The Ritual Play and Altered States of Consciousness: the psychophysical processes in actor creation work

The article discusses the psychophysical processes of actors based on laboratory practice with the Arkhétypos Group, resulting from an interdisciplinary collaboration between Performing Arts and Physiology. It analyzes two creative processes and proposes an approximation with the theory of transient hypofrontality, which suggests a temporary decrease in prefrontal cortex activity during ritual performance. The methodological approach relies on anecdotal evidence and rigorous bibliographic study. Partial results help explain changes in cerebral physiology that occur when an actor enters ritual play.

Study at a glance

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article discusses the psychophysical processes of the actor from a laboratory practice developed with the Arkhétypos Group. The exposition presented is the result of the meeting of two researchers, one from the Performing Arts area and the other from Physiology, generating an interdisciplinary discussion about the Ritual Theater. This article analyzes two creative processes experienced by the authors and proposes an approximation with the theory of transient hypofrontality. The methodological approach is based on the anecdotal evidence and a rigorous bibliographic study. The partial results of the research help us understand what happens to the cerebral physiology of the actor who enters the ritual play.