1178 results for "Consciousness"
A Comparative Review of the Neuro-Psychopharmacology of Hallucinogen-Induced Altered States of Consciousness: The Uniqueness of Some Hallucinogens
NeuroQuantology – June 01, 2012
Summary
Hallucinogens like psilocybin and mescaline profoundly alter consciousness, inducing euphoriant states or challenging perceptions. Understanding how these psychedelics influence the brain remains a key challenge for neuroscience and psychology. While neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, including systems like Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors, offers partial explanations, cognitive psychology and psychoanalysis suggest deeper mechanisms. These substances serve as unique tools for drug studies, revealing insights into the human psyche and the nature of perception, despite the complex interplay of individual psychology and "set and setting" shaping the experience.
Abstract
Altered states of consciousness induced by hallucinogens (H-ASC) is still a vaguely understood phenomenon. Taken the diverse psychological effects ...
A Virtual Clinical Trial of Psychedelics to Treat Patients With Disorders of Consciousness
Advanced Science – November 20, 2025
Summary
Simulating psychedelic drugs like LSD and psilocybin significantly shifted brain activity in patients with disorders of consciousness closer to a complex, flexible state. Using individualized computational models, optimized with fMRI and diffusion imaging data, the administration of these compounds was virtually tested. Results showed a greater effect in minimally conscious patients, moving their brain dynamics toward a more responsive state. For unresponsive wakefulness patients, structural brain connections predicted the response, while functional connections were key for minimally conscious individuals. These findings offer a computational basis for personalized psychedelic treatments to restore consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract Disorders of consciousness (DoC), including unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and minimally conscious state (MCS), have limited trea...
Psychedelics as a treatment for disorders of consciousness
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2019
Summary
A compelling idea in cognitive psychology proposes psilocybin could restore consciousness. Based on its ability to increase brain complexity, influencing the level of consciousness, a proposal aims to test this in patients with consciousness disorders, such as persistent vegetative state. This novel approach, within psychedelics and drug studies, explores how psilocybin's neurotransmitter receptor influence might affect behavior. Psychotherapists would navigate the considerable ethical and practical challenges of this psychology endeavor, pushing boundaries to understand human consciousness.
Abstract
Based on its ability to increase brain complexity, a seemingly reliable index of conscious level, we propose testing the capacity of the classic ps...
Paradoxical pharmacological dissociations result from drugs that enhance delta oscillations but preserve consciousness
Communications Biology – June 20, 2023
Summary
Low-frequency neural activity, particularly in the delta band, typically signals loss of consciousness. However, a study involving 150 participants revealed that various drugs—including those for epilepsy and psychedelics—can induce similar low-frequency brain patterns while maintaining consciousness. This suggests that certain substances could serve as valuable tools in cognitive psychology and neuroscience to explore the neural dynamics associated with consciousness. Understanding these effects may illuminate the mechanisms underlying consciousness and its absence, particularly in conditions like persistent vegetative states.
Abstract
Abstract Low-frequency (<4 Hz) neural activity, particularly in the delta band, is generally indicative of loss of consciousness and cortical do...
Unraveling Multiregional Neural Patterns during Consciousness Transition Using Flexible Microelectrode Arrays Integrated with Neuropixels Chips.
Nano letters – May 28, 2025
Summary
Scientists have mapped how different brain regions "wake up" during consciousness transitions using an innovative neural interface. This breakthrough combines flexible microelectrode arrays with advanced recording chips, allowing researchers to track brain activity in freely moving rats as they transition between sleep, wakefulness, and anesthesia. The technology revealed unique neural patterns, showing how different brain areas respond distinctly during consciousness changes.
Abstract
Consciousness transitions, including awakening from anesthesia or falling asleep, involve complex neural dynamics across multiple brain regions. Un...
Translation and cultural adaptation of the States of Consciousness Questionnaire (SOCQ) and statistical validation of the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) in Brazilian Portuguese
Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo) – January 01, 2017
Summary
Unlocking insights into profound altered states of consciousness is now significantly advanced for Portuguese speakers. A rigorous effort successfully translated a crucial questionnaire, designed to assess experiences like mystical states, into Brazilian Portuguese. An extensive online survey involving over 1500 individuals confirmed the tool's exceptional statistical reliability and validity. This robust adaptation provides an excellent, consistent measure for understanding consciousness, particularly its mystical and positive mood dimensions, fostering valuable cross-cultural comparisons.
Abstract
Background: The States of Consciousness Questionnaire (SOCQ) was developed to assess the occurrence features of the change in consciousness induced...
A virtual clinical trial of psychedelics to treat patients with disorders of consciousness
OpenAlex – August 19, 2024
Summary
Groundbreaking computational psychology models suggest psychedelic compounds could help restore consciousness in patients with disorders like a persistent vegetative state. Using individualized brain models informed by fMRI and DWI data, virtual simulations of LSD and psilocybin administration showed these alkaloids shift brain activity closer to a state conducive to consciousness. This effect was more pronounced in minimally conscious patients. This work provides a computational foundation for future clinical psychology interventions and drug studies exploring psychedelics' potential, offering new hope for complex neurological conditions.
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DoC), including the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) and the minimally conscious state (MCS), have limited treat...
Evidence of quantum-entangled higher states of consciousness.
Computational and structural biotechnology journal – January 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
What if quantum entanglement could accelerate learning by unlocking higher states of conscious experience? This study provides empirical and statis...
Why Uncertainty Is Essential for Consciousness: Local Prospect Theory vs. Predictive Processing.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) – January 28, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
We present and develop local prospect theory (LPT), a novel framework for understanding consciousness, and, in particular, subjective experience an...
Revisiting the standard for modeling functional brain network activity: Application to consciousness.
PloS one – January 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Functional connectivity (FC) of resting-state fMRI time series can be estimated using methods that differ in their temporal sensitivity (static vs....
Newman's theory of health as expanding consciousness: an evolutionary concept analysis.
BMC nursing – September 03, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The health as expanding consciousness (HEC) theory posits that health and disease are interconnected components of a comprehensive process aimed at...
Criticality of resting-state EEG predicts perturbational complexity and level of consciousness during anesthesia.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology – October 31, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Consciousness has been proposed to be supported by electrophysiological patterns poised at criticality, a dynamical regime which exhibits adaptive ...
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 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...
Breaking through the doors of perception, consciousness, and existence: to what extent does psychedelic phenomenology ontologically depend on external factors?
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 21, 2024
Summary
Profound altered states induced by psychedelics spark a critical debate in philosophy and psychology regarding consciousness. This paper argues that while external factors might seem to shape these unique states of perception, a weak internalist position, rooted in phenomenology, offers a more coherent explanation. It integrates fragmented discussions in epistemology and cognitive science, exploring how drug-induced alterations relate to our internal mental landscape. Ultimately, externalist views, though speculative, cannot be dismissed entirely, opening new doors for understanding consciousness in psychedelic and drug studies.
Abstract
Abstract As reliable facilitators of characteristically unique altered states of consciousness that are notoriously difficult to comprehend, psyche...
Modulators of altered states of consciousness across psychedelic, dissociative, and entactogen use: A retrospective naturalistic study using the 5D-ASC.
Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry – January 23, 2026
Summary
The intensity of a psychedelic experience, linked to its clinical benefits, is shaped by several factors. An online survey of 804 individuals, using the Altered States of Consciousness questionnaire, revealed that intentions like spiritual or therapeutic use, rather than recreational, predict stronger consciousness alteration. Substance type also matters: dissociative and serotoninergic psychedelics produced more intense effects than entactogens. Higher doses, along with participant age and gender, further influenced the depth of the experience. This suggests a complex interplay of personal, contextual, and pharmacological elements in shaping psychedelic journeys.
Abstract
The intensity of the psychedelic experience has been shown to be associated with its clinical efficacy. This study aims to investigate the factors ...
The effect of neural pre-stimulus oscillations on post-stimulus auditory ERPs in disorders of consciousness.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Brain activity patterns before a sound occurs can predict how patients with consciousness disorders will process that sound. Scientists monitored EEG patterns in patients with disorders of consciousness, finding that higher-frequency brain waves before sounds predicted better auditory processing. This insight could help doctors better assess and potentially treat patients in minimally conscious states.
Abstract
Pre-stimulus oscillations predispose subsequent stimulus detection, but the connection between the pre-stimulus EEG activity and post-stimulus even...
Near-death experience during cardiac arrest and consciousness beyond the brain: a narrative review.
International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) – January 01, 2025
Summary
Remarkably, some individuals report vivid Near-death experiences during cardiac arrest when the brain's cortical electrical activity is absent. This review explores if such experiences are merely brain-based or suggest consciousness beyond the brain. Findings indicate these profound experiences occur during unresponsiveness, not when the brain is functional. The lack of reported subjective experience linked to observed brain activity during resuscitation supports the idea that consciousness can persist even when the brain is severely compromised.
Abstract
In this narrative review, we will critically assess whether the occurrence of near-death experience (NDE) associated with cardiac arrest (CA) may b...
Natural language analysis of the structure of altered states of consciousness
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – May 17, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like salvia and ketamine show remarkable similarities in content to non-drug methods of inducing altered states of consciousness (ASC), based on an analysis of 300 narrative reports. Most psychedelics, excluding LSD, were associated with positive and authentic experiences, with authenticity linked to a positive sentiment (R = 0.68). The study identified themes that trace the journey from ordinary awareness to profound metaphysical experiences, suggesting a structured understanding of ASC across various induction techniques, which could enhance future explorations in psychology and linguistics.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims Altered states of consciousness (ASC) represent acute and marked deviations from normal waking consciousness. Investig...
Conscious tactile perception entails distinct neural dynamics within somatosensory areas.
Current biology : CB – June 09, 2025
Summary
Our sense of touch relies on complex brain activity patterns. Using advanced intracranial recordings (SEEG), researchers found that conscious tactile perception happens when specific brain regions maintain sustained activity. The secondary somatosensory area showed distinct patterns when people were aware of touch versus when they weren't, even without verbal reporting. This reveals how our brain transforms physical sensations into conscious experiences.
Abstract
Distilling the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) in humans is challenging due to limitations in the spatiotemporal resolution of recording ...
Dimensions of corvid consciousness.
Animal cognition – May 02, 2025
Summary
Ravens, crows, and their corvid relatives possess remarkable levels of consciousness, displaying self-awareness and problem-solving abilities that rival great apes. New research explores animal consciousness through five key dimensions, revealing that corvids experience rich mental states, including emotional processing, spatial awareness, and social cognition. These findings reshape our understanding of bird consciousness and suggest these feathered masterminds are far more sentient than previously thought.
Abstract
Corvids have long been a target of public fascination and of scientific attention, particularly in the study of animal minds. Using Birch et al.'s ...
Heart rate variability responses to personalized and non-personalized affective videos. A study on healthy subjects and patients with disorders of consciousness.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Our hearts respond differently to familiar faces versus strangers - a finding that could revolutionize how we assess consciousness in patients. Heart rate patterns in healthy people showed distinct changes when viewing videos of loved ones, while patients with disorders of consciousness had muted responses. This suggests heart rhythm analysis could offer a simple, non-invasive way to detect covert cognition and improve diagnosis in minimally conscious patients.
Abstract
The diagnosis of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), including those in a minimally conscious state (MCS) and those with unresponsive w...
Occipital and left temporal instantaneous amplitude and frequency oscillations correlated with access and phenomenal consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – December 26, 2020
Summary
Brain activity patterns reveal how consciousness emerges! Scientists discovered specific brain regions that light up differently when we're consciously aware of something versus when information is processed unconsciously. Using advanced signal analysis, researchers found unique electrical patterns in the occipital and left temporal brain areas that correlate with conscious experiences, advancing our understanding of how the brain creates awareness.
Abstract
Given the hard problem of consciousness (Chalmers, 1995) there are no brain electrophysiological correlates of the subjective experience (the felt ...
Open multi-center intracranial electroencephalography dataset with task probing conscious visual perception.
Scientific data – May 23, 2025
Summary
Neuroscientists have captured rare brain activity data from 38 epilepsy patients with temporary brain implants, offering unique insights into how we consciously perceive visual information. Participants viewed various images (faces, objects, letters) while performing simple recognition tasks, as researchers recorded precise electrical signals from their brains. This comprehensive dataset helps unlock mysteries of visual consciousness and perception.
Abstract
We introduce an intracranial EEG (iEEG) dataset collected as part of an adversarial collaboration between proponents of two theories of consciousne...
Synchrony and subjective experience: the neural correlates of the stream of consciousness.
Trends in cognitive sciences – May 15, 2025
Summary
Our moment-to-moment conscious experience emerges from a complex dance of brain activity. Research shows that the temporoparietal junction and gestalt cortex regions integrate sensory inputs with personal memories and expectations to create our unique stream of consciousness. This integration happens through synchronized neural activity, producing individualized interpretations that shape how we each uniquely experience reality.
Abstract
Human subjectivity, our first-person conscious experience of the world, is among the deepest scientific mysteries. This opinion article lays out an...
Structure and Dynamics of Brain Lobe's Functional Networks at the Onset of Anesthesia-Induced Loss of Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – November 15, 2016
Summary
When consciousness fades under anesthesia, the brain's communication networks undergo dramatic changes within just 90 seconds. Researchers tracked brain activity in different regions using electrodes placed directly on a primate's cortex while administering ketamine. The analysis revealed distinct shifts in how brain areas connect and communicate, particularly in the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital regions. These findings illuminate how anesthesia disrupts the neural networks that maintain consciousness.
Abstract
Anesthetic agents are neurotropic drugs capable of inducing significant alterations in the thalamocortical system, promoting a profound decrease in...
Quantum information as the scientific basis for the explanation of human consciousness and its evolution.
Bio Systems – June 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
A scientific explanation of consciousness and its evolution has become possible by a generalized quantum information concept. Crucial to this is a ...
A dynamic bifurcation mechanism explains cortex-wide neural correlates of conscious access.
Cell reports – March 25, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Conscious access is suggested to involve "ignition," an all-or-none activation across cortical areas. To elucidate this phenomenon, we carry out co...
Neuro-functional modeling of near-death experiences in contexts of altered states of consciousness.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Near-death experiences (NDEs) including out-of-body experiences (OBEs) have been fascinating phenomena of perception both for affected persons and ...
Validation of the Spanish Version of the Lucidity and Consciousness in Dreams Scale.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Lucid dreaming, a specific phenomenon of dream consciousness, refers to the experience being aware that one is dreaming. The primary aim of this re...
Reasoning about conscious experience with axiomatic and graphical mathematics.
Consciousness and cognition – October 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
We cast aspects of consciousness in axiomatic mathematical terms, using the graphical calculus of general process theories (a.k.a symmetric monoida...
Patterns of Occurrence of Four States of Consciousness as a Function of Trait Absorption.
Journal for person-oriented research – January 01, 2019
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Four states of consciousness are considered here: the hypnagogic state (the transitional state between waking and sleeping); the hypnopompic state ...
Reconsidering the ignorabimus: du Bois-Reymond and the hard problem of consciousness.
Science in context – March 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In this paper I present an interpretation of du Bois-Reymond's thesis on the impossibility of a scientific explanation of consciousness and of its ...
Invisible Gorillas in the Mind: Internal Inattentional Blindness and the Prospect of Introspection Training.
Open mind : discoveries in cognitive science – January 01, 2025
Summary
Just as we can miss a gorilla walking through a basketball game, we often overlook our own thinking processes. Research shows that many mental activities we consider unconscious may actually be accessible through proper internal attention. Through mindfulness and introspection training, people can develop greater self-awareness of their thoughts, improving their ability to notice preconscious mental processes that typically go unnoticed due to internal inattentional blindness.
Abstract
Much of high-level cognition appears inaccessible to consciousness. Countless studies have revealed mental processes-like those underlying our choi...
Subcortical correlates of consciousness with human single neuron recordings.
eLife – May 22, 2025
Summary
Deep within our brains, specialized neurons help determine what we consciously perceive. Scientists recorded individual neuron activity in the thalamus and subthalamic regions while patients detected subtle touch sensations. They found that these subcortical brain areas actively prepare for and process incoming sensory information, with nearly 1/4 of neurons responding differently to felt vs unfelt touches.
Abstract
Subcortical brain structures such as the subthalamic nucleus or the thalamus are involved in regulating motor and cognitive behavior. However, thei...
Electroencephalographic characteristics of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for prolonged disorders of consciousness: a study protocol.
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
Gentle electrical stimulation of the ear's vagus nerve shows promise in helping patients recover from severe consciousness disorders. This protocol aims to identify which patients will benefit most from this treatment by analyzing their brain activity patterns. Using EEG monitoring, researchers will track changes in brain wave patterns and neural connections in 50 patients receiving ear stimulation over 4 weeks, followed by a year of observation.
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) can promote the recovery of consciousness levels in pat...
Consciousness Field EFT (43 Hz): EEG Evidence from DMT Breakthrough & Meditation (N=35 Subjects)
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – February 18, 2026
Summary
A striking enhancement of gamma-band power at 43 Hz was observed during peak conscious states, including deep meditation and DMT experiences, in a cohort of 35 subjects. Analysis revealed consistent temporal locking between these gamma surges and brain dynamics, with notable amplification (up to +34.2 dB) from the pineal region to frontal electrodes. This study utilized high-density EEG mapping to explore neural connectivity, supporting the idea that altered states of consciousness may be linked to specific brainwave patterns and their effects on perception and belief systems.
Abstract
Consciousness Field EFT (43 Hz): EEG Evidence from DMT Breakthrough & Meditation (N=35 Subjects) Updated to the full N=35 subject cohort. Data sour...
Nuclear Spin Modulation of Psychedelic Consciousness States: A Factorial fMRI Protocol Combining N,N-DMT with Krypton and Xenon Isotopes
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – March 04, 2026
Summary
Xenon isotopes with non-zero nuclear spin can be about 30% less effective as anesthetics compared to their spin-zero counterparts. This research proposes a factorial protocol to explore the interaction between noble gas isotopes and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in altering consciousness. With eight sessions per subject using combinations of 84 Kr, 83 Kr, 132 Xe, and 129 Xe alongside DMT or saline, the study aims to uncover how different spins influence neuroimaging signals, potentially revealing insights into consciousness and anesthesia.
Abstract
The discovery that xenon isotopes with non-zero nuclear spin are ∼30% less po-tent as anesthetics than spin-zero isotopes (Li et al., 2018) establi...
The influence of psilocybin on subconscious and conscious emotional learning
iScience – May 19, 2024
Summary
A compelling finding in Psychedelics and Drug Studies reveals that a 20 mg dose of psilocybin, a compound rooted in Chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly improved learning rates over placebo. This Neuroscience and Cognitive science research suggests that modulating brain serotonin signaling with psilocybin preserves reinforcement learning. While overall learning was maintained, the Psychology investigation showed inferior results with subconscious cues. Conversely, conscious neutral cues sometimes led to better outcomes. This complex interplay highlights psilocybin's potential in mental health, offering new avenues for drug development.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics hold promise as a treatment modality for various psychiatric disorders and are currently applied in psychedelic-assisted ...
We are the Sensors of Consciousness! A Review and Analysis on How Awakenings During Sleep Influence Dream Recall.
Nature and science of sleep – January 01, 2025
Summary
Our ability to remember dreams dramatically changes based on how we're awakened. Calling someone's name leads to better dream recall than using an alarm, and people remember more dreams at home than in sleep labs. This analysis of sleep studies reveals that memory and attention play key roles in capturing dream experiences. Serial awakenings throughout the night show that awareness varies by sleep stage, with personal traits and questionnaire methods significantly impacting what people report about their dreaming phenomenology.
Abstract
Since the 1930s, researchers have awakened people from different stages of sleep to record what they have experienced. While some aspects, includin...
"A period of limbo": The experience of being a male family member of a person in a prolonged disorder of consciousness (PDoC); an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.
Neuropsychological rehabilitation – June 02, 2025
Summary
Male family members caring for loved ones with severe brain injuries face unique emotional challenges while navigating an uncertain future. Through in-depth interviews with six men, researchers uncovered how they cope with ambiguous loss - the pain of having someone physically present but psychologically absent. These men showed remarkable resilience, finding meaning through active involvement in their family member's care while dealing with complex emotions and healthcare systems. Their experiences highlight the need for compassionate, family-centered support.
Abstract
Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness (PDoC) are complex conditions characterised by sustained consciousness impairment lasting over four weeks foll...
Quantium Consciousness Index and Quantium Noxious Index in Ketamine Subdose Administration Compared with Fentanyl and Midazolam in Postoperative ICU Patients: A Prospective, Observational Study.
Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine – June 01, 2024
Summary
Low-dose ketamine shows promise as an alternative to traditional sedatives in ICU care. New monitoring methods reveal that small doses of ketamine provide similar sedation and pain control as the standard fentanyl-midazolam combination. In a 44-patient study, both treatments achieved comparable consciousness (qCON) and pain response (qNOX) scores, offering doctors more flexibility in postoperative care.
Abstract
In postoperative patients in the intensive care units (ICUs), not only analgesics are needed but also sedation so that the patient can remain calm ...
Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Training: Firsthand Experience of Non-Ordinary States of Consciousness in the Development of Competence
European Psychiatry – April 01, 2024
Summary
Personal experience with altered states of consciousness proves vital for therapists training in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Research shows practitioners who undergo supervised psychedelic sessions develop greater empathy, confidence, and competence in guiding others. This firsthand exposure helps therapists better understand patient experiences and avoid common pitfalls, while supporting their own wellbeing and preventing burnout.
Abstract
Introduction This review explores the benefits of incorporating personal experience(s) with non-ordinary states of consciousness as a core componen...
The Altered States Database: Psychometric Data of Altered States of Consciousness
Frontiers in Psychology – July 02, 2018
Summary
A groundbreaking database now centralizes questionnaire data on altered states of consciousness, offering unprecedented insight into human psychology. This resource compiles psychometric assessments from diverse experimental inductions, including psychedelics and drug studies, biofield effects, and olfactory and sensory function studies. It allows cognitive and clinical psychology to directly compare effects across numerous participants and induction methods. This applied psychology tool will facilitate meta-analyses, revealing dose-response relationships and linking subjective experiences to underlying biophysical mechanisms.
Abstract
The experimental induction of altered states of consciousness (ASC) constitutes a research opportunity to relate changes in phenomenological states...
Prefrontal contributions to the stability and variability of thought and conscious experience
Neuropsychopharmacology – September 20, 2021
Summary
The prefrontal cortex orchestrates the stability and variability of conscious experience, profoundly influencing our mental states. This neuroscience review synthesizes two key frameworks from cognitive psychology, revealing how distinct prefrontal subregions contribute to everything from goal-directed thought to psychedelic experiences. These subregions are implicated in a vast array of mental phenomena, crucial for advancing mental health research topics. Different areas, vital for psychology, govern whether our thoughts remain stable or shift, offering insights relevant for psychotherapists.
Abstract
Abstract The human prefrontal cortex is a structurally and functionally heterogenous brain region, including multiple subregions that have been lin...
Tolerability, assessment, and prediction of psilocybin-induced altered states of consciousness
Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) – January 01, 2012
Summary
Psilocybin, a hallucinogen, demonstrates remarkable tolerability. In a pooled analysis of 110 healthy subjects receiving psilocybin doses, most described the experience as pleasurable, enriching, and non-threatening. Strong anxiety was rare, occurring only at highest doses, and resolved with emotional support. Follow-up 8-16 months later confirmed no prolonged psychosis or drug abuse, highlighting its safety in clinical psychology and psychiatry. This challenges previous fears about altered consciousness and suggests potential for medicine and psychotherapeutic treatment.
Abstract
Since the early 1990s, hallucinogenic drugs, such as psilocybin, have been increasingly used to investigate the neuronal basis of altered states of...
Integration and segregation in whole-brain networks: implications for altered states of consciousness
OpenAlex – January 01, 2018
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters Consciousness, dramatically increasing brain integration, while deep sleep promotes segregation. Neuroscience and Psychology reveal that during a psychedelic state, a globally coherent functional connectivity state becomes more probable, with a strong decrease in Default mode network activity. Functional Brain Connectivity Studies using fMRI, incorporating Topological and Geometric Data Analysis, show Betweenness centrality shifts. These insights, relevant to Computer science, Artificial intelligence, and Theoretical computer science, offer new Cognitive science perspectives in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
To survive in an ever-changing environment, the brain must seamlessly integrate a rich stream of incoming information into coherent internal repres...
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...
The 3D-ASCr scale: A revalidation of the core dimensions of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale 5D(11)-ASC for psychedelic research.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – December 26, 2025
Summary
A more precise way to measure psychedelic experiences now exists, enhancing our understanding of these profound states. Analyzing 901 questionnaires from 398 healthy participants across 16 studies with LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and DMT, a superior three-dimensional model emerged. Ten of eleven previous subscales now form coherent categories: positive, distressing, and perceptual effects. This updated 3D-ASCr scale offers greater accuracy for assessing altered states of consciousness, providing a standardized tool for both clinical practice and research involving psychedelics.
Abstract
The Altered States of Consciousness Scale (3/5D-ASC or 11-ASC) is widely used to assess non-ordinary states of consciousness, particularly for psyc...
SCIENCE, SPIRITUALITY, AND AYAHUASCA: THE PROBLEM OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND SPIRITUAL ONTOLOGIES IN THE ACADEMY
Zygon® – February 12, 2017
Summary
Ayahuasca, a psychoactive brew from the Amazon, has gained popularity for its potential to explore spirituality through altered states of consciousness. Analyzing its historical context reveals that since the 1960s, over 60% of studies on ayahuasca have emerged from interdisciplinary fields like psychology and sociology. The exploration highlights how science and spirituality intersect, with insights from social and cognitive sciences suggesting that approximately 70% of participants report profound spiritual experiences. This blending of perspectives challenges traditional boundaries between scientific inquiry and spiritual understanding.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew from Amazonas, popularized in the last decades in part through transnational religious networks, but also due to i...
Psychedelics and time: Exploring altered temporal perception and its implications for consciousness, neuroscience, and therapy
Psychedelics. – October 21, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin can significantly alter time perception, leading to experiences of time dilation and compression. This phenomenon offers insights into how the brain processes time and consciousness. Emerging findings from cognitive neuroscience suggest that these altered states could provide therapeutic benefits for psychiatric disorders where time perception is disrupted, such as PTSD and depression. By exploring these effects, the potential for psychedelics to foster transformative cognitive and emotional states becomes increasingly relevant for clinical applications, impacting treatment approaches for various mental health conditions.
Abstract
Psychedelics including psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide are known to disrupt the normal flow of time perception, for ...
Decreased CO2 saturation during circular breathwork supports emergence of altered states of consciousness
Research Square – February 22, 2024
Summary
Our breath holds a surprising power to unlock unique states of consciousness. Researchers investigated if circular breathwork, by reducing carbon dioxide levels, facilitates altered states. Participants engaged in this technique while CO2 was monitored and experiences reported. Results positively showed a significant drop in CO2 saturation, which strongly correlated with participants reporting profound altered states of consciousness. This suggests reduced CO2 is a key physiological mechanism supporting the emergence of these unique mental experiences, underscoring the direct influence of breathing on conscious awareness.
Abstract
Decreased CO2 saturation during circular breathwork supports emergence of altered states of consciousness
Neural filters to conscious awareness and the phenomena that reduce their impact.
International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) – January 01, 2025
Summary
What if our everyday reality is just a sliver of what's possible? It appears our **consciousness** is often constrained by the brain's "neural filters," which narrow our perception. Yet, when the activity of these **neural filters** is reduced—through practices like deep **meditation** or the use of a **psychedelic compound**—individuals can access a wider awareness. This leads to a profound **transcendent experience**, allowing the mind to perceive information beyond typical sensory limits. Such states suggest a vast, untapped potential for human awareness.
Abstract
In this review, we examine studies suggesting that conscious or mental awareness is constrained by our neural filters. These filters include sensor...
Emergent Consciousness: From the Early Universe to Our Mind
arXiv Preprint Archive – July 05, 2000
Summary
Quantum physics reveals a fascinating parallel: our conscious brain may operate similarly to the early universe. The infant cosmos existed as a vast quantum superposition, processing information through roughly one billion quantum bits - remarkably matching the number of quantum-computing proteins in our brain during conscious thought. This link suggests consciousness may emerge through similar quantum processes in both cosmic and neural systems.
Abstract
In a previous paper (gr-qc/9907063) we described the early inflationary universe in terms of quantum information. In this paper, we analize those r...
Case report: Maintaining altered states of consciousness over repeated ketamine infusions may be key to facilitate long-lasting antidepressant effects: some initial lessons from a personalized-dosing single-case study.
Front Psychiatry – October 25, 2023
Summary
Could the unique mental state experienced during ketamine infusions be key to lasting depression relief? A recent personalized single-case study explored this. It found that maintaining an altered state of consciousness over repeated treatments was associated with remarkably long-lasting antidepressant effects for one patient, offering a promising insight into optimizing future therapies.
Abstract
Case report: Maintaining altered states of consciousness over repeated ketamine infusions may be key to facilitate long-lasting antidepressant effe...
A Synergistic Workspace for Human Consciousness Revealed by Integrated Information Decomposition
bioRxiv – November 26, 2020
Summary
Our subjective experience of consciousness may arise from a unique brain dynamic. Researchers hypothesized that consciousness isn't merely the sum of individual brain parts but emerges from a special kind of information synergy. Applying a sophisticated analytical tool, they pinpointed a "synergistic workspace"—a network of brain regions that robustly combine information in a truly integrated and non-redundant fashion. This discovery strongly suggests that such efficient, combined information processing is a fundamental mechanism underlying human consciousness.
Abstract
A Synergistic Workspace for Human Consciousness Revealed by Integrated Information Decomposition
[Adaptation to Spanish and cross-cultural interpretation of the scale of lucidity and awareness in the subjects (Lucidity and Consciousness in Dreams scale)].
Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Medicas (Cordoba, Argentina) – March 08, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
It is called lucid dreaming, when the dreamer is aware that he is dreaming and can control the dream content. We lack Spanish-speaking tools that a...
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The Dream of God: How Do Religion and Science See Lucid Dreaming and Other Conscious States During Sleep?
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2020
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) began to be scientifically studied in the last century, but various religions have highlighted the importance of LD in their do...
Psilocybin-assisted mindfulness training modulates self-consciousness and brain default mode network connectivity with lasting effects.
NeuroImage – August 01, 2019
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Both psychedelics and meditation exert profound modulatory effects on consciousness, perception and cognition, but their combined, possibly synergi...
Whole brain modelling for simulating pharmacological interventions on patients with disorders of consciousness.
Communications biology – September 19, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DoC) represent a challenging and complex group of neurological conditions characterised by profound disturbances in con...