mechanism with spiritual experiences and enhanced insight into life and existence. The identified mechanism may constitute a pathway for modulating mental health, as spiritual experiences can promote sustained well-being and psychological resilience.
Research Summary of 'Psilocybin-induced spiritual experiences and insightfulness are associated with synchronization of neuronal oscillations'
Introduction
Spiritual experiences are rare but salient states of consciousness that can promote sustained well-being and resilience, yet their neuronal correlates remain poorly understood because such experiences are infrequent and unpredictable. Earlier research has focused largely on traits that predispose individuals to transcendent experiences, and recent placebo-controlled pharmacological studies have shown that the serotonergic hallucinogen psilocybin can dose-dependently elicit profound spiritual experiences, unity, insightfulness and bliss. Neuronal oscillations and their phase synchronization are proposed mechanisms of neuronal integration that shape conscious states; previous animal and human work with serotonergic hallucinogens (and related preparations such as ayahuasca/DMT) has suggested decreases in low-frequency oscillatory power, particularly in the alpha band, but whether oscillatory power or interregional phase relationships specifically underpin spiritual experiences is unresolved. This study by Kometer and colleagues set out to characterise how psilocybin alters the spatial distribution of neuronal oscillatory power and the dynamic coordination of oscillations across brain regions, and to test whether these electrophysiological changes correlate with psilocybin-induced spiritual experiences and insightfulness. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design in healthy volunteers, the investigators recorded high-density EEG during eyes-open and eyes-closed resting states, computed intracerebral current source density and lagged phase synchronization across frequency bands, and related these measures to scores on the validated 5D-ASC questionnaire assessing altered states of consciousness.
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Study Details
- Study Typeindividual
- Journal
- Compound
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- APA Citation
Kometer, M., Pokorny, T., Seifritz, E., & Volleinweider, F. X. (2015). Psilocybin-induced spiritual experiences and insightfulness are associated with synchronization of neuronal oscillations. Psychopharmacology, 232(19), 3663-3676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-015-4026-7
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