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EEG Microstates in Altered States of Consciousness

Lucie Bréchet, Christoph M. Michel

Frontiers in Psychology April 27, 2022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.856697 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Review Peer reviewed
Topics Altered states of consciousness
Keywords Electroencephalography Consciousness Altered state Cognitive psychology Cognitive science
Citations 41
Key findings EEG microstates, lasting 60–120 ms, are discrete brain states that may represent the basic building blocks of thought, and their dynamics are altered in various altered states of consciousness.

Abstract

Conscious experiences unify distinct phenomenological experiences that seem to be continuously evolving. Yet, empirical evidence shows that conscious mental activity is discontinuous and can be parsed into a series of states of thoughts that manifest as discrete spatiotemporal patterns of global neuronal activity lasting for fractions of seconds. EEG measures the brain’s electrical activity with high temporal resolution on the scale of milliseconds and, therefore, might be used to investigate the fast spatiotemporal structure of conscious mental states. Such analyses revealed that the global scalp electric fields during spontaneous mental activity are parceled into blocks of stable topographies that last around 60–120 ms, the so-called EEG microstates. These brain states may be representing the basic building blocks of consciousness, the “atoms of thought.” Altered states of consciousness, such as sleep, anesthesia, meditation, or psychiatric diseases, influence the spatiotemporal dynamics of microstates. In this brief perspective, we suggest that it is possible to examine the underlying characteristics of self-consciousness using this EEG microstates approach. Specifically, we will summarize recent results on EEG microstate alterations in mind-wandering, meditation, sleep and anesthesia, and discuss the functional significance of microstates in altered states of consciousness.

Comparable studies

Other narrative reviews on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The Subjective Effects of Psychedelics Are Necessary for Their Enduring Therapeutic Effects. 2020 Review
Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness. 2005 Review
Intrinsic Brain Activity in Altered States of Consciousness 2008 Review
Dynamic functional connectivity and brain metastability during altered states of consciousness 2017 Review
A default mode of brain function in altered states of consciousness. 2013 Review

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Altered states of consciousness Meditation Philosophy of mind