Abstract
The use of sound to alter consciousness has been a longstanding practice and can be observed worldwide. Among different ways of structuring sound, repetition and predictability stand out as key elements in practices aimed at altering consciousness. Examples of this are the rhythmic drumming of shamanic rituals and the four-on-the-floor music of electronic dance festivals. This cross-cultural and cross-temporal commonality suggests the existence of a biological mechanism through which exposure to repetitive sounds can facilitate an alteration of consciousness. Neural entrainment - the synchronization of brainwaves with external rhythms- is avowed as the most plausible mechanism. This talk explores recent efforts focused on investigating the relationship between entrainment and altered state of consciousness. Furthermore, through a review of literature on sound-induced altered states of consciousness, a potential mechanism by which sound could impact brain function, related to neural entrainment, is described.
Bio
Raquel Aparicio Terrés is a pre-doctoral researcher in the ERC Artsoundscapes project at the University of Barcelona, Spain. With a background in Psychology and a master's degree in cognitive neuroscience, her research interests revolve around music, altered states of consciousness, and predictive coding in perception and cognition.