Understanding individual differences in non-ordinary state of consciousness: Relationship between phenomenological experiences and autonomic nervous system.
Victor Oswald, Karim Jerbi, Corine Sombrun, Annen Jitka, Charlotte Martial, Olivia Gosseries, Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse
International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP 2025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2025.100552 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 27 |
| Population | Participants who underwent electrocardiography recordings and completed self-report questionnaires during rest and auto-induced cognitive trance (AICT) |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness |
| Keywords | Mind-body connection Inner world Physiological manifestation Subjective experiences Altered states Consciousness Autonomic nervous system Body's nervous system Physiological data Physiological responses Physiologically Personal accounts Profound experiences |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Self-reported phenomenology and heart rate variability both changed during auto-induced cognitive trance compared with rest, with machine learning classifying the states at 86% and 73% accuracy, respectively. Baseline levels in phenomenology or HRV were associated with the amplitude of change during AICT, and relative change in HRV was associated with change in phenomenology. The authors suggest these inter-individual differences at rest reveal a functional mechanism linking phenomenology and the autonomic nervous system during non-ordinary states of consciousness. |
Abstract
Non-ordinary states of consciousness offer a unique opportunity to explore the interplay between phenomenological experiences and physiological processes. This study investigated individual differences in phenomenological and autonomic nervous system changes between a resting state condition and a non-ordinary state of consciousness (auto-induced cognitive trance, AICT). Specifically, it examined the relationship between self-reported experiences (e.g., absorption, visual representations) and heart rate variability (HRV). Twenty-seven participants underwent electrocardiography recordings and completed self-report questionnaires during rest and AICT. A machine learning framework distinguished the rest and AICT states based on self-reported measures and HRV metrics. A linear mixed-effects model assessed inter-individual differences in HRV and self-reported phenomenology between the two states. Finally, the relationship between relative change in HRV and self-reported experiences was explored. Results showed changes in self-reported phenomenology (accuracy=86 %; p<.001) and HRV (accuracy=73 %; p<.001) characterizing the AICT state compared to rest. The baseline level in phenomenology or HRV was associated with change amplitude during AICT. Moreover, relative change in HRV was associated with change in phenomenology. The findings suggest that inter-individual differences at rest revealed a functional mechanism between phenomenology and the autonomic nervous system during non-ordinary states of consciousness, offering a novel perspective on how physiological mechanisms shape subjective experiences.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on altered states of consciousness, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG. 6 female, 7 male human participants | 2019 | Observational cohort | n = 13 |
| Measures of entropy and complexity in altered states of consciousness Subjects during resting wakefulness, different sleep stages, and epileptic seizures | 2017 | Observational study | |
| Altered States of Consciousness and Short-Term Psychological After-Effects Induced by the First Time Ritual Use of Ayahuasca in an Urban Context in Brazil First-time ayahuasca users in Santo Daime and União do Vegetal rituals | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 28 |
| Quantifying arousal and awareness in altered states of consciousness using interpretable deep learning Healthy individuals during sleep, individuals under general anesthesia, and patients... | 2022 | Observational cohort | n = 71 |
| Subanaesthetic ketamine and altered states of consciousness in humans Human volunteers | 2018 | Observational study | n = 15 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Trance practice and well-being measures: the case of Auto-Induced Cognitive Trance medRxiv July 17, 2026
- États modifiés de la conscience : Revue systématique PRISMA et preuve de concept Cortica December 15, 2025
- From the attenuation of self-boundaries to inner peace: how nonordinary states of consciousness modulates self-experience and subjective well-being. Neuroscience of Consciousness August 27, 2026
Cites 20
- The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2014
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Psychobiology of Altered States of Consciousness. Psychological Bulletin 2005
- Phenomenology, Structure, and Dynamic of Psychedelic States Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences 2016
- Absorption and spiritual experience: A review of evidence and potential mechanisms. Consciousness and Cognition August 1, 2019
and 15 more in the library