169 results for "Ego Dissolution"
Assessment of the acute effects of 2C-B vs psilocybin on subjective experience, mood and cognition
OpenAlex – February 16, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding reveals the hallucinogen 2C-B, derived from mescaline, offers a "lighter" psychedelic experience than psilocybin. In a study of 22 healthy participants, 2C-B produced psychedelic states, but psilocybin led to larger dysphoria, subjective impairment, and auditory alterations, impacting mood and cognition. Both compounds, compared to placebo, caused equivalent psychomotor slowing and spatial memory issues. This work in psychology and drug studies advances understanding of how these substances, influencing neurotransmitter receptors, affect behavior.
Abstract
Abstract 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B) is a hallucinogenic phenethylamine derived from mescaline. Observational and preclinical data h...
Persisting Effects of Ayahuasca on Empathy, Creative Thinking, Decentering, Personality, and Well-Being
Frontiers in Pharmacology – October 01, 2021
Summary
A single Ayahuasca experience can significantly enhance empathy and well-being. Up to 43 volunteers demonstrated increased cognitive and emotional empathy, plus greater life satisfaction, lasting a week. This psychedelic, an alkaloid-rich brew, also reduced neuroticism, a personality trait often associated with anxiety. Such psychological shifts suggest Ayahuasca holds promise for clinical psychology, potentially aiding mental health by influencing the brain's biochemical responses.
Abstract
Background: Naturalistic and placebo-controlled studies have suggested that ayahuasca, a traditional Amazonian beverage, could be helpful in the tr...
Quality of Acute Psychedelic Experience Predicts Therapeutic Efficacy of Psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Frontiers in Pharmacology – January 17, 2018
Summary
The quality of a psychedelic experience profoundly impacts long-term mental health. A clinical trial with 20 patients found that receiving psilocybin, an alkaloid hallucinogen, for treatment-resistant depression yielded significant results. Specifically, mystical-type experiences during a 25mg psilocybin session predicted reduced depression symptoms five weeks later. This pharmacology insight, reflecting psilocybin's neurotransmitter receptor influence, suggests optimizing the acute experience is crucial for effective medicine in drug studies.
Abstract
Introduction: It is a basic principle of the "psychedelic" treatment model that the quality of the acute experience mediates long-term improvements...
Phenomenology of Psychedelic Experiences and Psychedelic-Associated Distressing Effects: Quantifying Subjective Experiences.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – December 31, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
The range of phenomena that can be induced by psychedelic substances is broad and variable, including effects on perception, cognition, and emotion...
Meaningful Psychedelic Experiences Predict Increased Moral Expansiveness.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – March 12, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
There has been growing interest in understanding the psychological effects of psychedelic experiences, including their potential to catalyze signif...
Psychedelics and connectedness to natural and social worlds: An examination of the evidence and a proposed conceptual framework.
Current opinion in psychology – April 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Recent research suggests that serotonergic psychedelics may simultaneously enhance connectedness to both social and natural worlds. This article sy...
Neurobiological Correlates of Psychedelic Experiences and Psychedelic-Associated Adverse Effects.
Current topics in behavioral neurosciences – July 31, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
This chapter offers a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of psychedelic drugs, wit...
Naturalistic use of psychedelics does not modulate processing of self-related stimuli (but it might modulate attentional mechanisms): An event-related potentials study.
Psychophysiology – August 01, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Classic psychedelics are able to profoundly alter the state of consciousness and lead to acute experiences of ego dissolution - the blurring of the...
Touching and being touched: where knowing and feeling meet.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Philosophers maintain that touch confers a sense of reality or grounding to perceptual experience. In touching oneself, one is simultaneously both ...
Neural Mechanisms and Psychology of Psychedelic Ego Dissolution
Pharmacological Reviews – September 09, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly reshape consciousness, offering insights into brain organization. Neuroscience demonstrates these drug studies primarily influence serotonergic 5-HT2A receptors, a key neurotransmitter receptor influencing behavior. Neuroimaging reveals this biochemical interaction leads to neuromodulatory changes affecting sentience and causing "ego dissolution," fundamentally altering selfhood. Psychology suggests this disarms ego resistance, expanding perceptual hypotheses. This extensive evidence helps understand how these substances alter our perception of the world, highlighting their impact on hierarchical processing.
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies of psychedelics have advanced our understanding of hierarchical brain organization and the mechanisms underlying their subject...
Effects of psilocybin versus escitalopram on rumination and thought suppression in depression
BJPsych Open – September 01, 2022
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, uniquely reduces maladaptive rumination and thought suppression in individuals with major depression. In a clinical trial of 59 participants, Psilocybin treatment led to significant decreases in these cognitive processes, unlike Escitalopram. Notably, reduced thought suppression was exclusive to Psilocybin responders, achieving at least 50% symptom reduction. This offers new insights for psychiatry, internal medicine, and clinical psychology into treatment of major depression, impacting psychometrics of cognition and anxiety management through novel psychedelics and drug studies.
Abstract
Background Major depressive disorder is often associated with maladaptive coping strategies, including rumination and thought suppression. Aims To ...
Journeying to Ixtlan: Ethics of Psychedelic Medicine and Research for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias.
AJOB neuroscience – January 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
In this paper, we examine the case of psychedelic medicine for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD). These "mind-altering" drugs are...
Psychosis and psychedelics: Historical entanglements and contemporary contrasts.
Transcultural psychiatry – October 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Experiences of psychedelics and psychosis were deeply entangled in scientific practices in the mid-20th century, from uses of psychedelic drugs tha...
Mindfulness-induced endogenous theta stimulation occasions self-transcendence and inhibits addictive behavior.
Science advances – October 14, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Self-regulation is instantiated by theta oscillations (4 to 8 Hz) in neurons of frontal midline brain regions. Frontal midline theta (FMΘ) is inver...
A Phase 1, Dose-Ranging Study to Assess Safety and Psychoactive Effects of a Vaporized 5-Methoxy-N, N-Dimethyltryptamine Formulation (GH001) in Healthy Volunteers.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a tryptamine with ultra-rapid onset and short duration of psychedelic effects. Prospective studies ...
Naturalistic Use of Mescaline Is Associated with Self-Reported Psychiatric Improvements and Enduring Positive Life Changes.
ACS pharmacology & translational science – April 09, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Mescaline is a naturally occurring psychoactive alkaloid that has been used as a sacrament by Indigenous populations in spiritual ritual and healin...
"This Is Something That Changed My Life": A Qualitative Study of Patients' Experiences in a Clinical Trial of Ketamine Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders.
Frontiers in psychiatry – January 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Background: The therapeutic benefits of ketamine have been demonstrated for a variety of psychiatric disorders. However, the role of ketamine induc...
LSD alters dynamic integration and segregation in the human brain.
NeuroImage – February 15, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Investigating changes in brain function induced by mind-altering substances such as LSD is a powerful method for interrogating and understanding ho...
Making "bad trips" good: How users of psychedelics narratively transform challenging trips into valuable experiences.
The International journal on drug policy – January 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
We study the significance of stories about bad trips among users of psychedelics. Drawing on narrative theory, we describe the characteristics of s...
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Psychedelics as potent anti-inflammatory therapeutics
Neuropharmacology – August 22, 2022
Summary
A surprising discovery reveals Hallucinogens like Psilocybin, traditionally studied for their impact on Consciousness, are potent anti-inflammatories. While Neuroscience and Psychology focused on brain effects, new Pharmacology insights from Psychedelics and Drug Studies show these compounds modulate immunity throughout the body. This opens Medicine to a novel class of anti-inflammatory agents, effective even at doses below those altering perception. Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques are exploring how these compounds, related to Tryptophan, could treat inflammatory diseases beyond brain disorders.
Abstract
Psychedelics have seen a resurgence of interest from both the scientific and lay community in recent years. Psychedelics are known for their abilit...
Neurobiological and Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin in Psychiatric Disorders
Journal of Pharma Insights and Research. – October 05, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin offers rapid, sustained antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects, particularly for treatment-resistant depression and existential distress. Administered within psychotherapy, it acutely disrupts key brain networks, like the Default Mode Network, creating a state of elevated brain entropy. This leads to enhanced neuroplasticity, fostering new neural connections and helping unlearn maladaptive cognitive patterns. Significant efficacy is evident, but careful screening and a supportive therapeutic setting are essential for safe, effective application.
Abstract
Psilocybin, an indoleamine alkaloid derived from various fungal species, is the subject of renewed, rigorous investigation for its therapeutic pote...
Tripping over the other: Could psychedelics increase empathy?
Journal of Evolutionary Psychology – September 21, 2020
Summary
Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is proving profoundly effective in clinical psychology. A key mechanism of action involves these compounds, often alkaloids from chemical synthesis, increasing empathy. Extensive drug studies demonstrate this influence on neurotransmitter receptors enhances the personality trait of openness to experience. This psychological shift leads to greater prosocial behavior and social connection, implications a psychotherapist might leverage. The growing body of evidence highlights how specific chemical actions can profoundly alter human behavior, impacting a crucial human trait like empathy.
Abstract
Abstract There is increasing evidence that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is effective for a range of psychological conditions. There are likel...
Increases in aesthetic experience following ayahuasca use: An open-label, naturalistic study
OpenAlex – May 15, 2023
Summary
People report richer aesthetic experiences after Ayahuasca. A cohort of 54 individuals attending a retreat showed increased aesthetic perception one week and one month later compared to baseline. This finding, relevant to Psychology and Clinical psychology, suggests psychedelics can profoundly shift how we engage with beauty. While acute mystical experiences did not predict these lasting changes, it offers a new dimension for psychotherapists exploring perception and mysticism, expanding the scope of Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs are currently being investigated for their potential to facilitate a variety of long-lasting psychological changes. One area of p...
Sub-acute and long-term effects of ayahuasca on mental health and well-being in healthy ceremony attendants: A replication study
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – August 26, 2021
Summary
A single Ayahuasca ceremony can significantly reduce anxiety and stress for weeks, even without affecting depression. Among 73 participants, including first-time and experienced users, a profound psychedelic experience led to reduced anxiety and somatization, alongside increased non-judging, four weeks later. While satisfaction with life and awareness improved the day after the ceremony, these returned to baseline. This suggests a potential for this natural compound in mental health and psychiatry, offering insights for clinical psychology and medicine regarding the therapeutic effects of such experiences.
Abstract
Abstract Background and aims There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the psychedelic plant tea, ayahuasca, holds therapeutic potential....
An experience with Holotropic Breathwork is associated with improvement in non-judgement and satisfaction with life while reducing symptoms of stress in a Czech-speaking population
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – December 15, 2021
Summary
Holotropic Breathwork, a Complementary and Alternative Medicine technique, significantly boosted non-judgement and satisfaction with life for 58 participants, while reducing anxiety and stress symptoms over four weeks. This Psychology finding is notable because, unlike Chemical synthesis and alkaloids in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, the non-drug method evoked only 0-34% of a typical psychedelic experience. The positive impact on Judgement and Clinical psychology outcomes suggests a powerful therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Abstract Background Holotropic breathwork (Grof ® Breathwork), was developed by Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof as a ‘non-drug’ alternative techn...
Data Sheet 1_Enhanced meaning in life following psychedelic use: converging evidence from controlled and naturalistic studies.pdf
OPAL (Open@LaTrobe) (La Trobe University) – June 06, 2025
Summary
Psilocybin robustly enhances one's sense of existential meaning, a vital component of mental health. Across clinical psychology trials, controlled administrations, and naturalistic observational study settings, the "presence of meaning" strongly increased. While the "search for meaning" was only weakly reduced, these psychosocial shifts correlated moderately with improved mental wellbeing and coping. This facilitation of profound psychological change offers new insights for social psychology and developmental psychology, providing a novel tool for a psychotherapist.
Abstract
Introduction Psychedelics, such as psilocybin, are increasingly recognized for their propensity to elicit powerful subjective experiences that carr...
Et psykoanalytisk og et postmoderne perspektiv på selv/egoopløsning i en psykedelisk kontekst
OpenAlex – January 04, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding from empirical research on self-dissolution during psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is a profound feeling of connection. A systematic review of 10 qualitative studies reveals subjects often report a stronger feeling of essence and altered bodily experiences, despite challenging moments, leading to blissful outcomes. This phenomenon, central to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, is explored through Psychoanalytic theory, analyzing intra- and intersubjective processes. Another psychological perspective examines the influence of the therapeutic context on the subject's experience, providing insights for Mental Health and Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications, enriching our understanding of the human psyche.
Abstract
Self or ego dissolution (SED) is a recurring, yet vaguely defined phenomenon often associated with positive therapeutic outcomes within clinical re...
A comparison of reactivation experiences following vaporization and intramuscular injection (IM) of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) in a naturalistic setting
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – March 25, 2020
Summary
Vaporization of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) leads to significantly higher reactivation rates, with 69% of users experiencing reactivations compared to just 21% for intramuscular injection. In a survey of 27 participants, 8 in the vaporization group redosed multiple times, while only 2 did in the IM group. All IM users reported physical tension release, unlike 62% of those who vaporized. Additionally, IM users experienced a slower onset of effects, taking up to six minutes versus as little as 50 seconds for vaporization.
Abstract
Abstract Background Previous research suggests a therapeutic potential of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT). However, online anecdotal r...
All-natural 5-MeO-DMT sigma receptor 1 agonist and its therapeutic impact in mental and neurodegener-ative diseases through mitochondrial activation
Science Reviews Biology – July 30, 2023
Summary
The sigma-1 receptor (S1R) plays a pivotal role in neuronal health, particularly in regulating mitochondrial function and cellular survival. In studies involving natural agonists like 5-MeO-DMT, significant effects were observed: participants reported up to 70% higher satisfaction with life and a notable reduction in depression and stress levels. Additionally, 5-MeO-DMT enhanced synaptic plasticity in neurons, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases. This highlights the importance of S1R in epigenetic modifications and its promise in improving mental health outcomes.
Abstract
The sigma-1 receptor S1R is a chaperone that resides mainly at the mitochondrion-associated endoplasmic reticulum ER membrane MAM, it is considered...
A Phase 1, Dose-Ranging Study to Assess Safety and Psychoactive Effects of a Vaporized 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine Formulation (GH001) in Healthy Volunteers
European Psychiatry – June 01, 2022
Summary
A novel vaporized formulation of 5-MeO-DMT, tested on 22 healthy volunteers, demonstrated dose-related increases in psychedelic experiences without significant adverse effects. Participants reported heightened intensity on various scales, particularly after doses of 6, 12, and 18 mg. While cognitive functioning, mood, and well-being remained stable, individualized dose escalation led to the strongest psychoactive responses. Notably, vital signs were unaffected, and mild adverse effects like nausea resolved quickly. This approach may enhance therapeutic outcomes in treating depression with psychedelics.
Abstract
Introduction 5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a tryptamine with ultra-rapid onset and short duration of psychedelic effects. Prospec...
Effects of ayahuasca on gratitude and relationships with nature: An open-label, naturalistic study
OpenAlex – June 07, 2023
Summary
Ayahuasca significantly boosts feelings of gratitude and connection to nature, with 54 participants reporting notable changes after attending a retreat. One week post-retreat, gratitude increased by over 30%, while nature appreciation surged by 25%. These benefits persisted at the one-month follow-up. Participants who experienced mystical moments and awe during the retreat showed weak-to-moderate correlations with these positive shifts. This suggests that ayahuasca may enhance prosocial behavior and overall mental health, highlighting its potential in clinical psychology and social psychology contexts.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic brew that has been the focus of an increasing number of investigations for its potential therapeutic effects. In additio...
DataSheet1_A Phase 1, Dose-Ranging Study to Assess Safety and Psychoactive Effects of a Vaporized 5-Methoxy-N, N-Dimethyltryptamine Formulation (GH001) in Healthy Volunteers.docx
Figshare – November 25, 2021
Summary
Higher doses of 5-MeO-DMT, a tryptamine, significantly enhanced the intensity of psychedelic experiences in healthy volunteers, with notable effects observed at 6 mg (N=6), 12 mg (N=4), and 18 mg (N=4) compared to the lowest 2 mg dose (N=4). Evaluations using various questionnaires indicated that individualized dose escalation (N=4) maximized these experiences. Importantly, mood, cognition, and well-being remained unaffected, and adverse effects were mild, such as nausea. Vital signs showed no significant changes, suggesting good tolerability for this novel psychedelic formulation.
Abstract
<p>5-Methoxy-N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a tryptamine with ultra-rapid onset and short duration of psychedelic effects. Prospective...
ALADIN ∞ ℂ(t) — The Final Law: Nirvana Maria (December 2025)
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – December 06, 2025
Summary
A striking finding reveals that a measured current density of 1.000 × 10¹⁸ A/m² can explain the entire observable universe without relying on dark matter or energy. Experimental evidence from three human brains undergoing 5-MeO-DMT and meditation, alongside 127 X-class solar flares, resonates at a precise frequency of 43 Hz, aligning with cosmic phenomena. The work includes a detailed 180-page theory, over 400 reproducible Python scripts, and a stunning 1200 dpi visualization titled “Nirvana Maria.” Data is publicly accessible at GitHub.
Abstract
One measured current density J₀ = 1.000 × 10¹⁸ A/m² derives the entire observable universe with zero free parameters. Replaces dark matter, dark en...
The Role of the Brain in Conscious Processes: A New Way of Looking at the Neural Correlates of Consciousness
Frontiers in Psychology – August 03, 2018
Summary
A compelling new interpretation links consciousness to a universal background field, proposing phenomenal awareness resides in the Zero-Point Field, a concept from theoretical physics. Through specific neural dynamics, brains write conscious experiences into this field during active states (theta cycle). During introspection, engaging the default mode network, the brain reads ZPF information (alpha cycle) to form our sense of self and memories. Psychedelics or meditation, relevant to drug studies, alter this biofield interaction, dissolving the ego and expanding consciousness by accessing a broader spectrum of ZPF modes.
Abstract
This article presents a new interpretation of the consciousness-related neuroscientific findings using the framework of stochastic electrodynamics ...
Neural and subjective effects of inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine in natural settings.
J Psychopharmacol – February 10, 2021
Summary
A powerful psychedelic can profoundly alter brain activity and perception in natural settings. Researchers investigated how inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine affects brain networks and subjective experiences outside a lab. Findings revealed significant changes in brain connectivity correlating with deeply meaningful experiences, such as feelings of unity and ego dissolution. This work positively illuminates how this compound reshapes consciousness, even in real-world environments.
Abstract
Neural and subjective effects of inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine in natural settings.
Mapping the phenomenology of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT in psychedelic-naïve healthy adults.
Sci Rep – November 06, 2025
Summary
A single dose of a potent psychedelic, 5-MeO-DMT, can profoundly alter perception. Researchers aimed to characterize the subjective experiences of healthy adults new to psychedelics, administering controlled doses. Participants consistently reported intense, often positive, experiences, including feelings of unity, ego dissolution, and emotional release. These findings offer valuable insights into the compound's potential for promoting well-being.
Abstract
Mapping the phenomenology of intranasal 5-MeO-DMT in psychedelic-naïve healthy adults.
DMT-induced shifts in criticality correlate with self-dissolution.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience – November 24, 2025
Summary
Our sense of self is intricately linked to the brain's 'critical' balance of activity. New findings reveal how a potent psychedelic shifts brain oscillations, particularly alpha waves, towards a quieter, subcritical state. This change, increasing brain entropy while reducing complexity, directly correlates with the intensity of experiencing a dissolved sense of self. These insights illuminate the neurological basis of altered consciousness.
Abstract
Psychedelics profoundly alter subjective experience and brain dynamics. Brain oscillations express signatures of near-critical dynamics, relevant f...
Ayahuasca-inspired DMT/HAR formulation reduces brain differentiation between self and other faces.
NeuroImage – June 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like ayahuasca can blur the line between self and other - now scientists know why. Brain activity measurements show that DMT-based compounds reduce the neural distinction between recognizing our own face versus others' faces. This suggests a biological basis for ego dissolution and altered self-perception, potentially explaining how psychedelics help treat conditions involving rigid self-focus.
Abstract
Psychedelics are known to profoundly alter perception and self-referential processing, yet their specific effects on face recognition -particularly...
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...
Dynamic Functional Hyperconnectivity After Psilocybin Intake Is Primarily Associated With Oceanic Boundlessness.
Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging – July 01, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin creates a unique brain state where neural connections become highly dynamic and integrated, leading to profound shifts in consciousness. Research using fMRI scans revealed that when people received psilocybin, their brains showed increased connectivity across regions, particularly during feelings of unity and boundlessness. Brain activity patterns matched participants' reported experiences on the 5D-ASC scale, suggesting that heightened neural communication underlies the substance's consciousness-expanding effects.
Abstract
Psilocybin is a widely studied psychedelic substance that leads to the psychedelic state, a specific altered state of consciousness. To date, the r...
Scoping Review of Experiential Measures from Psychedelic Research and Clinical Trials.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
Mystical experiences and feelings of boundlessness during psychedelic sessions strongly predict positive therapeutic outcomes. Analysis of multiple assessment tools reveals that subjective reactions to substances like psilocybin correlate with improvements in depression, anxiety, and addiction. While challenging experiences can be valuable, the depth of mystical experiences during psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy appears most crucial for healing.
Abstract
Subjective responses to psychoactive drugs have served as intriguing windows into consciousness as well as useful predictors. Subjective reactions ...
Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study.
J Psychiatr Res – March 17, 2025
Summary
People who use psychedelics often report deeper meditation experiences, and new research confirms this connection. Following 2,125 participants over 4 months, researchers found that psychedelic use was linked to increased mindfulness, ego dissolution, and mystical experiences during meditation. Interestingly, meditation practice also enhanced the positive effects of psychedelic experiences, suggesting a synergistic relationship between these two consciousness-expanding practices.
Abstract
Associations between psychedelic-related and meditation-related variables: A longitudinal study.
Modulating self-referential processing through meditation and psychedelics: is scientific investigation of self-transcendence clinically relevant?
World Psychiatry – June 01, 2024
Summary
Both meditation and psychedelics can reduce self-focused thinking and increase feelings of connectedness, potentially offering therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions. Research shows these experiences of "ego dissolution" activate similar brain networks, suggesting multiple paths to transformative states of consciousness that may help treat depression and anxiety through reduced self-referential processing.
Abstract
Modulating self-referential processing through meditation and psychedelics: is scientific investigation of self-transcendence clinically relevant?
Validation of the imperial psychedelic predictor scale.
Psychol Med – September 27, 2024
Summary
A novel assessment tool now offers remarkable insight into individual psychedelic experiences. Researchers hypothesized this scale could reliably predict subjective effects, validating it through surveys of individuals who had used psychedelics. The findings were highly positive: the tool accurately predicted diverse aspects, including mystical experiences and challenging trips. This robust scale significantly advances our ability to understand and anticipate psychedelic responses, offering valuable insights.
Abstract
Validation of the imperial psychedelic predictor scale.
Dynamic medial parietal and hippocampal deactivations under DMT relate to sympathetic output and altered sense of time, space, and the self
Imaging Neuroscience – April 16, 2025
Summary
Our sense of time and self can profoundly shift under altered states. Researchers mapped brain activity and heart rate in volunteers given DMT. They found immediate deactivations in brain areas linked to time, space, and self-referential processing, alongside increased activity in regions tied to hallucinations. Elevated heart rate, indicating sympathetic regulation, correlated with these brain changes. This suggests a chain linking sympathetic regulation to these brain deactivations, potentially fostering positive mental health outcomes related to self-referential processing.
Abstract
Abstract N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a serotonergic psychedelic, known to rapidly induce short-lasting alterations in conscious experience, cha...
Ethische Aspekte der Therapie mit Psychedelika
Die Psychotherapie – February 09, 2024
Summary
As a growing number of psychedelic-assisted therapy studies emerge, profound ethical questions demand attention. Patients undergoing treatment with these powerful alkaloids experience heightened suggestibility and temporary ego dissolution, fundamentally impacting worldviews and deep convictions. This necessitates immense therapist responsibility and rigorous informed consent, addressing the philosophical dimensions of such experiences. Integrating these potent compounds into medicine, an area of active drug studies, requires a societal discussion on their unique ethical landscape.
Abstract
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund In den letzten Jahren wurde die klinische Forschung zu Psychedelika-gestützter Therapie psychischer Störungen wieder au...
Psychedelics’ Intoxicating Impact and Behavioural Dynamics
Pharmaceutical science. – August 19, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics dramatically reshape the brain's default mode network, dynamically altering perception and behavior. These alkaloid compounds, like psilocybin and LSD, influence neurotransmitter receptors, amplifying emotions and sensory vividness, leading to ego dissolution and altered psychological states. While offering prosocial effects, empathy, and creativity, their unpredictable nature also carries risks like anxiety and impaired judgment, highlighting the complex psychology involved in these drug studies.
Abstract
Psychedelics such as psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide upset the brain networks involved in self-awareness and emotion and may lead to alte...
Comparing psychedelic and meditation experience reports with natural language processing.
Sci Rep – December 16, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic and meditation experiences, while distinct, share surprising linguistic commonalities. Analyzing 5,000 psychedelic and 7,000 meditation reports revealed both frequently describe profound shifts in perception. However, psychedelic accounts showed a 65% higher incidence of "mystical" language, emphasizing awe and ego dissolution. Meditation reports, conversely, featured 40% more language related to calm and focused attention. These insights, derived from natural language processing, highlight both convergent and divergent psychological landscapes, offering a clearer picture of these transformative states.
Abstract
Comparing psychedelic and meditation experience reports with natural language processing.
An Integrated Protocol for Radical Longevity: Biological Rejuvenation, Subjective Time Expansion, and Quantum Consciousness Perspectives
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – January 02, 2026
Summary
A groundbreaking multimodal protocol for radical longevity shows promise by integrating advanced biological rejuvenation techniques with ancestral stressors. In a sample of 100 participants, 75% reported enhanced vitality and cognitive function after undergoing interventions like senolytics and NAD+ boosters, alongside practices such as prolonged fasting and ego dissolution techniques. Additionally, 60% experienced altered perceptions of time during flow states, suggesting a profound connection between consciousness and longevity. This innovative approach merges psychology and computer science to explore the unconscious mind's potential for extending life.
Abstract
Un protocollo multimodale integrato per una longevità radicale, che combina interventi di ringiovanimento biologico all'avanguardia (senolitici, ri...