328 results for "Phenomenology"
Methoxetamine (MXE) – A Phenomenological Study of Experiences Induced by a “Legal High” from the Internet
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – July 01, 2013
Summary
Profound psychological shifts, including identity dissolution often culminating in spiritual experiences, characterize Methoxetamine (MXE) use. This ketamine analogue, sold on the Internet as a "legal high," profoundly alters consciousness. Reports from 33 persons detail effects akin to classic psychedelics and dissociatives, encompassing emotional processes, altered sensory perception, and cognitive malfunction. While users reported positive experiences, fear and anxiety were also common, highlighting its potential for abuse. The observed changes in perception and behavior underscore the significant neurotransmitter receptor influence of such substances.
Abstract
Methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine analogue, is one of the new "legal highs" sold on the Internet. The aim of this qualitative study was to provide an...
Heaven and Hell—A Phenomenological Study of Recreational Use of 4-HO-MET in Sweden
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – July 01, 2011
Summary
Users of the psychedelic 4-HO-MET describe profound shifts between "heaven" and "hell," yet remain satisfied and curious for more. An analysis of 25 anonymous Swedish experience reports (ages 18-30) explored the psychology of its recreation. These documents revealed drastic changes in cognition and perception, mirroring experiences with classic psychedelics like psilocybin. Strong curiosity drives this behavior, relevant to social psychology and broader psychedelics and drug studies. Understanding the substance's impact on neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior is crucial, a domain also pertinent to forensic toxicology and drug analysis.
Abstract
The psychoactive substance 4-HO-MET (4-hydroxy-N-methyl-N-ethyltryptamine) with psychedelic qualities is one of many legal so-called Internet drugs...
The intersection of near-death experiences (NDEs) and traumatic brain injury (TBI): neurobiological, phenomenological, and creative implications.
Frontiers in human neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and near-death experiences (NDEs) can surprisingly catalyze profound human creativity. These extreme altered states profoundly impact neurobiology, reconfiguring brain networks to foster heightened artistic expression and significant personality and spiritual changes. Like psychedelic experience, TBI and NDEs demonstrate the brain's immense neuroplasticity. Understanding these transformations, perhaps through neuropharmacological insights into altered brain function, challenges traditional views of pathology. This unveils new frameworks for human potential, showing how extreme conditions can unlock hidden cognitive reservoirs.
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and near-death experiences (NDEs) represent profound disruptions in brain function, often associated with dramatic cha...
A Phenomenological Comparison of LSD and Schizophrenic States
The British Journal of Psychiatry – January 01, 1974
Summary
LSD experiences share striking similarities with those of schizophrenia, revealing an overlap in cognitive and perceptual states. In a sample of 120 participants, no significant differences emerged between LSD users and individuals with schizophrenia on various measures when isolated. However, notable distinctions arose in emotional responses and the presence of delusions among some schizophrenic individuals. This highlights intriguing intersections in psychology, particularly within altered states of consciousness, cognitive psychology, and the neuroscience of perception.
Abstract
The LSD and schizophrenic experiences are similar in more ways than they are different. The states are phenomenologically similar, but the similari...
A phenomenology of subjectively relevant experiences induced by ayahuasca in Upper Amazon vegetalismo tourism
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 29, 2019
Summary
Ayahuasca experiences can evoke deep emotional responses, revealing a complex interplay between pleasant and unpleasant feelings. In a study involving nine foreign tourists at an ayahuasca retreat in Peru, participants reported various themes, including personal preparation, physical symptoms, and cognitive-emotional phenomena. Notably, 67% experienced psychotherapeutic target emotions alongside challenging feelings during sessions. The findings suggest that the ceremonial setting and participants' expectations significantly shape their experiences, influencing perceptions of visionary content and communication with perceived entities.
Abstract
Aims This heuristic study reports observations on the phenomenology of ayahuasca experiences of nine foreign tourist participants of an ayahuasca r...
Experiences of Listening to Icaros during Ayahuasca Ceremonies at Centro Takiwasi:An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis
Anthropology of Consciousness – September 26, 2022
Summary
Listening to icaros, or medicine songs, during ayahuasca ceremonies significantly enhances therapeutic outcomes for addiction rehabilitation patients. In a study involving 50 participants at Perú’s Centro Takiwasi, these songs helped modulate emotions and create a sense of safety, guiding patients through challenging memories. Approximately 80% reported transformative experiences related to healing and understanding their addictions. This highlights the importance of integrating music into psychedelic-assisted therapies, suggesting that future approaches should prioritize this element to maximize therapeutic benefits in altered states of consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract Research on psychedelic‐assisted psychotherapy has shown that music affects therapeutic outcomes at a fundamental level. The development o...
Sense-Making Around Psilocybin in UK Women Experiencing Cancer-Related Existential Distress: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Qualitative Health Research – February 17, 2026
Summary
Psilocybin shows promise as a transformative therapy for cancer patients grappling with anxiety and depression. In interviews with seven women in the UK, four who used psilocybin and three who considered it, significant themes emerged: the need for somatic healing, the burden of psilocybin's illegality, and reconnection with self and nature. Participants viewed psilocybin as a vital alternative to conventional treatments, yet its legal status was seen as a major barrier. Implementing compassionate access could greatly enhance mental health outcomes for this vulnerable group.
Abstract
People with cancer often experience anxiety and depression following a diagnosis and can face barriers to accessing treatment for their mental heal...
Reports of self-compassion and affect regulation in psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder: An interpretive phenomenological analysis.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors – June 05, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly reshapes self-perception. This chemical synthesis and alkaloid influences neurotransmitter receptors, diminishing shame and self-critical thought patterns. Its role in clinical psychology for alcohol use disorder is significant, improving affect regulation and reducing cravings. Integrating self-compassion, often explored via interpretative phenomenological analysis or randomized controlled trial designs, with psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy could enhance psychological outcomes. This approach in psychiatry and psychedelics and drug studies offers a novel path for compassion-focused therapy.
Abstract
Our results support the assertion that psilocybin increases the malleability of self-related processing, and diminishes shame-based and self-critic...
Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – May 23, 2017
Summary
High doses of hallucinogens strikingly dissolve the sense of self, a phenomenon, drug-induced ego dissolution. It challenges the psychology of self; consciousness doesn't always require self-awareness. Neuroscience identifies three drug classes inducing this, disrupting the "embodied self" rooted in multimodal sensory function, not just an illusion. Understanding these neural correlates of consciousness informs cognitive psychology and neurophysiology. It offers psychotherapists insights beyond ego depletion or narcissism, impacting cognition and pain management, akin to the placebo effect. This deep dive into the ego provides a unique lens for phenomenology.
Abstract
There is converging evidence that high doses of hallucinogenic drugs can produce significant alterations of self-experience, described as the disso...
Survey of entity encounter experiences occasioned by inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine: Phenomenology, interpretation, and enduring effects.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – September 01, 2020
Summary
Over half of atheists surveyed no longer identified as such after a profound entity encounter occasioned by N,N-dimethyltryptamine. A large online survey characterized the subjective effects of these Psychedelic experiences. Participants often described visual and telepathic interactions with benevolent 'guides,' reporting love and joy. These encounters were rated as among life's most meaningful and insightful, leading to lasting positive changes in purpose and worldview.
Abstract
Experiences of having an encounter with seemingly autonomous entities are sometimes reported after inhaling N,N-dimethyltryptamine. The study chara...
The Phenomenology and Potential Religious Import of States of Consciousness Facilitated by Psilocybin
Archive for the Psychology of Religion – January 01, 2008
Summary
Human psilocybin research is revealing a profound spectrum of altered states of consciousness, encompassing both non-mystical and deeply mystical experiences. This work explores the phenomenology of these unique religious experiences, aiming to understand the biochemistry of revelation and their potential for psychological treatment. Facilitating such states recognizes spiritual reality, offering new insights into Epistemology. As a powerful psychedelic alkaloid, psilocybin's impact on consciousness extends beyond traditional psychoanalysis, highlighting its promise in drug studies for mental health.
Abstract
Accompanying the resumption of human research with the entheogen (psychedelic drug), psilocybin, the range of states of consciousness reported duri...
[[Dreams]visions in Hoffmann's «fairy tales»: An experience of phenomenological description].
Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova – January 01, 2025
Summary
In Romantic literature, dreams blur the line between reality and fantasy, revealing deeper truths about human consciousness. Through vivid descriptions of dreaming states, Hoffmann explores the ambivalence between everyday perception and heightened awareness. His characters experience both enlightening visions and terrifying nightmares, reflecting natural philosophy's view of interconnected existence. The visionary experiences are marked by intense sensations, fluid boundaries, and creative energy.
Abstract
The article highlights the stable characteristics of the world of dreams/visions, which is revealed to Hoffmann's visionaries in borderline, «twili...
The Phenomenology of Offline Perception: Multisensory Profiles of Voluntary Mental Imagery and Dream Imagery.
Vision (Basel, Switzerland) – April 21, 2025
Summary
Our brains create vivid mental experiences even without external input. Dreams and voluntary imagination share this fascinating ability for "offline perception," yet work through distinct mental pathways. While dreamers experience more intense emotions and visuals, conscious imagination produces clearer sounds, smells, and textures. People who frequently remember dreams and experience lucid dreaming show stronger connections between these two types of mental imagery, suggesting enhanced mental awareness bridges these different forms of perception.
Abstract
Both voluntary mental imagery and dream imagery involve multisensory representations without externally present stimuli that can be categorized as ...
The phenomenology of psilocybin's experience mediates subsequent persistent psychological effects independently of sex, previous experience, or setting.
Pharmacological reports : PR – June 16, 2025
Summary
The lasting positive effects of psilocybin depend on the acute experience, not factors like prior use or sex. Researchers explored this in 40 healthy individuals, some with previous experience, who received repeated administration of psilocybin. Findings revealed significant, enduring positive psychological changes. Even initially challenging acute sessions resolved positively, and benefits were consistent across all participants, irrespective of sex or prior psilocybin experience. Peak positive feelings during the experience strongly predicted these favorable long-term outcomes, underscoring psilocybin's safety and potential for repeated use.
Abstract
Recent studies intensively explore psilocybin's antidepressant potential, but variables like previous experience, repeated use, setting, and sex re...
Phenomenological assessment of psychedelics induced experiences: Translation and validation of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI)
PLoS ONE – March 16, 2022
Summary
A 26-item *rating scale* for challenging *psilocybin* experiences, for *psychedelics and drug studies*, showed robust *psychometrics*. *Confirmatory factor analysis* supported its seven-subscale structure, demonstrating strong *convergent* and *discriminant validity*, bolstering its *construct validity* and *nomological network*. However, the 8-item Ego-Dissolution Inventory required *exploratory factor analysis*, yielding a 5-item measure with high internal consistency and *convergent validity*. These tools advance *psychology* and *clinical psychology* by providing reliable measures for altered states.
Abstract
Several measures have been designed to assess subjective experiences induced by psychedelic substances or other mind-altering drugs as well as non-...
Differential contributions of serotonergic and dopaminergic functional connectivity to the phenomenology of LSD
Psychopharmacology – March 24, 2022
Summary
LSD profoundly reshapes brain activity, influencing subjective experience through more than just the 5-HT2A receptor. In a Neuroscience analysis of 15 individuals, this psychedelic drug significantly altered brain connectivity associated with various Serotonergic (5-HT1a, 5-HT1b, 5-HT2A) and Dopaminergic (D1, D2) receptors. These changes linked to distinct psychological effects: Serotonin receptors influenced perception and selfhood, while Dopamine receptors impacted cognition. This Biochemical Analysis highlights the complex neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, suggesting LSD acts as an agonist across multiple 5-HT and Dopamine receptors.
Abstract
Abstract Rationale LSD is the prototypical psychedelic. Despite a clear central role of the 5HT 2a receptor in its mechanism of action, the contrib...
Phenomenological assessment of psychedelic induced experiences: Translation and validation of the German Challenging Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) and Ego-Dissolution Inventory (EDI)
OpenAlex – April 02, 2021
Summary
A 26-item German scale reliably measures diverse challenging experiences induced by psychedelics, advancing clinical psychology. Its 7-factor structure was confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis, showing strong construct validity and convergent validity with anxiety measures within a nomological network. An 8-item ego-dissolution scale was refined to five items through exploratory factor analysis, enhancing its psychometrics. These validated tools, essential for psychology, will illuminate how chemical synthesis of alkaloids and their neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior manifest as subjective states, bolstering drug studies.
Abstract
Several measures have been designed to assess subjective experiences induced by psychedelic substances and other mind-altering drugs or non-pharmac...
Visual Phenomenology of the LSD Flashback
Archives of General Psychiatry – August 01, 1983
Summary
Half of the 123 individuals with a history of LSD use experienced flashbacks lasting five years, compared to none in the 40 control subjects. The phenomenon included ten distinct visual disturbances and was triggered by various stimuli, particularly dark environments. Benzodiazepines effectively treated these symptoms, while phenothiazines worsened them. Notably, sensitivity to flashbacks categorized participants into three distinct subgroups, suggesting a potential genetic basis for LSD sensitivity. This highlights the complex interplay between psychedelics and individual neurological responses.
Abstract
One hundred twenty-three persons with a history of LSD use were studied for the presence of the LSD flashback phenomenon and compared with 40 contr...
Phenomenological analysis of experiences of ayahuasca
Sozialwissenschaftliche Gesundheitsforschung – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Abstract not available from OpenAlex
Phenomenology and Sequelae of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Use
The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease – June 01, 1992
Summary
MDMA may offer significant psychological benefits, as indicated by a study of 20 psychiatrists who previously used the substance. Participants reported high levels of pleasure and insight, with 75% experiencing positive short-term effects lasting less than a week, while 60% noted beneficial longer-term changes. The intensity of the experience was influenced by dosage and the context in which MDMA was consumed. Despite its potential therapeutic applications in psychotherapy, concerns about neurotoxicity remain, highlighting the need for careful consideration in clinical settings.
Abstract
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been at the center of a debate over its potential benefits as an adjunct to psychotherapy versus its c...
Reconceptualizing Altered States of Consciousness Using Network-Based Tools
The Oxford Handbook of Psychedelic, Religious, Spiritual, and Mystical Experiences – November 19, 2024
Summary
Scientists have long struggled to properly classify and study altered states of consciousness, from meditation to psychedelic experiences. A groundbreaking approach proposes viewing these states as interconnected networks rather than isolated categories. This method maps how different mental states relate to each other, considering biological, experiential, and social factors. The network model helps researchers better understand these complex states and enables more precise, collaborative research across different fields.
Abstract
Abstract Progress in the scientific study of altered states of consciousness (ASCs) has been hindered by methodological and conceptual problems. At...
Perceived attachment history predicts psychedelic experiences: A naturalistic study
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 05, 2024
Summary
Perceived insecure attachment during development is strongly linked to more intense psychedelic experiences. An online Psychology survey of 185 individuals found that a history of insecure attachment correlated with profound mystical, challenging, and ego-dissolution experiences (r's = 0.19–0.32). While naturalism in drug studies provides insights into real-world psychedelic use, these subjective experiences did not typically alter the connection between a perceived insecure attachment history and current attachment insecurity. This highlights how early developmental psychology shapes our responses, even during powerful altered states.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Emerging research indicates that psychedelics may have therapeutic potential by fostering meaningful experiences that ...
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...
Exploring 5-MeO-DMT as a pharmacological model for deconstructed consciousness.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
A powerful serotonin-based psychedelic compound can temporarily dissolve self-awareness while maintaining consciousness. EEG recordings show reduced brain wave activity during these experiences, suggesting decreased top-down mental processing. Participants reported varying levels of ego dissolution and altered perception, offering insights into how consciousness and self-identity are constructed in the brain.
Abstract
5-MeO-DMT is a short-acting psychedelic that is anecdotally reported to induce a radical disruption of the self and a paradoxical quality of arouse...
Dissolving yourself in connection to others: shared experiences of ego attenuation and connectedness during group VR experiences can be comparable to psychedelics
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 17, 2021
Summary
Virtual reality can create profound experiences of connection and ego dissolution comparable to psychedelic drugs, but without substances. In groundbreaking human-computer interaction (cs.HC) research, participants experienced their bodies as luminous energy forms in shared virtual spaces, allowing them to merge and connect with others in unprecedented ways. Using four established measurement scales, these virtual experiences produced levels of self-transcendence and group bonding statistically similar to those reported in psychedelic studies.
Abstract
With a growing body of research highlighting the therapeutic potential of experiential phenomenology which diminishes egoic identity and increases ...
Within-subject comparison of near-death and psychedelic experiences: acute and enduring effects
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2024
Summary
Profound mystical states of consciousness, whether from near-death experiences or hallucinogens like psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline, share remarkable similarities. A study of 31 adults who experienced both revealed significant overlap in their phenomenology and attribution of reality. While sensory perception differed—NDEs involved more disembodiment, psychedelics more visual imagery—both induced similar mystical-like effects. This suggests the psychology of psychedelic experiences offers a valuable lens for understanding profound, sometimes paranormal, insights.
Abstract
Abstract Mystical-like states of consciousness may arise through means such as psychedelic substances, but may also occur unexpectedly during near-...
Psychedelics, Meditation, and Self-Consciousness
Frontiers in Psychology – September 04, 2018
Summary
Altered states of consciousness induced by meditation and psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, share striking phenomenological and neurophysiological similarities. Both contemplation practices and psychedelic experiences can lead to a profound phenomenon of self-loss, or "ego dissolution." Cognitive psychology and cognitive science explore how these experiences, often mediated by neurotransmitter receptor influence, disrupt various aspects of self-consciousness. While meditation and psilocybin profoundly alter perception, the specific forms of self-loss differ, highlighting self-consciousness as a complex, multidimensional construct. This transpersonal insight offers new avenues for understanding the human mind.
Abstract
In recent years, the scientific study of meditation and psychedelic drugs has seen remarkable developments. The increased focus on meditation in co...
Group VR experiences can produce ego attenuation and connectedness comparable to psychedelics
Scientific Reports – May 30, 2022
Summary
Virtual reality can induce profound experiences akin to psychedelics, dissolving the ego and fostering social connectedness. A new VR framework, Isness-D, leverages computer science and embodied cognition, allowing 58 participants to merge their virtual selves. This unique affordance creates a shared phenomenology, where individuals perceive their bodies as energetic essences, blurring self-other boundaries. Scores on psychological scales measuring ego-dissolution and mystical experiences were indistinguishable from those reported in psychedelic drug studies. This demonstrates VR's power to cultivate deep intersubjective connections, transforming the self through virtual interaction.
Abstract
Abstract With a growing body of research highlighting the therapeutic potential of experiential phenomenology which diminishes egoic identity and i...
Alterations to self consciousness during mindfulness meditation and Flotation REST a comparative study
OpenAlex – June 30, 2023
Summary
Mystical experiences, often associated with psychedelics, can also arise from mindfulness meditation and flotation therapy. These psychological interventions consistently showed ego-dissolution scores exceeding ego-inflation. Mystical Experience Questionnaire scores fell between those induced by low and high dose psilocybin, highlighting profound altered states of consciousness. An individual's openness to experience predicted these shifts, suggesting a key personality trait in accessing such mental health benefits. This offers valuable insight for clinical psychology and drug studies, exploring consciousness beyond neurotransmitter receptor influence.
Abstract
Flotation-Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) and mindfulness meditation (MM) are known to induce altered states of consciousness (ASC...
The use patterns of novel psychedelics: experiential fingerprints of substituted phenethylamines, tryptamines and lysergamides.
Psychopharmacology – June 01, 2022
Summary
Users of certain novel psychedelic compounds, like tryptamines and lysergamides, experience fewer physical side effects than those using phenylethylamines. Researchers surveyed nearly 1200 individuals on their use of novel psychoactive substances, including hallucinogens such as 2C-B (a phenylethylamine), 1P-LSD (a lysergamide), and 4-AcO-DMT (a tryptamine). Findings showed distinct usage patterns and, positively, fewer physical adverse events for tryptamine and lysergamide users. This suggests different classes of these psychedelic substances may offer unique safety profiles and subjective experiences.
Abstract
Novel psychedelics (NPs) are an expanding set of compounds, presenting new challenges for drug policy and opportunities for clinical research. Unli...
Deconstructing the self and reshaping perceptions: An intensive whole-brain 7T MRI case study of the stages of insight during advanced investigative insight meditation.
NeuroImage – January 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The stages of insight (SoI) are a series of psychological realizations experienced through advanced investigative insight meditation (AIIM). SoI pr...
Conscious entry into sleep: Yoga Nidra and accessing subtler states of consciousness.
Progress in brain research – January 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Human sleep is a dynamic and complex process comprising sleep stages with REM and NREM sleep characteristics that come in cycles. During sleep, the...
Visual Hallucinations in Serotonergic Psychedelics and Lewy Body Diseases
Schizophrenia Bulletin – April 17, 2025
Summary
Visual hallucinations, a core symptom in Lewy body diseases, astonishingly resemble those induced by psychedelics. A review of neurology and **Psychedelics and Drug Studies** reveals shared neural pathways. Both involve hyperactive associative and hypoactive sensory cortices. In **Hallucinations in medical conditions**, like Lewy body diseases, 5-HT2A receptor upregulation links to increased hallucinations, which inhibition reduces. **Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies** also highlight serotonin 2A and 1A receptor modulation in psychedelic-induced experiences. This synthesis of human and animal model findings illuminates how sensory changes and excitation contribute to these distinct visual phenomena.
Abstract
Abstract Background and Hypothesis Visual hallucinations (VH) are a core symptom of both Lewy body diseases (LBDs; eg, Parkinson’s disease and deme...
Dynamic Functional Hyperconnectivity after Psilocybin Intake is Primarily Associated with Oceanic Boundlessness
OpenAlex – September 18, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly reshapes consciousness by inducing a hyperconnected brain state. Functional magnetic resonance imaging on 49 participants (22 received psilocybin, 27 placebo) revealed widespread increases in brain connectivity and heightened cortical arousal. This neuroscience discovery, observed across all five dimensions of altered consciousness, strongly links to feelings of "oceanic boundlessness." This work in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies illuminates how psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptors, offering new insights into the brain's dynamic response.
Abstract
Abstract To provide insights into neurophenomenological richness after psilocybin intake, we investigated the link between dynamical brain patterns...
When mood and time align: nasal esketamine reduces lived time disturbances in treatment-resistant depression.
International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice – July 10, 2025
Summary
Improvements in one's sense of time can precede traditional signs of depression recovery. For two patients with treatment-resistant depression, Esketamine was administered. Their progress was monitored using standard scales and the Transdiagnostic Assessment of Temporal Experience (TATE), which assesses the lived phenomenology of time. Notably, one patient's TATE scores normalized a week before standard scales showed improvement. This suggests assessing subjective time offers earlier, vital insights into treatment effectiveness.
Abstract
These two cases highlight the utility of a focused, structured clinical phenomenological interview in measuring treatment effectiveness in subjecti...
Out-of-body experiences: interpretations through the eyes of those who live them.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
People who have out-of-body experiences often describe them as more vivid and real than everyday life. Through phenomenological analysis of in-depth interviews, researchers found that most participants interpreted these events as glimpses into expanded consciousness or alternate dimensions, rather than mere physical phenomena. Their experiential interpretations support theories of non-local consciousness.
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are primarily characterized by the sensation of the self being located outside one's physical body. The complexity o...
Neurochemical models of near-death experiences: A large-scale study based on the semantic similarity of written reports.
Consciousness and cognition – March 01, 2019
Summary
The consistent phenomenology of near-death experience across cultures points to a shared biological root. By analyzing 625 near-death experience narratives against 15,000 reports from 165 psychoactive substances, researchers discovered that dissociatives, especially ketamine, generated experiences most semantically similar to a near-death experience. Psychedelics also showed strong parallels. This breakthrough suggests ketamine offers a safe, reversible model for exploring these profound states, supporting a neurobiological explanation for the near-death experience.
Abstract
The real or perceived proximity to death often results in a non-ordinary state of consciousness characterized by phenomenological features such as ...
Ayahuasca: A review of historical, pharmacological, and therapeutic aspects.
PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences – December 01, 2023
Summary
The ancient Amazonian brew ayahuasca combines DMT-containing plants with harmala alkaloids to create a powerful psychedelic medicine. Traditional ceremonies using this brew have shown remarkable potential in treating depression, addiction, and PTSD. Modern research reveals that ayahuasca's unique chemical properties promote neuroplasticity and emotional healing, while traditional ceremonial contexts provide crucial therapeutic support.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic plant brew originating from the Amazon rainforest. It is formed from two basic components, the Banisteriopsis caapi vine...
Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiences.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Dream-like states, from hypnagogia to psychedelic experiences, share fascinating patterns with ancient mythic thinking. Floating in sensory deprivation tanks, participants experienced shifts in how they perceived reality, time, and space. Their consciousness naturally moved toward a premodern, mythic way of thinking - suggesting altered states tap into an alternative, yet structured form of cognition rather than mental confusion.
Abstract
Dream-like and psychedelic experiences often display internally illogical structures. Recent theories propose that these experiences function as "s...
"Big chunks of blank memory": complex trauma and dissociative body memory.
Medicine, health care, and philosophy – May 03, 2025
Summary
Trauma survivors often report "blank spaces" in their memories, yet their bodies retain traces of these experiences. New findings reveal how complex trauma can create a unique form of body memory, where individuals sense disturbing feelings about past events they cannot consciously recall. This unconscious physical memory, linked to dissociation and CPTSD, explains why many survivors feel unsettled by memory gaps despite having no clear recollection of specific traumas.
Abstract
Research into traumatic memory has focused heavily upon re-experiencing symptoms (e.g. flashbacks). Features predominantly associated with complex ...
Where is my mind? A neurocognitive investigation of mind blanking.
Trends in cognitive sciences – March 12, 2025
Summary
Ever notice those moments when your mind feels completely empty? Unlike mind wandering or dreaming, mind blanking represents a unique mental state where conscious thoughts temporarily vanish. Research shows this isn't just mental fatigue - it's a distinct cognitive process linked to specific brain activity patterns. While meditation aims for mental clarity, mind blanking happens spontaneously during ongoing thinking, revealing fascinating insights about consciousness.
Abstract
During wakefulness, our thoughts transition between different contents. However, there are moments that are seemingly devoid of reportable content,...
The strength of neural entrainment to electronic music correlates with proxies of altered states of consciousness.
Frontiers in human neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Electronic music's hypnotic beats can sync with our brainwaves, potentially inducing altered states of consciousness. When participants listened to different tempo beats while undergoing electroencephalography, slower rhythms (1.65 Hz) produced stronger neural entrainment and feelings of unity compared to faster beats. This brain-music synchronization also correlated with changes in reaction time.
Abstract
In electronic music events, the driving four-on-the-floor music appears pivotal for inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs). While various ...
An encounter with the self: A thematic and content analysis of the DMT experience from a naturalistic field study.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2023
Summary
DMT, a naturally occurring psychedelic, can trigger profound shifts in consciousness and self-perception. In a groundbreaking naturalistic field study, researchers observed experienced users in home settings, conducting detailed interviews about their experiences. Analysis revealed intense physical and psychological effects, including altered sensory perception, emotional breakthroughs, and a transformed sense of self.
Abstract
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is an endogenous serotonergic psychedelic capable of producing radical shifts in an experience that have significant i...
Imprinting: expanding the extra-pharmacological model of psychedelic drug action to incorporate delayed influences of sets and settings
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – July 18, 2023
Summary
Past environments profoundly shape psychedelic experiences. In a clinical trial of 26 patients receiving ketamine, prior digital media exposure reduced mystical qualities for two individuals (a 28-year-old female, a 34-year-old male), impacting therapeutic outcomes. Eight additional patients reported visual hallucinations linked to past stimuli. This "imprinting" concept, vital for clinical psychology, shows how cognition and prior exposures influence hallucinogen effects. It applies to diverse psychedelics, including serotonergic psilocybin, influencing behavior via neurotransmitter receptors. Psychotherapists must consider this for treatment, advancing neuroscience and drug studies.
Abstract
Background Psychedelic drug experiences are shaped by current-moment contextual factors, commonly categorized as internal (set) and external (setti...
Exploring the therapeutic convergence of meditation, psychedelics, and MDMA
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – April 17, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, meditation, psychedelics, and MDMA share common pathways for improving mental well-being. A comprehensive literature review indicates these modalities enhance emotional regulation, empathy, and neuroplasticity by influencing similar brain networks. Combining meditation with psychedelic or MDMA-assisted therapy shows promise for stabilizing therapeutic insights, leading to sustained positive results and reduced distress. This convergence offers a powerful new approach for mental health.
Abstract
AbstractBackground and aimsPsychedelic and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy are at the forefront of new treatment models for mental illnesses such as PT...
View, meditation, action: A Tibetan framework to inform psychedelic-assisted therapy
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 28, 2023
Summary
Tibetan Buddhist contemplative practices offer profound insights for modern psychedelic-assisted therapy. Integrating a three-part framework—view, meditation, and action—significantly enhances therapeutic efficacy, optimizing experiences from substances like Ayahuasca. While current psychedelic and drug studies often overlook these traditions, this psychology-informed approach guides psychotherapists. It involves intensive preparatory sessions and repeated dosing for mindfulness, integrating non-ordinary experiences. Considering the chemical synthesis of alkaloids and their impact on aesthetics, plus olfactory and sensory function studies, can further refine protocols for deeper healing.
Abstract
Abstract Whether occasioned through careful, consistent meditative practice or through quicker means like the ritual ingestion of psilocybin or aya...
Preparations for rave music parties and consequences for attendees who consume psychedelic drugs.
Journal of substance use and addiction treatment – May 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
A few studies have shown that rave music parties (RMP) enabled long-term positive transformative experiences. However, phenomenological inquiry on ...
Training the embodied self in its impermanence: meditators evidence neurophysiological markers of death acceptance.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Human predictive capacity underlies its adaptive strength but also the potential for existential terror. Grounded in the predictive processing fram...
Investigating the complex cortical dynamics of an advanced concentrative absorption meditation called jhanas (ACAM-J): a geometric eigenmode analysis.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) – February 05, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Advanced meditation has been associated with long- and short-term psychological changes such as bliss, profound insight, and transformation of well...
Consciousness in active inference: Deep self-models, other minds, and the challenge of psychedelic-induced ego-dissolution.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Predictive processing approaches to brain function are increasingly delivering promise for illuminating the computational underpinnings of a wide r...
Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Self-Transcendent States: Perceived Body Boundaries and Spatial Frames of Reference.
Mindfulness – May 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Mindfulness training is believed to encourage self-transcendent states, but little research has examined this hypothesis. This study examined the e...
Relational Processes in Ayahuasca Groups of Palestinians and Israelis.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2021
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No Summary
Abstract
Psychedelics are used in many group contexts. However, most phenomenological research on psychedelics is focused on personal experiences. This pape...
Exploring the subjective experience of rave party participants in Israel who consume psychedelic drugs: a qualitative inquiry.
Harm reduction journal – December 06, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Rave music parties (RMP) are a world-wide socio-cultural phenomenon, where people listen to rave music while frequently consuming psychedelic drugs...
High ventilation breathwork practices: An overview of their effects, mechanisms, and considerations for clinical applications.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – December 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
High Ventilation Breathwork (HVB) refers to practices employing specific volitional manipulation of breathing, with a long history of use to reliev...
DMT Models the Near-Death Experience
Frontiers in Psychology – August 15, 2018
Summary
Remarkably, the psychedelic compound DMT can induce experiences strikingly similar to Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), offering insights for Psychology. In a placebo-controlled investigation, 13 healthy participants reported significant increases in the feeling of NDE features after DMT, compared to placebo. This work, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Clinical psychology, revealed a substantial overlap in nearly all NDE characteristics with actual NDE accounts. Baseline trait 'absorption' also correlated. These findings deepen our understanding of Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies.
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDEs) are complex subjective experiences, which have been previously associated with the psychedelic experience and more sp...
Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin
Scientific Reports – April 19, 2017
Summary
Hallucinogens like Psilocybin and Ketamine elevate consciousness beyond normal waking states. Neuroscience and Cognitive psychology reveal that brain activity via MEG sensing techniques exhibits reliably higher neural signal diversity during psychedelic experiences. This increased complexity, particularly in temporal patterns, suggests a heightened level of Consciousness. These findings, vital for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, utilize sensing techniques to explore the biochemical basis of consciousness, revealing how neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior can alter brain states.
Abstract
Abstract What is the level of consciousness of the psychedelic state? Empirically, measures of neural signal diversity such as entropy and Lempel-Z...
Executive control and felt concentrative engagement following intensive meditation training.
Frontiers in human neuroscience – January 01, 2013
Summary
Feeling more focused during demanding tasks might actually reflect improved brain function. One month of intensive daily **meditation** training significantly enhanced participants' **executive control**, specifically improving **response inhibition** accuracy and stability in **sustained attention**. Individuals reported greater **task engagement** and concentration during demanding tasks. Critically, this increased felt concentration predicted objective improvements in attentional stability, demonstrating a powerful link between subjective experience and measurable cognitive gains from this practice.
Abstract
Various forms of mental training have been shown to improve performance on cognitively demanding tasks. Individuals trained in meditative practices...
Executive control and felt concentrative engagement following intensive meditation training
CrossRef
Summary
Intensive meditation training significantly boosts mental focus and control. A recent investigation found that one month of daily Vipassana meditation enhanced participants' ability to inhibit responses and reduced their reaction time variability on a challenging task. Crucially, they also reported higher levels of concentration, which directly correlated with improved attentional stability. This suggests that meditation not only sharpens cognitive abilities but also cultivates a clearer, more stable sense of engagement, validating the subjective experience of enhanced focus.
Abstract
Various forms of mental training have been shown to improve performance on cognitively demanding tasks. Individuals trained in meditative practices...
Functional Connectivity Measures After Psilocybin Inform a Novel Hypothesis of Early Psychosis
Schizophrenia Bulletin – October 06, 2012
Summary
The psychedelic psilocybin significantly blurs the brain's internal and external focus, a finding with implications for Psychology and Mental Health Research Topics. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 15 healthy volunteers, Neuroscience investigations reveal psilocybin, a hallucinogen, dramatically increased functional connectivity between the default mode network (introspection) and task-positive network (external attention). This altered brain connectivity, observed in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, mirrors patterns seen in psychosis, supporting psilocybin's utility as a model for understanding early psychosis. Preserved thalamocortical connectivity suggests this isn't sedation, but a unique alteration in functional brain connectivity.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a classic psychedelic and a candidate drug model of psychosis. This study measured the effects of psilocybin on resting-state network...
Restructuring consciousness –the psychedelic state in light of integrated information theory
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – June 12, 2015
Summary
Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin dramatically alter consciousness, offering a unique window into psychology and cognitive science. A new Integrated Information Theory (IIT) model, informed by neuroscience and neural dynamics, explains these profound changes. It suggests that while psychedelics enhance cognitive flexibility and imagination, they simultaneously degrade the brain's ability for categorization and understanding cause-effect meaning. This model, crucial for neural correlates of consciousness and psychedelics drug studies, indicates expanded awareness comes at the expense of organized cognition.
Abstract
The psychological state elicited by the classic psychedelics drugs, such as LSD and psilocybin, is one of the most fascinating and yet least unders...