When Sound Meets Psyche: Marseille and Lyon Host Groundbreaking Symposia on Music, Altered States of Consciousness, and Mental Health

The intersection of clinical psychiatry, neuroscience, and artistic expression is set to take center stage in France this autumn as medical professionals, academic researchers, and electronic music artists converge for a series of pioneering public symposia. Scheduled for Thursday, October 1, and Friday, October 2, these events will unfold successively in Marseille at the Hôpital de la Conception (AP-HM) and in Lyon at the Centre Hospitalier Le Vinatier. Billed as an exploratory bridge between traditional psychiatric care and contemporary creative arts, the initiative addresses a subject rarely broached in mainstream public discourse: the profound, therapeutic interplay among music, physical movement, altered states of consciousness, and psychological well-being.

This rare convergence arrives at a pivotal moment in contemporary medicine. In recent years, the psychiatric community has witnessed a resurgence of clinical research into psychedelic-assisted therapies, while advancements in the neurosciences of movement have increasingly emphasized the intricate feedback loop connecting the physical body, emotional processing, and clinical healing. By placing clinical practitioners alongside working artists and ethnomusicologists, the organizers aim to dismantle long-standing silos between empirical science and creative therapy. Rather than relying on reductive explanations of how external stimuli alter mood, the discussions are designed to foster a bidirectional dialogue: examining not only how structured sound, dance, and biochemical substances can ameliorate psychological distress, but also exploring what psychiatry can teach the artistic community regarding the deep neurology of trauma, emotional regulation, and non-ordinary states of awareness.

The institutional momentum behind these events is driven by prominent figures in French mental health care. The gatherings are hosted by Dr. Xavier Zendjidjian, a psychiatrist and head of service at the Hôpital de la Conception within the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), and Professor Nicolas Franck of the CH Le Vinatier and Université Lyon 1. Moderation duties will be handled by Dr. Benjamin Goodfellow, a practicing psychiatrist based in New Caledonia who maintains a parallel career as an electronic music producer under the moniker Dr. Goodfellow.

A Distinguished Panel of Interdisciplinary Experts

The roster of speakers reflects a truly international and multi-disciplinary approach to mental health. Among the key experts participating in both the Marseille and Lyon legs is Dr. Vincent Liaudat, a psychiatrist and accomplished musician based in Lausanne, Switzerland, whose clinical work focuses heavily on psychedelic-assisted therapies. He is joined by Dr. Michaël Koslowski, a psychiatrist and researcher affiliated jointly with AP-HM Marseille and the prestigious Charité Berlin hospital, bringing a robust academic and cross-border perspective to the panels. Adding a global anthropological and acoustic dimension is Alexandre Tannous, an ethnomusicologist from Columbia University who will participate remotely via videoconference to discuss the deep psychoacoustic properties of sound across various cultures. Furthermore, the Lyon symposium will feature a unique local contribution from Dr. Emmanuel Monneron, a psychiatrist who is also a professional choreographer and dancer at the CH Le Vinatier, offering firsthand insights into somatic therapies and physical movement as tools for psychiatric rehabilitation.

A Chronological Overview of the Symposia and Charity Concerts

The two-day event follows a carefully structured chronology, ensuring that each academic and clinical exchange transitions organically into a living demonstration of the themes discussed through evening electronic music performances.

On Thursday, October 1, the proceedings commence in Marseille. Daytime sessions at the Hôpital de la Conception will host the core panel discussions, dissecting the neurobiological mechanisms underlying music-induced trances, rhythmic driving, and the therapeutic applications of altered states. As evening falls, the focus shifts to Unité 22, where a collaborative charity concert will run from 8:00 PM to 12:30 AM. The musical lineup features performances by Dr. Goodfellow, Dr. Zendjidjian, and Dr. Attalin, with potential guest appearances and collaborative sets by Dr. Liaudat.

On Friday, October 2, the caravan moves northward to Lyon. The CH Le Vinatier will host the second day of symposia, adapting the core themes to accommodate regional clinical initiatives, particularly those tied to cognitive remediation and rehabilitation. The evening culminates in a high-profile charity evening running concurrently from 8:00 PM to 12:30 AM at a venue undergoing final confirmation. The sonic journey of the night opens with (fmR)z (the electronic moniker of Dr. Zendjidjian), followed by a performance from Dr. Goodfellow, and a closing set by Dr. Attalin. The evening will also showcase a special guest performance by davince, the musical project of Dr. Vincent Liaudat. Proceeds and attention generated from these evening events are structured to support ongoing initiatives in mental health awareness and alternative therapeutic research.

Contextualizing the Renaissance of Psychedelic and Somatic Research

To fully appreciate the significance of the Marseille and Lyon symposia, one must examine the broader historical and scientific context of modern psychiatric research. For decades following the mid-20th-century criminalization and cultural backlash against psychedelic compounds, clinical research into altered states of consciousness ground to an almost complete halt. However, the past ten years have marked a profound renaissance. Regulatory bodies in various jurisdictions have gradually begun to re-authorize clinical trials involving substances such as psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and end-of-life anxiety.

Concurrently, neuroscientists have made substantial strides in mapping how the human brain processes rhythmic auditory stimulation. Functional neuroimaging studies demonstrate that rhythmic music engages wide-spread neural networks, including the default mode network (DMN)—the same brain network heavily implicated in ego dissolution, rumination, and various psychedelic states. When individuals experience rhythmic driving through percussion or electronic soundscapes, coupled with physical movement or dance, the brain releases a cascade of neurochemicals, including dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin. These biochemical shifts can lower psychological defenses, facilitate the processing of deep-seated trauma, and induce states of emotional catharsis that talk therapy alone may take years to achieve.

By incorporating electronic music—a genre historically associated with marathon dancing, communal bonding, and altered states of consciousness achieved through repetition and bass frequencies—the organizers are intentionally bridging clinical science with living cultural practices. Rather than confining altered states strictly to a sterile clinical room or a recreational festival ground, the symposia ask how these phenomena can be safely understood, harnessed, and integrated into holistic psychiatric care.

Implications for the Future of Mental Health Care

The staging of these events in major institutional settings such as the AP-HM in Marseille and the CH Le Vinatier in Lyon signals a growing institutional openness toward integrative and non-pharmacological paradigms in French psychiatry. While psychopharmacology remains a cornerstone of mental health treatment, clinicians are increasingly recognizing the limitations of relying exclusively on chemical interventions for complex, chronic conditions such as severe depression, schizophrenia, and treatment-resistant trauma.

Experts suggest that exploring the therapeutic dimensions of music and movement could yield several practical benefits for the future of healthcare. First, it offers scalable, low-risk complementary tools that can be integrated into institutional rehabilitation programs, helping patients regain a sense of bodily ownership and emotional expression. Second, it destigmatizes the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness by situating them within a rigorous scientific and academic framework, separating clinical inquiry from countercultural stereotypes. Finally, by fostering direct communication between researchers and artists, the medical community gains access to sophisticated vocabularies of emotion and expression that have been refined in creative spaces for centuries.

As the psychiatric community watches these developments unfold, the Marseille and Lyon symposia may well serve as a blueprint for future interdisciplinary collaborations across Europe. By proving that rigorous scientific inquiry can comfortably share a stage with electronic music and somatic arts, the organizers are opening new pathways for healing that honor both the measurable mechanics of the human brain and the ineffable depth of human artistic experience.

For further information, institutional inquiries, or press credentials regarding the upcoming symposia and charity concerts, interested parties may contact Dr. Benjamin Goodfellow representing the Minds in Motion collective via email at [email protected], or consult the official regional health portal listings provided by AP-HM and the Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation.