Assessing the relationship between neural entrainment and altered states of consciousness induced by electronic music
Raquel Aparicio-Terrés, Samantha López-Mochales, Margarita Díaz-Andreu, Carles Escera
bioRxiv Preprint Server January 16, 2024 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.16.575849 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subjects experimental study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 20 |
| Population | Participants (no further description given) |
| Interventions | 2.25 Hz and 2.85 Hz |
| Duration | One-minute excerpts per condition |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Keywords | Neural entrainment Brainwave synchronization Electronic music edm Synthesized music Digital music Reaction time Cognitive function Music tempo beat Rhythm Musical pace |
| Key findings | Brain entrainment peaked at 1.65 Hz tempo, and while unity experience was higher at that tempo, no direct relationship between entrainment and altered states of consciousness was found, though entrainment correlated with reaction time. |
Abstract
In electronic music events, the driving four-on-the-floor music appears pivotal for inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs). While various physiological mechanisms link repetitive auditory stimuli to ASCs, entrainment—a brainwave synchronization through periodic external stimuli— has garnered primary focus. However, there are no studies systematically exploring the relationship between entrainment and ASCs. In the present study, we depart from the finding that entrainment to auditory stimuli peaks for stimulation rates around 2 Hz compared to others. Twenty participants listened to six one-minute electronic music excerpts at different tempos (1.65 Hz, 2.25 Hz, and 2.85 Hz). For each excerpt, they performed cognitive tasks and reported phenomenological experiences related to ASCs through questionnaires. Brain activity was recorded with electroencephalography to assess whether a modulation in entrainment by the beat of electronic music affected objective and subjective proxies of ASCs. Our results revealed a tempo-driven entrainment modulation, peaking at 1.65 Hz. Similarly, participants’ experience of unity during listening to the music was higher for the excerpts at 1.65 Hz, yet no relationship with entrainment was found. Critically, a correlation was found between entrainment and participants’ reaction time. Further studies are granted to explore how individual traits, such as musical training, modulate the relationship.