EEG Brain mapping in altered states of consciousness under the influence of Cannabis while litening to selected pieces of music

Author(s): David, E., Pfotenhauer, M.

Journal/Book: Curare - Journal for Ethnomedicine. 1995; 18: Berlin. VWB - Verlag. 331-358.

Abstract: Presented is a single case study conducted in a qualitative and quantitative way. Great importance was attached to realise a setting close to the userÕs normal, private situation in everyday life, because the atmosphere of a laboratory will effect the quality of the experienced contents of consciousness. EEG-Brainmapping was performed during listening with closed eyes to three different pieces of music in habituated setting. The music was heard before and after smoking Cannabis (í 20 mg D9 THC). Data were averaged and treated with a T-test and a phenomenological schedule. Differences (P> 0.01) appeared in the right hemisphere, along the motor cortex on beta(b)-I, theta(J)-, and on alpha(a)-frequencies in the right frontal Cortex. This could be effects of the cerebral blood flow changes. A common finding in all averages of the altered state was a low intensity of brain activity on delta-, theta- and beta I+II-frequencies. On the alpha frequencies we found a strong activity peak in the parietal-occipital left, the so-called ´analytic and receptive´ hemisphere around the EEG measuring point P3. This cortical area is known as a part of the auditory and visual association areas. The alpha-Peak in connection to the reciprocal relation of low brain-activity and the subjective reported state of ´being high´ could be a neurophysiological basis for the reported experiences of cannabis users with synaesthetic effects, like ´seeing colours and shapes related to the listened music´ and similar psychological characteristics found in some studies about altered state of consciousness. Moreover it could be a special physiological function of the recently discovered C-br-receptor and the anandamid related to music.

Note: EEG-Brain mapping in veränderten Bewußtseinszuständen unter Cannabiseinwirkung beim Hören ausgewählter Musikstücke - ein Fallbeispiel

Keyword(s): Cannabis; Auditory; Music Perception; Synesthesia; Consciousness; Setting; EEG; Neuroimaging; Cerebral processing; Qualitative-Quantitative Research;

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EEG Brain mapping in altered states of consciousness under the influence of Cannabis while litening to selected pieces of music - a case study