Neural Correlates of Self (NeuCoSe)

The Neural Correlates of the " Self " in Altered States of Consciousness

Despite the increasing popularity of mindfulness meditation and hypnosis in healthcare and in the general community the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear. The change in the relationship between the self and the conscious experience that they bring about may be crucial. This study aims to identify the neural correlates of self-consciousness in meta-awareness and absorption - using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in healthy participants combined with detailed first-person experiential accounts and behavioural tasks. This study will provide important clues about the widely reported effects of mindfulness meditation and hypnosis and shed light on the neural correlates of the conscious experience of self.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy Volunteers
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: "control", "meditation", "hypnosis".

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 100
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Bron, France, 69500
    • Hospices Civils de Lyon Hôpital le Vinatier/Inserm

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged 18-70
• Body mass index between 18.5 and 30
• Covered by health insurance
• motivated to participate
• signed informed consent
• normal or corrected-to-normal eyesight
• sufficient command of French to be able to follow the instructions

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of neurological or psychiatric conditions
• chronic pain or another medical condition altering pain perception
• use of medication that affects the central nervous system
• use of opioids or antidepressant medication
• severe auditory loss
• consumption of alcohol or intoxicants on the day of the experiments and the day preceding the experiments
• pregnancy, breastfeeding or having given birth <6months ago
• any contra-indication to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (metal implants or foreign bodies), agitation, claustrophobia

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group 1; three instructions will be given to each participant: "control", "meditation", "hypnosis". The order of "meditation" and "hypnosis" will be randomized amongst two groups to avoid order effects.	Behavioral: "control", "meditation", "hypnosis".; three instructions will be given to each participant: "control", "meditation", "hypnosis". The order of "meditation" and "hypnosis" will be randomized amongst two groups to avoid order effects.
Experimental: Group 2; three instructions will be given to each participant: "control", "meditation", "hypnosis". The order of "meditation" and "hypnosis" will be randomized amongst two groups to avoid order effects.	Behavioral: "control", "meditation", "hypnosis".; three instructions will be given to each participant: "control", "meditation", "hypnosis". The order of "meditation" and "hypnosis" will be randomized amongst two groups to avoid order effects.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Reaction time (minutes)	reaction times during behavioural tasks.	at day 1
Brain activation with IRM	Activation of different brain areas, as measured with functional Magnetic Resonance	At day 3

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
personality trait with questionnaires	scores on different personality questionnaires	at day 2
Scores during behavioural tasks	scores on likert scale (1-5 and 1-9) about intensity of the stimui presented during the task	at day 1
Scores during behavioural tasks	scores on likert scale (1-5 and 1-9) about intensity of the stimui presented during the task	at day 3
salivary volume (millimeter)	salivary volume after behavioural tasks	at day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Antoine LUTZ, PhD, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lutz A. Regulation of attention and emotions by meditation: neurophysiological basis and implications for mental and physical health. In: 12th BIAL Foundation Symposium "Amplified states of consciousness"; 2018 Apr 6; Porto, Portugal. Lutz A. Méditation, hypnose… se soigner par la conscience. In: INSERM - Culture scientifique (webinar); 2022 Dec 13; Paris, France (online). Lutz A. Mindfulness meditation from the lenses of phenomenology and neurosciences. In: USC Center for Mindful Science - Invited lecture; 2022 Dec 12; Los Angeles (CA), USA. Lutz A. Neurophenomenology after Varela (1996). In: Metanoia/Ouroboros - Seminar; 2021 Sep 1; (online).

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 26, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 12, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): November 12, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 30, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 30, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): July 2, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 21, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 18, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: mindfulness meditation; hypnosis; absorption; consciousness; self; meta-awareness
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Therapeutics; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Spiritual Therapies; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Relaxation Therapy; Hypnosis; Meditation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 69HCL17_0274; 2017-A01923-50 (Other Identifier: ID-RCB)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No