A study of 27 healthy adults found that DMT shifted brain activity towards more random, less complex patterns, with larger changes linked to stronger ego dissolution.

Across two studies, DMT reduced criticality in theta, alpha and beta brain waves, moving signals away from the balance between order and chaos. The size of this shift correlated with participants’ reported intensity of ego dissolution, suggesting subcritical alpha and theta activity as a potential biomarker for loss of the conscious self.