Neuroimaging Study Reveals Mechanisms of Self-Induced Transcendental Visionary State

A recent neuroimaging study published in *NeuroImage* explored the brain activity of a 37-year-old woman, referred to as AVP, who can voluntarily enter a transcendental visionary state without the use of drugs. Non-ordinary states of consciousness, which differ significantly from normal waking awareness, can arise through various means such as meditation, sensory deprivation, or extreme stress. These states often involve altered perceptions of time, intensified imagery, and a diminished sense of self-boundaries.

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Researchers, led by Gabriel Della Bella, utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze AVP's brain activity during her self-induced trance. Over five months, she participated in 20 fMRI sessions, where she reported vivid internal imagery, altered body schema, and a profound sense of unity. The study aimed to isolate the brain's mechanics during this state, contrasting AVP's experiences with a control group of ten women who were instructed to simply imagine vivid scenes.

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The study revealed significant changes in AVP's brain connectivity during her transcendental visionary state. Initial phases showed high variability in brain connectivity, indicating a temporary destabilization. However, once she entered the fully developed state, connectivity between distinct brain networks decreased, particularly in the visual cortex, which became isolated from other sensory regions. This disconnection allowed her internal imagery to dominate her experience. Conversely, her frontoparietal and salience networks, responsible for cognitive control and internal focus, exhibited increased coupling, aligning with her reports of sustained attention and lucidity.

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AVP described her experiences as profound calmness, spatial expansion, and a continuous flow of time, which she referred to as an "eternal present." The most stable motif across sessions was a hexagonal network with rhythmic violet pulses. Neuroimaging data supported these subjective reports, showing a shift toward lower entropy and higher statistical complexity in her brain activity during the trance.

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The findings suggest that the human brain can radically reorganize its networks to create a deeply altered, psychedelic-like reality without pharmacological intervention. However, the study's authors caution that this is a case study involving a single participant with a unique neurocognitive profile, including mild grapheme-color synesthesia. They emphasize the need for further research involving diverse participants to determine the generalizability of these findings.

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The study authors concluded, “This study demonstrates how a self-induced NOC can be characterized as a coherent yet reorganized mode of conscious experience.” They highlighted the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind non-ordinary states of consciousness, which could have implications for both psychological and spiritual practices.

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• “In AVP [the participant], this trajectory [of self-inducing the transcendental visionary state] unfolds spontaneously and reproducibly across sessions: it begins with intricate geometric and luminous imagery and culminates in a lucid, expansive state of unity and serenity…” — Gabriel Della Bella, Study Author

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• “This study demonstrates how a self-induced NOC [non-ordinary state of consciousness] can be characterized as a coherent yet reorganized mode of conscious experience, with reproducible large-scale signatures tightly aligned with a phenomenological sequence,” — Gabriel Della Bella, Study Author

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This research contributes significantly to the understanding of non-ordinary states of consciousness, opening avenues for future exploration in both scientific and spiritual contexts.

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