Could the line separating us from our surroundings blur if we close our eyes, make sounds and let our bodies move as they will? A research team from the University of Burgundy Europe (Dijon), France, studied 17 practitioners who self-induce a trance without drugs or external devices. They reported that during the trance, the sense of having clear bodily boundaries fell substantially, while feelings of unity with their surroundings and inner peace grew stronger. The paper was published on 27 August in the journal Neuroscience of Consciousness, and the US psychology news outlet PsyPost covered the study on 14 October. The researchers also stressed that this was a small preliminary study and that trance should not be regarded as a treatment.
From drum rhythms to sound and movement alone: what is cognitive trance?
The practice examined in the study is known as auto-induced cognitive trance. According to the paper, the method began as an attempt to recreate the repetitive rhythms used in traditional trance rituals, such as the drumming of Mongolian shamans. As observations accumulated that repeated sounds could induce trance in many people, the practice was developed into a standardised method. Today, it is entered through sounds made by the practitioner and bodily movement alone, without external music. Another feature is that it is taught in a secular way, without rituals or symbolic systems. The researchers described this state as one in which awareness of the external environment narrows, while the person remains clearly awake.
The participants were practitioners who had learned the method at the TranceScience Research Institute in Paris. There were 13 women and four men, with an average age of 49; on average, they had trained about 15 months earlier. Most practised several times a week, for about 10 minutes each time. Many had higher education qualifications and worked in healthcare.
Two scenes recalled by 17 people: the previous evening’s meal and their deepest trance
The researchers asked participants to recall two moments in random order. One was their most recent mealtime; the other was a deep trance experience intense enough to remain memorable. Participants spoke freely about their thoughts and feelings in each moment, and rated their sense of self and emotional state on a scale from 0 to 100.
Their thoughts differed first. The time spent daydreaming about the future fell from 31.5% during a meal to 2.7% during trance. The feeling that they themselves generated their thoughts and emotions dropped from 67.4 to 12.1, while their sense of time passing fell from 64.3 to 7.0. Eleven of the 17 participants could not judge how quickly time had passed during the trance.
The body faded and unity rose from 28.4 to 75.9; inner peace also climbed by 30 points
Changes in bodily sensation were greater still. The feeling of controlling their body’s movements fell from 83.8 to 10.4. The sense of having clear bodily boundaries dropped from 83.8 to 36.5, while the feeling of being one with their surroundings rose from 28.4 to 75.9. The feeling of being anchored to one point also declined, from 85.7 to 50.4. Interestingly, there was little difference between the two states in the feeling of being one’s body or being at the centre of the scene.
As for emotions, overall happiness rose from 50.5 to 74.2, and inner peace from 44.3 to 74.7. Satisfaction also increased, but the difference was not statistically significant. During trance, the clearest link with happiness was the sense of moving away from the centre of the scene and being less anchored to one point. Unlike the reduction in daydreaming, changes in thought were not clearly associated with happiness. The researchers interpreted the findings as consistent with their theoretical model, which suggests that inner peace may grow as self-centredness loosens.
Some felt fear: the researchers were upfront about the limitations
Not every experience was comfortable. Some participants described fear or a sense of being weighed down. One person said that the observing self acted like a brake, preventing the trance from deepening. Participants said they could leave the trance whenever they wished, which the researchers said distinguished it from pathological dissociation. The researchers added that meditation studies have also found that changes in the sense of self can be unsettling.
The researchers were also upfront about the limitations. As a preliminary study with only 17 participants, its effect sizes may be overstated, and practitioners trained at the same institution may have had similar expectations. One of the co-authors is affiliated with the institute that teaches the practice. Recalling past experiences may distort intense memories, and comparing the deepest trance with an ordinary meal may have made the differences seem larger. As the study took place at a single point in time, it cannot establish causation or lasting change. Lead author researcher Pierre de Oliveira told PsyPost that such experiences are not always enjoyable and may not suit everyone. The researchers stressed that the findings do not mean trance makes people happier; they record only a momentary state.
A practice entered through movement rather than sitting still: first ask whether it is right for you
What makes the study interesting is that it documented, in scientific terms, a state of consciousness entered through making sounds and moving the body, rather than sitting quietly. For some people, letting the body move first may be easier than being told to stop thinking. The questions the researchers identified for future work follow the same direction: whether repeated practice leaves lasting changes in the sense of self, and what role practitioners’ expectations, the teaching environment and the way they process the experience after returning to everyday life might play.
Trance practice should not be treated as the same thing as meditation. However, this account may be useful to people interested in dynamic meditation entered through movement or vocal sounds. If you are interested in trying such a practice, put safety before expectations. Rather than going deeply into it alone, start with a short session alongside a suitably qualified teacher, and stop whenever you feel anxious or afraid. If you have experienced trauma or panic attacks, speak to a professional first. No single practice is the right answer; the priority is finding an approach that suits your body and mind.
For article enquiries: fare3041@naver.com