Connective Trance: A Foundational Definition for Artistic and Embodied Consciousness
SSRN Electronic Journal January 1, 2026 Mario Enrique Medina
Connective Trance is introduced as a liminal state of expanded awareness that precedes or accompanies creative and performative acts. It is characterized by intensified attention, partial suspension of discursive cognition, and dynamic integration between the lived body, perception, emotion, and environment. Drawing on phenomenology, cognitive studies of attention, and artistic practice, the paper establishes the first canonical definition and delineates its conceptual boundaries relative to flow, absorption, and altered states of consciousness. This provides a foundational framework for future research and applications within art theory and practice-based inquiry.