The Science Behind Lumenate
Lumenate uses the flashlight on the back of your phone to neurologically guide you into a state between that of deep meditation and psychedelics. In this state you can expect to be fully immersed in the present moment, experiencing powerful closed eye visuals and allowing you to explore your mind from a new perspective. Read below to discover more about how we achieve this, what to expect, and the latest research.
Introducing Neural Entrainment
The core mechanism that allows Lumenate to create this powerful altered state of consciousness is neural entrainment. This is a phenomenon where the brain’s electrical activity, or brainwaves, synchronise with the frequency of an external stimulus, such as sound or light. This process is based on the natural tendency of the brain to match its frequency to that of an external rhythmic stimulus, a concept known as the frequency following response. Through this neural synchronisation, it is then possible to softly guide the brain into an altered state of consciousness between that of deep meditation and psychedelics. In Lumenate’s case, this is achieved using the phone’s flashlight strobed at research-driven frequencies on the user’s closed eyes.
Subjective and Neurological Effects
Subjectively this method of visual entrainment results in users experiencing visual (Bartossek et al, 2021), ego and imagination-based effects (Schwartzman et al, 2019) with an intensity rated to be similar in strength to effects induced by psychedelic substances.
Alongside these striking subjective effects, increased EEG signal diversity has also been measured within this stroboscopic-induced state (Schwartzman et al, 2019). Within psychedelic states, this increased signal diversity is often associated with the rich and unusual perceptual and cognitive phenomena experienced. Some publications have even gone as far as to name this a measure of a ‘higher state of consciousness’.
Additionally research has also shown that this stroboscopic altered state also leads to a reduction in peak alpha activity. This again has been shown to correlate to changes in consciousness such as ego-dissolution and visual hallucination in psychedelic states.
Finally, it is believed that this stroboscopic state also leads to a reduction of activity within the default mode network. This part of the brain, associated with self-referential thought and ego identity, tends to become less active during psychedelic states, which is theorised to contribute to experiences of ego dissolution and altered self-experience. Lumenate is currently working with Freie Universität Berlin to conduct an fMRI study to fully validate this.
Summary of altered state of consciousness questionnaire responses (Schwartzman et al, 2019)
Subjectively this method of visual entrainment results in users experiencing visual (Bartossek et al, 2021), ego and imagination-based effects (Schwartzman et al, 2019) with an intensity rated to be similar in strength to effects induced by psychedelic substances.
Summary of altered state of consciousness questionnaire responses (Schwartzman et al, 2019)
Alongside these striking subjective effects, increased EEG signal diversity has also been measured within this stroboscopic-induced state (Schwartzman et al, 2019). Within psychedelic states, this increased signal diversity is often associated with the rich and unusual perceptual and cognitive phenomena experienced. Some publications have even gone as far as to name this a measure of a ‘higher state of consciousness’.
Additionally research has also shown that this stroboscopic altered state also leads to a reduction in peak alpha activity. This again has been shown to correlate to changes in consciousness such as ego-dissolution and visual hallucination in psychedelic states.
Finally, it is believed that this stroboscopic state also leads to a reduction of activity within the default mode network. This part of the brain, associated with self-referential thought and ego identity, tends to become less active during psychedelic states, which is theorised to contribute to experiences of ego dissolution and altered self-experience. Lumenate is currently working with Freie Universität Berlin to conduct an fMRI study to fully validate this.
Future Research
Lumenate is currently supporting universities around the world to deepen research in this field. As these studies reach their conclusions we will continue to update this page. If you work with an institution interested in exploring this powerful altered state of consciousness with us, please reach out to [email protected]
