http://www.cogsci.ucsd.edu/~pineda/COGS175/readings/Dietrich.pdf … The Transient Hypofrontality hypothesis says that trancelike "altered states" like dreams, meditation, hypnosis, glossolalia, and the "runner's high" are characterized by reduced frontal lobe activity.
Dietrich hypothesizes that exercise and hypnosis are, like dreams, hypofrontal states, but we don't have direct physiological evidence of this, only behavioral. EG, people are worse at PFC-heavy tasks while running but not at other cognitive tasks.
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http://www.psychohistorian.org/downloads/psychology/newberg2006.pdf … an n=5 PET scan study found that blood flow to the prefrontal cortex is reduced during glossolalia compared to hymn singing, suggesting that glossolalia is a hypofrontal state.
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The evidence on meditation is inconsistent. EEG studies from the 1960's-70's found more alpha state and less beta state during meditation, normally an indicator of less frontal lobe activity. But fMRI studies from the 1990's showed *more* PFC activity during meditation.
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This is suspect to me because it tracks changing attitudes towards meditation in the US -- "mindfulness" is more associated with focus, productivity, and maturity today, so researchers probably expect to see more PFC activity. Also, fMRI sucks.
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Dietrich thinks trance states, including endurance exercise, are good for mental stability because they temporarily turn off our frontal lobes. Sort of a Bakhtinian thing. I find this an appealing idea.
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