Differentiating hallucination proneness dimensions through alpha resting state dynamics.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Hallucination-like experiences (HLEs) are sensory perceptions misattributed to external sources, linked to externalizing bias.
• Hallucination proneness (HP) vulnerability is measured by the Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale (LSHS), recently found to have four dimensions: Multisensory HLEs, Auditory daydreaming, Vivid thoughts and inner speech, and Personified HLEs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if the four HP dimensions correlate with distinct patterns of resting-state (RS) brain dynamics in the alpha frequency band.
• To identify neural markers associated with different vulnerability profiles for HLEs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Hidden semi-Markov Model to segment 3-minute RS alpha activity into nine recurrent brain states.
• Extracted metrics including total transitions (TT) and state visits (SV) over the recording and within sliding windows.
• Correlated HP dimensions with TT and SV metrics.

Main Results:

• All HP dimensions and increased RS time correlated with increased TT, suggesting frequent attentional switches.
• Increased Personified HLEs scores were linked to time-dependent changes in SV, indicating distinct alpha dynamics between high- and low-HP individuals.
• Altered SV patterns in high Personified HLEs individuals suggest unstable source monitoring and potential externalizing bias.

Conclusions:

• The study identifies novel predictors for HP dimensions based on RS alpha brain dynamics.
• Distinct neural profiles are associated with different vulnerability profiles for HLEs.
• Findings contribute to understanding the neural underpinnings of externalizing bias and hallucination proneness.