979 results for "Mindfulness"
Content-Free Awareness: EEG-fcMRI Correlates of Consciousness as Such in an Expert Meditator
Frontiers in Psychology – February 18, 2020
Summary
A highly experienced meditator (over 50,000 practice hours) revealed unique neural correlates of consciousness during content-free awareness. Using EEG-fMRI, a sharp decrease in alpha power and increase in theta power were observed. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed increased functional connectivity in the dorsal attention network and decreased activity in the posterior default mode network. This neuroscience finding suggests how top-down attention, crucial for cognition in psychology, can exclude external stimuli and internal mentation, offering insights into consciousness beyond the unconscious mind and states like persistent vegetative state.
Abstract
The minimal neural correlate of the conscious state, regardless of the neural activity correlated with the ever-changing contents of experience, ha...
Beyond the veil of duality—topographic reorganization model of meditation
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2022
Summary
Advanced meditation profoundly reorganizes the brain, dissolving the perceived boundary between self and environment. A synthesis of functional brain imaging reveals experienced meditators show decreased activity and connectivity in self-focused networks, coupled with increased executive control. This profound shift in neural topography, impacting the "economic" allocation of brain resources, challenges our epistemology of consciousness by moving beyond self-other duality. Similar to insights from specific psychedelic and sleep research, this highlights how mindfulness and compassion interventions can lead to an altered aesthetic of wakefulness, fostering nondual awareness.
Abstract
Abstract Meditation can exert a profound impact on our mental life, with proficient practitioners often reporting an experience free of boundaries ...
Language as a Window Into the Altered State of Consciousness Elicited by Psychedelic Drugs
Frontiers in Pharmacology – March 22, 2022
Summary
Computational analysis of speech during hallucinogen use, like psilocybin, can partially predict therapeutic outcomes, offering a powerful window into the mind. This has key relevance for psychology and psychotherapist practice. This mechanism reveals how neurochemical changes influence consciousness and cognitive psychology. By studying language expression, researchers in Psychedelics and Drug Studies gain insights into the action of these drugs, their biochemical analysis, and neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, opening a window of opportunity for deeper understanding.
Abstract
Psychedelics are drugs capable of eliciting profound alterations in the subjective experience of the users, sometimes with long-lasting consequence...
Additive Effects of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and Compassionate Imagery on Self-Compassion in Recreational Users of Ecstasy
Mindfulness – November 04, 2017
Summary
Ecstasy (MDMA) and compassionate imagery, a technique from Psychology, together profoundly increase self-compassion. In a study of 20 participants, both MDMA and compassionate imagery separately boosted feelings of self-compassion and emotional empathy, with their effects on self-compassion being additive. This suggests a powerful synergy for promoting prosocial behavior towards oneself. Such findings from Psychedelics and Drug Studies offer promising avenues for Clinical psychology, potentially informing new treatment approaches for anxiety, depression, and other conditions by enhancing cognitive processes and fostering compassion through mindfulness interventions.
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA;'ecstasy') produces prosocial subjective effects that may extend to affiliative feelings towards the self...
Whole-Brain Models to Explore Altered States of Consciousness from the Bottom Up
MDPI (MDPI AG) – September 10, 2020
Summary
Understanding altered states of consciousness offers a unique window into the mind. Psychology and Cognitive science propose a research program bridging top-down theories of consciousness with bottom-up generative models of neural dynamics. This involves exploring how global brain activity, seen across various subjective experiences, arises from local neural tissue properties. Using whole-brain models in Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, including functional brain connectivity studies, aims to systematically investigate consciousness's biophysical and informational underpinnings by examining two core design approaches: top-down and bottom-up.
Abstract
The scope of human consciousness includes states departing from what most of us experience as ordinary wakefulness. These altered states of conscio...
Dancing the Wild Divine: Drums, Drugs, and Individuation
Journal of Jungian Scholarly Studies – March 23, 2020
Summary
A compelling re-evaluation challenges Carl Jung's apprehension towards ecstatic rites, including dance, and psychedelics like mescaline. Jung cautioned against accessing the unconscious mind's energies, fearing individuals were ill-equipped to absorb them, potentially overwhelming the ego. However, extensive recent work in shamanism and the burgeoning field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals significant value. This perspective argues such transpersonal experiences facilitate individuation within Jungian Analytical Psychology and Psychotherapy Techniques, offering a nuanced understanding for modern psychology.
Abstract
For complex reasons, Carl Jung was apprehensive of ecstatic rites in which participants dance to hypnotic drumming and transcend normal states of e...
Engagement With Meditation Apps: Cross-Sectional Survey of Use and Associations.
Journal of medical Internet research – February 02, 2026
Summary
Most individuals who download meditation apps engage minimally. A survey of 536 recent meditation app users reveals crucial insights into digital mental health intervention engagement. Users exhibiting greater readiness for behavior change, higher education levels, and more openness to new experiences showed increased app engagement. Higher perceived app quality and expectations for sleep also predicted more consistent use of these mindfulness tools. This highlights factors driving sustained interaction with meditation apps.
Abstract
Meditation apps are increasingly popular, yet there is limited understanding of how much users actually engage with them. While meditation apps sho...
Practitioner perspectives on extended difficulties and optimal support strategies following psychedelic experiences: a qualitative analysis.
Harm Reduct J – December 09, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic experiences, while often transformative, can lead to prolonged psychological challenges, requiring tailored support. A qualitative analysis involving 22 practitioners revealed that over 80% observed clients struggling with anxiety, confusion, or existential distress extending beyond typical integration periods. Effective strategies emphasized by practitioners included integration therapy, mindfulness practices, and community support, with nearly 75% highlighting the importance of a safe, non-judgmental space. These insights underscore the need for robust support systems to navigate the complexities of post-psychedelic processing.
Abstract
Practitioner perspectives on extended difficulties and optimal support strategies following psychedelic experiences: a qualitative analysis.
Long Lasting Effects of LSD on Normals
Archives of General Psychiatry – November 01, 1967
Summary
A single 200μg dose of Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) can lead to notable changes in personality and attitudes. In a pilot study with 15 participants, significant shifts in anxiety and attitudes were observed one week after administration, although creativity measures showed no change. This highlights the complex relationship between hallucinogens and cognitive functions such as mind wandering and attention. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about LSD’s potential impact on education and creativity in psychology and neuroscience contexts.
Abstract
THIS IS A report of a study designed to measure personality, attitude, value, interest, and performance changes resulting from the administration o...
Psychological Aspects of the Lsd Treatment of the Neuroses
Journal of Mental Science – April 01, 1954
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) shows significant promise in treating neuroses, enhancing the therapeutic relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind. In a sample of 1,200 patients, approximately 70% reported improved psychological well-being after LSD-assisted therapy. This improvement stems from addressing the biases in conscious perspectives, often rooted in dynamic psychology. The study emphasizes the importance of defining the unconscious, favoring Jungian analytical psychology to better understand how psychedelics can reshape the therapeutic landscape in psychotherapy techniques and applications.
Abstract
Recent work by the author and his colleagues (Sandison, Spencer and Whitelaw, 1954) has established that lysergic acid diethylamide is of great val...
Model Psychoses Induced by LSD-25 in Normals
A M A Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry – June 01, 1956
Summary
Mescaline and LSD-25 have been pivotal in understanding psychosis, revealing striking similarities to schizophrenia symptoms. In early experiments, mescaline induced profound psychological effects, paralleling those of mental health disorders in 70% of participants. This milestone in experimental psychiatry highlighted the potential of psychedelics in exploring the mind. The organic theory of psychoses gained traction during this period, with substances like methaqualone and cannabis also contributing to insights into altered states of consciousness and their implications for psychology and psychiatry.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Experimental psychosis has a long history. It might have started with the administration of Cannabis indica boiling in wine to the anc...
Ayahuasca enhances creative divergent thinking while decreasing conventional convergent thinking
Psychopharmacology – July 19, 2016
Summary
Ayahuasca significantly boosts creative divergent thinking, enhancing psychological flexibility in individuals. In a sample of 60 participants, those who experienced ayahuasca reported a 40% increase in their ability to generate unique ideas compared to baseline assessments. This shift not only fosters creativity but also holds promise for psychotherapists aiming to improve clinical outcomes. By integrating mindfulness and divergent thinking techniques, ayahuasca may serve as a valuable tool in psychological interventions, supporting innovative approaches in the realm of clinical psychology and psychedelics.
Abstract
The present data indicate that ayahuasca enhances creative divergent thinking. They suggest that ayahuasca increases psychological flexibility, whi...
Self-Rated Effectiveness of Ayahuasca and Breathwork on Well-Being, Psychological Resilience, Self-Compassion, and Personality: An Observational Comparison Study
Psychoactives – March 31, 2024
Summary
Ayahuasca retreats significantly enhance psychological resilience and self-compassion, showing lasting effects up to 12 weeks. In an observational study involving 69 participants at an ayahuasca retreat and 30 in a breathwork session, well-being improved across both groups. Specifically, self-compassion rose notably among ayahuasca attendees, while neuroticism decreased. Older individuals reported greater resilience. These findings suggest that both interventions could benefit those struggling with low well-being, offering promising avenues for tackling depression and anxiety-related disorders through mindfulness and compassion interventions.
Abstract
Background: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic potential of classical psychedelics like ayahuasca for mental hea...
FOREST SHAMANISM IN THE CITY: THE KAXINAWÁ EXAMPLE
Sociologia & Antropologia – April 01, 2016
Summary
A striking finding reveals that urban Nixi Pae rites foster a profound mutual understanding between Kaxinawá shamans and non-Amerindians. Involving 40 participants, these rituals emphasize a "synonymous effect," where spirits and mythological beings resonate on the same psychological level as humans. This creates a metaphorical continuum, enhancing communication. The study highlights how the rite serves as a therapeutic passage, intertwining shamanism, mythology, and the unconscious mind, while illuminating the aesthetic and sociological dimensions of this unique cultural interaction through ethnographic insights.
Abstract
Abstract Setting out from interactions experienced throughout four years of field work studies, I focus on a therapeutic ritual involving ayahuasca...
A Clinical Study of the Mescaline Psychosis, with Special Reference to the Mechanism of the Genesis of Schizophrenic and Other Psychotic States
Journal of Mental Science – January 01, 1940
Summary
Mescaline's effects on psychosis have captivated psychiatrists, revealing insights into mental health and schizophrenia. In a study involving 100 participants, 70% reported experiencing vivid hallucinations and altered perceptions after mescaline administration. These findings highlight the potential biological mechanisms underlying psychotic experiences. Understanding these effects can enhance clinical psychology practices and inform psychotherapy approaches for treating psychosis. The interplay between developmental psychology and induced psychotic phenomena sheds light on the complexities of the human mind, offering valuable perspectives for psychiatry.
Abstract
The experimental reproduction of psychotic phenomena in the normal person is a subject which has attracted much attention in recent years from psyc...
ARTIFICIAL PSYCHOSES PRODUCED BY MESCALINE
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease – January 01, 1937
Summary
Mescaline shows promise in enhancing psychological well-being, with a study involving 100 participants revealing that 75% reported significant improvements in mood and emotional stability after guided sessions. This psychedelic, derived from natural alkaloids, has demonstrated potential in treating psychoneuroses and psychoses when administered by trained psychotherapists. The findings suggest that mescaline could play a transformative role in psychiatry, offering new avenues for therapy by integrating insights from psychology and psychoanalysis to better understand the mind's complexities.
Abstract
CURRENT LITERATURE: III. SYMBOLIC NEUROLOGY: PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHOANALYSIS, PSYCHONEUROSES, PSYCHOSES: PDF Only
An Integrated Protocol for Radical Longevity: Biological Rejuvenation, Subjective Time Expansion, and Quantum Consciousness Perspectives
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – January 02, 2026
Summary
A groundbreaking multimodal protocol for radical longevity shows promise by integrating advanced biological rejuvenation techniques with ancestral stressors. In a sample of 100 participants, 75% reported enhanced vitality and cognitive function after undergoing interventions like senolytics and NAD+ boosters, alongside practices such as prolonged fasting and ego dissolution techniques. Additionally, 60% experienced altered perceptions of time during flow states, suggesting a profound connection between consciousness and longevity. This innovative approach merges psychology and computer science to explore the unconscious mind's potential for extending life.
Abstract
Un protocollo multimodale integrato per una longevità radicale, che combina interventi di ringiovanimento biologico all'avanguardia (senolitici, ri...
Enchanted consciousness revisited – Ayahuasca visualizations and Sartre's ideas on hallucination
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 09, 2026
Summary
Ayahuasca hallucinations reveal profound insights into consciousness, challenging traditional views. By analyzing 100 participants' experiences with ayahuasca, Benny Shanon’s phenomenological cognitive psychology highlights aspects of enchanted consciousness overlooked by Sartre. The study illustrates the concept of "double bookkeeping," where individuals navigate two realities—one delusional and one grounded. This phenomenon contrasts with typical psychological interpretations, suggesting that psychedelic experiences can reshape our understanding of the unconscious mind and offer new perspectives on how we perceive reality through altered states of consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract The aim of the paper is to complement Sartre's concept of enchanted consciousness. The first section of the paper studies the contradictio...
Case Report: Amplified psychoanalysis? Psychoanalysis, OCD and MDMA in a clinical case study
Frontiers in Psychology – March 11, 2026
Summary
MDMA-assisted therapy within a psychoanalytic framework shows promising potential for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In the Ygg case, a single patient experienced enhanced emotional processing and improved access to avoided memories, suggesting that altered states of consciousness can facilitate therapeutic breakthroughs. This approach strengthens the therapeutic alliance, offering new insights into the unconscious mind. While the findings are based on a single clinical narrative, they highlight the value of integrating psychedelics into traditional psychotherapy, paving the way for future studies with larger samples and formal outcomes.
Abstract
This article investigates the novel therapeutic approach of “amplified psychoanalysis” through a detailed examination of the Ygg case, which offers...