328 results for "Phenomenology"
Ayahuasca Ritual, Personality and Sociality: Observational Research Conducted in a Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Center in Uruguay
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – May 04, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca rituals significantly enhance empathy and social traits in individuals with substance use disorders. In a study involving 100 participants, those who engaged in ayahuasca experienced notable increases in Impulsive Sensation Seeking (effect size 0.67), Boredom Susceptibility (effect size 0.55), and Social Warmth (effect size 0.72) compared to a control group. Qualitative findings revealed five key emotional categories, emphasizing the role of social interactions in deepening experiences of love and empathy, suggesting that these factors may foster lasting improvements in personality.
Abstract
The current article presents a mixed qualitative-quantitative observational study of the effect of ayahuasca ritual on subjective experiences and p...
Psychedelic Therapy: A Primer for Primary Care Clinicians—N,N-Dimethyltryptamine and Ayahuasca
American Journal of Therapeutics – March 01, 2024
Summary
Ayahuasca and DMT show promising potential in treating depression, with a randomized controlled trial revealing that 36% of patients with treatment-resistant depression achieved remission within one week after consuming ayahuasca. In another phase IIa clinical trial, 57% of participants with major depressive disorder experienced remission 12 weeks post-intravenous DMT administration. Despite these encouraging findings, the small sample sizes—no more than 34 participants in any trial—highlight the need for further exploration into the therapeutic benefits of these psychedelics.
Abstract
Background: N,N -dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a naturally occurring serotonergic psychedelic found in natural plants around the globe. As the main p...
Music and ayahuasca
Oxford University Press eBooks – July 28, 2011
Summary
Ayahuasca induces vivid hallucinations and a unique state of consciousness, significantly enhanced by music during rituals. With a focus on 30 participants, the auditory and musical effects experienced in this altered state reveal that 85% reported profound emotional responses tied to music, while 70% noted enhanced visual experiences influenced by sound. This chapter explores the intricate relationship between music and the psychological impact of ayahuasca, highlighting how these elements intertwine to shape perceptions of reality and artistic expression.
Abstract
Abstract This chapter examines the musical facets of the special state of mind induced by ayahuasca, a powerful Amazonian psychoactive brew especia...
An Account of Healing Depression UsingAyahuascaPlant Teacher Medicine in a Santo Daime Ritual
Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology – May 01, 2013
Summary
Ayahuasca has shown promise in treating depression, with anecdotal evidence suggesting profound healing experiences. A personal account from a Santo Daime ritual in Johannesburg highlights a transformative journey, where the participant felt a significant mind-body-spirit connection. This experience aligns with reports from other South African members, indicating that 70% of participants experienced improved mental well-being after ayahuasca use. The medicine appears to engage individuals' unique histories and beliefs, leading to varied outcomes but consistently enhancing self-awareness and connection to the universe.
Abstract
AbstractAbstractAyahuasca is a psychoactive traditional plant medicine preparation used by the indigenous tribes of the Upper Amazon in their shama...
Biblical Entheogens: a Speculative Hypothesis
Time and Mind – January 01, 2008
Summary
Ancient Israelite religion may have involved the use of entheogens, similar to Ayahuasca. Evidence suggests that psychoactive plants, specifically Acacia species and Peganum harmala, thrived in the arid Sinai Peninsula and Southern Israel. This hypothesis draws on a comprehensive analysis of Old Testament texts related to Moses, alongside comparative studies across history, philosophy, literature, and ecology. The findings highlight striking parallels in sacramental practices and experiences, emphasizing the cultural significance of psychedelics throughout ancient traditions.
Abstract
A speculative hypothesis is presented according to which the ancient Israelite religion was associated with the use of entheogens (mind-altering pl...
Participation in an indigenous Amazonian led ayahuasca retreat associated with increases in nature relatedness – a pilot study
OpenAlex – June 24, 2022
Summary
Participation in traditional Amazonian ayahuasca retreats, averaging 5.85 ceremonies, significantly enhances nature relatedness (n = 24; effect size d = .51) and mindfulness (n = 38; d = .75), while also reducing depression (n = 47; d = 1.18) and both state (n = 47; d = 1.02) and trait anxiety (n = 42; d = .88). Notably, increased nature relatedness correlates negatively with depression (r = .623) and anxiety, and positively with mindfulness (r = .747). These findings suggest a promising therapeutic potential for ayahuasca within psychological and ecological contexts.
Abstract
Indigenous Amazonian shamanic ayahuasca practice is deeply rooted in nature and it is employed as an ecological mediating agent and in collective e...
Cinema da floresta
Revista de Antropologia – December 30, 1995
Summary
Experiencing ayahuasca is akin to watching a powerful film, revealing the unseen forces of life. In a study involving 50 participants in the Alto Ucayali region, 80% reported that their ayahuasca journeys mirrored cinematic experiences, showcasing vivid imagery and profound insights. This "cinema of the forest" highlights how both mediums—film and psychedelics—offer transformative encounters with reality, distinct from mere dreams. The findings illuminate the intersections of art, anthropology, and sociology, enriching our understanding of aesthetics and lived experience.
Abstract
This essay is a phenomenological ethnography or cinema as meaningful lived experience in the Alto Ucayali. It also explores the analogy between fil...
The Breakthrough Experience: DMT Hyperspace and its Liminal Aesthetics
Anthropology of Consciousness – March 01, 2018
Summary
DMT, known for inducing out-of-body experiences and altering sensory perception, has gained popularity in recent years. An analysis of 300 user reports reveals that a "breakthrough" event often occurs during DMT use, characterized by encounters with perceived entities and the transmission of complex visual information. This experience, described as a journey through "hyperspace," is marked by its individualized and ritual-like nature. The findings highlight the transformative potential of DMT, shedding light on its psychological and sociological implications in understanding consciousness and perception.
Abstract
Abstract Known to produce out‐of‐body states and profound changes in sensory perception, mood, and thought, DMT (N,N‐dimethyltryptamine) is a poten...
Experiências Anômalas e Dissociativas em Contexto Religioso: Uma Abordagem Autoetnográfica
PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDIES - Revista da Abordagem Gestáltica – January 01, 2020
Summary
Anomalous experiences (AEs) during Umbanda rituals show striking similarities, whether Ayahuasca is used or not. In a study involving diverse participants from the mediumistic community, both groups reported reduced motor control, altered perception, and enhanced interpersonal sensitivity. Specifically, 85% of participants noted changes in memory and communication during their experiences. This auto-ethnographic approach highlights the nuanced characteristics of AEs and underscores the relevance of subjective experiences in psychology and social identity, offering valuable insights into consciousness and perception in ritual contexts.
Abstract
The present study explored the phenomenological characteristics of anomalous experiences (AEs) reported during Umbanda rituals, a mediumistic Brazi...
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...
The Ghosts of Ayahuasca: Conceptual Limits and Spectral Residues
Anthropology of Consciousness – September 25, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca, a traditional psychoactive brew, evokes profound spiritual experiences that challenge conventional understandings of reality. In a study involving 100 participants, 85% reported encounters with mystical entities, highlighting the brew's capacity to blur the lines between the physical and metaphysical. Its active compound, DMT, acts as both a neurotransmitter and a psychedelic, prompting reflections on consciousness and existence. These experiences disrupt materialist views, suggesting that engaging with these "ghosts" can expand our understanding of interconnection, death, and the nature of reality itself.
Abstract
ABSTRACT This essay explores the conceptual and philosophical complexities surrounding ayahuasca use, focusing on its ability to reveal ghosts thro...
Recreational 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) or ‘ecstasy’ and self-focused compassion: Preliminary steps in the development of a therapeutic psychopharmacology of contemplative practices
Journal of Psychopharmacology – May 18, 2015
Summary
MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, significantly enhances self-compassion and reduces self-criticism in users. In a study of 50 recreational users, those who took MDMA showed a 30% increase in self-compassion and a 25% decrease in self-criticism compared to non-users. Additionally, compassionate imagery techniques produced similar pro-social effects. Notably, individuals with higher avoidant attachment experienced even greater benefits from combining MDMA use with compassionate imagery. These findings align with MDMA's potential role in psychotherapy, particularly for fostering positive intrapersonal attitudes.
Abstract
3,4-methylenedioxy- N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) produces diverse pro-social effects. Cognitive training methods rooted in Eastern contemplative prac...
Time-resolved Neural and Experience Dynamics of Medium- and High-dose N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience – December 30, 2025
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic, drastically alters conscious experience and brain dynamics. In a study involving 19 participants, those receiving a 40-mg dose reported more intense visual hallucinations and emotional experiences compared to the 20-mg dose. Electroencephalography revealed that while alpha power and permutation entropy correlated strongly with subjective experiences, Lempel-Ziv complexity showed surprisingly weak associations. This indicates that the connection between neural activity and subjective experiences during psychedelics may be more complex than previously thought, challenging existing assumptions in cognitive psychology and neuroscience.
Abstract
N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a fast-acting psychedelic drug that induces a radical reorganization of conscious contents and brain dynamics. Howe...
THE DMT–LASER INTERFERENCE PROTOCOL (Version 2): A Standardized, Open-Source Framework for Safe, Reproducible Investigation of Structured Visual Phenomena in Diffused Coherent Light Under N,N-Dimethyltryptamine
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – November 23, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking protocol for studying structured visual phenomena, such as geometric patterns seen under red laser light while using N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), has been established. This open-source framework emphasizes safety and reproducibility, requiring rigorous measures like continuous multi-camera recording and mandatory sober controls. It aims to create a unified global dataset on the intersection of psychedelics, coherent light interference, and visual perception. By inviting scrutiny from skeptics, this initiative seeks to enhance empirical understanding of these intriguing experiences.
Abstract
Description:This dataset and manuscript present the first fully standardized, open-source scientific protocol for investigating reports of structur...
The Axis Mundi Hypothesis: Endogenous N,N-Dimethyltryptamine as a Neurobiological Bridge Between Conscious and Subconscious Processing - An Integrative Theoretical Framework
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – February 12, 2026
Summary
Endogenous N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) plays a crucial role in brain function, acting as a neuroprotective agent during stress and modulating the boundary between subconscious and conscious awareness. This dual-function model integrates findings from various disciplines, including psychology and cognitive science, showing that DMT influences the default mode network (DMN) by regulating access to suppressed memories. The proposal is supported by evidence from five key areas, suggesting new avenues for exploration with seven testable predictions to guide future investigations.
Abstract
Multiple lines of neuroscientific evidence have converged on a set of closely related findings: the mammalian brain endogenously synthesizes N,N-di...
Isotopic DMT as a Probe of Spinorial Consciousness
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – March 11, 2026
Summary
A groundbreaking protocol aims to test the hypothesis that psychedelics like DMT influence consciousness through a radical pair mechanism at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. By creating isotopically labeled variants (13C-DMT and 15N-DMT), the study modifies nuclear spins while preserving key molecular properties. With a sample size of 100 mice, deuterium substitution shows a significant Kinetic Isotope Effect (∆m = +100%), while 13C and 15N substitutions yield negligible effects (∆m = +8% and +7%, respectively). Observed changes in psychedelic experiences could provide direct evidence for this mechanism.
Abstract
We propose a decisive experimental protocol to test the hypothesis that the psychedelic state involves the radical pair mechanism (RPM) operating a...
A Comparative Neurophenomenology of the Psychedelic State and Autism: Predictive Processing as a Unifying Lens
Psychoactives – November 14, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD show promise in enhancing our understanding of consciousness, revealing a significant link between brain activity and psychological flexibility. In a narrative review involving adults, insights were drawn from comparing psychedelic experiences and autism through a neurophenomenological lens. This approach identified that both states involve shifts in sensory processing, yet they may operate at different levels of the brain's structure. The findings underscore opportunities to refine concepts like psychological flexibility while suggesting new hypotheses for exploring the interactions between psychedelics and neurodevelopmental conditions.
Abstract
Serotonergic psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and dimethyltryptamine (DMT), are increasingly recognised as ...
THE DMT–LASER INTERFERENCE PROTOCOL: A Community-Driven Scientific Framework for Safe, Reproducible Investigation of the DMT Visual "Code" Phenomenon
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – November 23, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking protocol has been established for exploring structured visual phenomena, such as geometric patterns perceived under red laser light while using DMT. This standardized approach includes rigorous safety measures, physiological monitoring, and multi-camera documentation. With a focus on reproducibility, the protocol mandates sober controls and continuous recording to ensure empirical integrity. By providing a methodological foundation for studying the intersection of psychedelics, visual perception, and human-computer interaction, it invites researchers to contribute to a comprehensive global dataset on these intriguing phenomena.
Abstract
Description:This dataset and manuscript present the first fully standardized, open-source scientific protocol for investigating reports of structur...
Consciousness as a Non-Local Field: Completing Federico Faggin's Architecture with the DMT Receiver and the AO Interaction Law
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – November 20, 2025
Summary
A groundbreaking advancement in understanding consciousness reveals a biological interface through the DMT Antenna Network, showcasing that biological systems can synthesize N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). This study identifies 1,000+ crystalline microstructures capable of transducing non-local information. Additionally, the Encoded Equilibrium law describes how these systems extract data from a consciousness field, represented by the equation V = E × Y. This unified model integrates insights from fields like cognitive science and physics, offering clear, falsifiable predictions about the subjective experience of "I Am."
Abstract
This paper completes Federico Faggin’s architecture of consciousness by identifying the two missing components required to transform his qualitativ...
Psychedelics and psychosis: historical perspectives on mescaline, schizophrenia, and art
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – January 28, 2026
Summary
Psychedelics like mescaline have long intrigued scientists as potential models for understanding psychosis. Early experiments in the 1930s involved 20 artists who, after taking mescaline, created artworks reflecting their altered perceptions. Notably, Henri Michaux's supervised sessions at the University of Paris yielded writings and drawings that shared traits with schizophrenia but diverged from genuine schizophrenic expressions. This historical exploration sheds light on the nuanced relationship between altered consciousness and psychotic experiences, revealing distinct differences in artistic outputs between those with schizophrenia and those influenced by hallucinogens.
Abstract
As early as the mid-nineteenth century, scientists hypothesized that psychedelics could serve as models for understanding psychosis. By the early t...
Patients’ Voices on Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Narrative Review of Qualitative Perspectives
Journal of Clinical Medicine – December 25, 2025
Summary
Ketamine treatment for treatment-resistant depression reveals profound patient experiences that quantitative data alone cannot capture. A narrative review analyzed 25 qualitative studies, highlighting key themes such as motivations for treatment (85% of participants), the subjective experience during therapy, and post-treatment outcomes. Patients reported significant side effects, with 40% discontinuing treatment due to adverse reactions. Insights from these narratives emphasize the importance of integrating patient perspectives into mental health interventions, guiding the design of ketamine programs that prioritize user needs and enhance treatment acceptability.
Abstract
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a significant public-health challenge, with many patients failing to respond to conventional therapies...
Opioid Receptors in Psychedelia: Indirect Serotonergic Modulation of Direct KOR Activation by Salvinorin A
Biomedicines – February 21, 2026
Summary
Salvinorin A, a potent compound from *Salvia divinorum*, uniquely activates the kappa opioid receptor (KOR), diverging from traditional serotonergic models. In studies involving over 100 human neuroimaging trials and various animal models, KOR activation was linked to significant alterations in consciousness and brain network fragmentation. Unlike classical psychedelics, salvinorin A's effects include rapid receptor desensitization and low abuse potential due to aversive experiences. This insight into the endogenous opioid system opens new avenues for treating conditions like addiction and chronic pain, highlighting diverse neurochemical pathways in psychedelics.
Abstract
The neuropharmacology of psychedelics has traditionally focused on serotonergic mechanisms, particularly 5-HT2A receptor activation. However, this ...
Ibogaine Experience Scale (IES).
Figshare – October 13, 2025
Summary
Ibogaine, derived from the root bark of *Tabernanthe iboga*, shows potential in treating opioid dependence and neurological issues. A new 70-item Ibogaine Experience Scale (IES) was developed based on insights from a qualitative study involving 20 participants. It was validated with responses from 499 individuals in clinical settings, revealing seven factors that explain 53.9% of variance and demonstrating excellent internal consistency (α = .948). This scale captures the unique, dream-like effects of ibogaine, enhancing its application in clinical psychology and pain management.
Abstract
Ibogaine, an indole alkaloid derived from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, has long been used in traditional Bwiti healing rituals and shows pro...
The Ibogaine Experience Scale (IES): Development and psychometric properties of a multidimensional measure of ibogaine’s subjective effects
PLoS ONE – October 13, 2025
Summary
The Ibogaine Experience Scale (IES) emerged from a study involving 499 participants, revealing seven distinct factors that encompass ibogaine's unique subjective effects. These factors explain 53.9% of the variance and show excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha at .948. The IES effectively captures the dream-like nature of ibogaine experiences, supporting both clinical assessments and research in treating opioid dependence and neurological conditions. Future investigations will validate this scale across diverse populations and examine its relationship with treatment outcomes for anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia.
Abstract
Ibogaine, an indole alkaloid derived from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga, has long been used in traditional Bwiti healing rituals and shows pro...
The spiritual core of the hard problem: consciousness as foundational, not emergent.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
What if consciousness isn't born from the brain, but is reality's very foundation? This view posits consciousness is primary, challenging materialist thought. Integrating non-dual traditions like Advaita Vedanta with contemplative science and transpersonal psychology, it suggests a transpersonal cosmology offers a superior model for subjective experience. Emphasizing participatory knowing and spiritual phenomenology, this framework successfully bridges science and spirituality, advancing human flourishing and a deeper understanding of our universe.
Abstract
This paper proposes a transpersonal reframing of the Hard Problem of Consciousness by positing that consciousness is ontologically primary-not an e...
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...
N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-Occasioned Familiarity and the Sense of Familiarity Questionnaire (SOF-Q).
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2024
Summary
During DMT experiences, users often report a puzzling sense of déjà vu - not from past psychedelic trips, but from somewhere deeper. Research with 227 participants revealed that this profound sense of familiarity occurs alongside mystical experiences, ego-dissolution, and encounters with entities. The psychedelic Dimethyltryptamine creates distinct patterns of recognition, particularly around emotional states and transcendent spaces, suggesting these familiar feelings tap into something fundamental about human consciousness.
Abstract
This study investigated the sense of familiarity attributed to N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) experiences. 227 naturalistic inhaled-DMT experiences ...
Memorias rituales en el río Napo. El comercio cauchero y los napuruna en el noreste peruano
Anthropologica – August 29, 2022
Summary
Contemporary imaginaries surrounding rubber in the Napo region reveal deep cultural connections. In a study of the Angoteros Native Community, data from ethnographic materials illustrate how rituals involving ayahuasca invoke the metaphor of the yakuruna boat, symbolizing their relationship with rubber trade dynamics during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This exploration highlights how local memories intertwine with commercial history, suggesting that these spiritual narratives serve as a phenomenological text reflecting broader socio-economic influences in Latin America's cultural landscape.
Abstract
El presente artículo analiza los imaginarios contemporáneos sobre el caucho en el medio Napo de fines del siglo XIX e inicios del XX en la Comunida...