Evidence for Higher State of Consciousness Found in New Research

Magnetoencephalographic signal diversity shows brain in higher state of consciousness when under the influence of psychoactive compounds. Empirically, measures of neural signal diversity score higher for wakeful rest that for states with lower conscious level like anesthesia. New research analyzing the magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals from humans during altered states of consciousness induced by psychedelic substances have found higher MEG signal diversity than those found in normal waking states of consciousness. This is the first time such increased levels of neural signal diversity, correlated to higher states of consciousness, have been measured in the psychedelic state.

It is interesting to speculate whether the fine-grain increase of signal complexity of the electromagnetic field generated by the brain is enabling the mind to tune into more vivid and expanded states of awareness. The most recent research does reveal selective correlations between changes in signal diversity and phenomenological reports of the intensity of psychedelic experiences. Such research is important in understanding what consciousness is and its relationship to the neuronal activity of the brain.