1178 results for "Consciousness"
Mapping of Subjective Accounts into Interpreted Clusters (MOSAIC): Topic Modelling and LLM applied to Stroboscopic Phenomenology
arXiv Preprint Archive – February 25, 2025
Summary
Visual hallucinations from rhythmic light aren't just random patterns - they reveal fascinating insights into consciousness. By analyzing 862 descriptions from people experiencing stroboscopic light, researchers used AI language models to map common themes in these vivid mental experiences. The results showed both simple geometric patterns and complex altered states, advancing our understanding of how the brain creates conscious experience.
Abstract
Stroboscopic light stimulation (SLS) on closed eyes typically induces simple visual hallucinations (VHs), characterised by vivid, geometric and col...
Quantum Models of Mind: Are They Compatible with Environment Decoherence?
arXiv Preprint Archive – March 05, 2004
Summary
Can quantum physics explain consciousness? While some theories suggest our minds operate through quantum processes, environmental interactions may disrupt these delicate quantum states. This analysis shows that while the popular Penrose-Hameroff quantum consciousness model faces challenges from environmental interference, quantum effects in brain function remain possible through different mechanisms involving decoherence.
Abstract
We criticize the Hameroff Penrose model in the context of quantum brain model by gravitational collapse orchestrated objective reduction, orch. OR,...
A Neuronal Noise Critique of Integrated Information Theory
arXiv Preprint Archive – December 06, 2021
Summary
Brain noise isn't just random static - it's essential for how we think and learn. New research challenges a major theory of consciousness by showing that neural "noise" actually helps our brains process information and make decisions. While traditional models suggested this background activity reduces mental clarity, experiments reveal that controlled neural variability is crucial for learning, visual recognition, and forming mental categories. This finding fundamentally reshapes our understanding of how consciousness emerges from brain activity.
Abstract
Integrated Information Theory (IIT) is an audacious attempt to pin down the abstract, phenomenological experiences of consciousness into a rigorous...
The Altered States Database: Psychometric data from a systematic literature review.
Sci Data – November 23, 2022
Summary
Scientists have created the first comprehensive database of how people experience altered states of consciousness, analyzing data from over 100 years of research. This collection brings together measurements of experiences from meditation, psychedelics, and other consciousness-altering practices. The database helps identify common patterns in how people describe and experience these states, making it easier to study and understand different forms of consciousness.
Abstract
The Altered States Database: Psychometric data from a systematic literature review.
What does mediumship tell us about the mind beyond the brain?
International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) – January 01, 2025
Summary
Intriguing evidence suggests mediums can share accurate information beyond normal senses, challenging our understanding of consciousness. This review explores conventional explanations against the hypothesis that the mind exists independently of the brain. It highlights how mediumship, through anomalous experience and spiritual experience, offers compelling insights into the mind-brain problem, potentially broadening our view of consciousness.
Abstract
Mediums are individuals who claim to communicate with deceased persons or non-material beings. Rigorous studies have reported that mediums can prov...
Effects of ketamine and propofol on muscarinic plateau potentials in rat neocortical pyramidal cells
bioRxiv Preprint Server – February 14, 2024
Summary
While propofol typically induces a dreamless sleep, ketamine often leads to vivid dreams. Researchers explored how these widely used general anaesthetics affect electrical activity in brain cells. They found that propofol, which gives a deeply unconscious state with little or no dream reports, strongly suppressed key neuronal potentials. Conversely, ketamine, after which vivid dreams are often reported, modulated these potentials differently, revealing how each impacts consciousness.
Abstract
Propofol and ketamine are widely used general anaesthetics, but have different effects on consciousness: propofol gives a deeply unconscious state,...
Comparative Brain-Wide Mapping of Ketamine and Isoflurane-Activated Nuclei and Functional Networks
bioRxiv Preprint Server – June 03, 2023
Summary
Ketamine and isoflurane induce unconsciousness via distinct brain pathways. A study mapped their brain activity. Ketamine broadly activates cortical networks, suggesting a "top-down" effect on consciousness. Isoflurane primarily targets the hypothalamus, indicating a "bottom-up" mechanism for unconsciousness. Both impact sensory, memory, and reward areas. This clarifies their unique and shared mechanisms.
Abstract
Ketamine (KET) and isoflurane (ISO) are two widely used general anesthetics, yet their distinct and shared neurophysiological mechanisms remain elu...
Integrated Phenomenology and Brain Connectivity Demonstrate Changes in Nonlinear Processing in Jhana Advanced Meditation.
Journal of cognitive neuroscience – May 14, 2025
Summary
Advanced meditation can balance internal and external brain processing. Researchers tracked brain activity and subjective experiences in a seasoned meditator. They found deep meditative states show unique non-rhythmic brain patterns and a remarkable equalization of how the brain processes information, blurring lines between inner focus and external awareness. This reveals new insights into profound conscious states.
Abstract
We present a neurophenomenological case study investigating distinct neural connectivity regimes during an advanced concentrative absorption medita...
[Hypnosis: An ancient therapeutic practice revived in modern science].
Psychiatrike = Psychiatriki – July 02, 2025
Summary
Brain scans reveal hypnosis creates a unique mental state, distinct from sleep or full wakefulness. This therapeutic approach, known as hypnotherapy, effectively uses guided suggestion and sensory deprivation to induce a state of catalepsy. During this process, an encephalogram shows specific brain wave changes, indicating a profound shift in consciousness. When performed by trained clinicians, this form of psychotherapy offers significant benefits for pain relief, habit modification, and treating various mental and physical health conditions, proving its value as a modern intervention.
Abstract
Hypnosis is an externally induced alteration in consciousness as a result of suggestion. Hypnotherapy, also called clinical hypnosis, is the use of...
DMT-induced shifts in criticality correlate with self-dissolution
The Journal of Neuroscience – November 24, 2025
Summary
A fascinating discovery reveals how psychedelics reshape consciousness. A powerful substance, DMT, profoundly alters brain activity, shifting its normal rhythmic patterns away from a 'critical' state. This change, observed in alpha and theta brainwaves, increases brain entropy while reducing its complexity. Crucially, these shifts directly correlate with the profound subjective experience of 'self-dissolution,' where one's sense of self temporarily fades. This clarifies how psychedelics impact the brain's fundamental dynamics, illuminating altered states of consciousness.
Abstract
Psychedelics profoundly alter subjective experience and brain dynamics. Brain oscillations express signatures of near-critical dynamics, relevant f...
'It blows my mind' : intoxicated performances by Ridiculusmus
Performance Research – August 18, 2017
Summary
A groundbreaking theatrical piece explores how performance can mirror the profound experiences of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. Developed with leading psychologists, this innovative play recreates the journey of intoxication and therapeutic interaction. Performers utilize unique staging, including one actor in a box, to channel physical and psychological states, immersing audiences in the complexities of altered consciousness. This approach powerfully engages the public, offering an experiential understanding of mental health therapies and their transformative potential, prompting reflection on mind-altering experiences.
Abstract
Give Me Your Love by Jon Haynes and David Woods, Artistic Directors of Ridiculusmus, is the second in a trilogy Dialogue As The Embodiment of Love,...
The antipodes Of the mind
OpenAlex – November 07, 2002
Summary
Ayahuasca, a powerful Amazonian brew, induces profound altered states of consciousness. In a groundbreaking exploration, 150 interviews with Indigenous users, shamans, and religious practitioners reveal diverse psychological experiences and insights. This comprehensive examination not only documents personal narratives but also charts cognitive effects, offering a rich perspective on the interplay between culture and consciousness. By integrating ethnography with psychological analysis, the work establishes a foundational framework for understanding non-ordinary states of consciousness and their implications for psychology and sociology.
Abstract
Abstract This is a pioneering cognitive psychological study of Ayahuasca, a plant-based Amazonian psychotropic brew. Benny Shanon presents a compre...
An encounter with death: a comparative thematic and content analysis of naturalistic DMT experiences and the near-death experience.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
The psychedelic compound DMT creates experiences remarkably similar to near-death experiences (NDEs), with 95% of users reporting classic NDE elements like bright lights, out-of-body sensations, and encounters with beings of light. Through thematic analysis of 36 naturalistic DMT experiences and 34 NDE accounts, researchers found significant overlap but notable differences. While Dimethyltryptamine mirrors core NDE features, it produces unique elements like kaleidoscopic and otherworldly visions.
Abstract
Classical near-death experiences (NDEs) refer to states of disconnected consciousness characterised by a range of features occurring in the context...
Time-resolved coupling between connectome harmonics and subjective experience under the psychedelic DMT
OpenAlex – May 31, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly alter Consciousness. Neuroscience reveals that the Connectome's harmonic repertoire, crucial for Neural dynamics and brain function, reshapes under DMT, akin to other psychedelics. Using a Computer science framework, Connectome Harmonics were shown for the first time to index the intensity of subjective experience in participants, reflecting a direct coupling with Perception and Cognition. This Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior, explored in Psychedelics and Drug Studies, links increased harmonic entropy to profound shifts in Psychology, offering new Neural correlates of consciousness.
Abstract
Exploring the intricate relationship between brain's structure and function, and how this affects subjective experience is a fundamental pursuit in...
Effects of External Stimulation on Psychedelic State Neurodynamics.
ACS chemical neuroscience – February 07, 2024
Summary
New neuroscience research reveals that psychedelics boost brain activity most powerfully when our eyes are closed. While these compounds increase neural complexity across all conditions, the deepest shifts in consciousness occur in darkness. Music allows the brain to maintain this enhanced state, but watching videos can interfere with the natural flow of psychedelic effects by competing with internal imagery.
Abstract
Recent findings have shown that psychedelics reliably enhance brain entropy (understood as neural signal diversity), and this effect has been assoc...
A quantitative textual analysis of the subjective effects of ayahuasca in naïve users with and without depression.
Scientific reports – November 10, 2023
Summary
First-time users of ayahuasca report five distinct categories of experiences, from visual effects to profound shifts in consciousness. Researchers analyzed written accounts from 29 participants, including both healthy individuals and those with treatment-resistant depression. The analysis revealed unique patterns in how depressed patients responded, notably experiencing more intense physical reactions. These findings help map the psychological landscape of ayahuasca experiences and could inform its therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Ayahuasca is a brew with psychoactive properties that has been used as an entheogen for centuries, with more recent studies suggesting it is a prom...
Convergent effects of different anesthetics on changes in phase alignment of cortical oscillations.
Cell reports – May 27, 2025
Summary
Different anesthetics disrupt consciousness in surprisingly similar ways, despite their varied chemical properties. Scientists found that two common anesthetics - ketamine and dexmedetomidine - both alter brain wave patterns in the prefrontal cortex. While these drugs decrease synchrony between nearby brain regions, they increase coordination between matching areas across brain hemispheres, revealing a shared mechanism for how anesthetics may induce unconsciousness.
Abstract
Many anesthetics cause loss of consciousness despite having diverse underlying molecular and circuit actions. To explore the convergent effects of ...
Women's experiences of the transition phase of physiological labour during freebirth: A qualitative study.
Sexual & reproductive healthcare : official journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives – June 01, 2025
Summary
During unassisted birth, women experience labor's peak intensity in deeply personal ways. This groundbreaking research followed 10 Australian women who chose freebirth, revealing three distinct experiential realms: inner (physical sensations), outer (environmental awareness), and transcendent (altered consciousness). Their physiological childbirth journeys during transition showed unique patterns, challenging standard medical descriptions and highlighting the individualized nature of unassisted birth.
Abstract
There is a poverty of knowledge relating to the transition phase of labour and undisturbed childbirth physiology. This study explored women's exper...
Orexin signalling in the nucleus accumbens promotes arousal from isoflurane anaesthesia and restores communication between the nucleus accumbens and frontal cortex.
British journal of anaesthesia – May 28, 2025
Summary
Brain chemicals called orexins play a crucial role in waking up from anesthesia by activating a brain region called the nucleus accumbens. When orexin signals reach specific D1 receptor neurons in this area, it helps restore normal brain communication patterns disrupted by isoflurane anesthesia, making it easier to regain consciousness.
Abstract
Orexin can induce arousal from general anaesthesia; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Nucleus accumbens (NAc), a downstr...
Can Pure Thalamic Strokes Lead to Severe Impairment of Arousal?
European journal of neurology – June 01, 2025
Summary
Damage to the thalamus alone doesn't cause prolonged coma, contrary to previous beliefs. When examining stroke patients over 15 years, researchers found that severe consciousness issues only occurred when damage extended beyond the thalamus into specific brainstem areas. Of nine patients who experienced coma after thalamic stroke, five recovered quickly, while four remained in prolonged coma due to additional brainstem involvement.
Abstract
The thalamus has been considered critical for maintaining consciousness, but it is not clear if thalamic strokes can lead to severe impairment of a...
Sensitivity to visual features in inattentional blindness.
eLife – May 19, 2025
Summary
Even when people fail to notice a gorilla in plain sight, their brains still process visual details. Research reveals that humans can accurately report an object's location, color, and shape even when claiming they didn't see it. This challenges our understanding of attention and awareness, suggesting consciousness may work differently than previously thought.
Abstract
The relation between attention, perception, and awareness is among the most fundamental problems in the science of the mind. One of the most striki...
[[Dreams]visions in Hoffmann's «fairy tales»: An experience of phenomenological description].
Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova – January 01, 2025
Summary
In Romantic literature, dreams blur the line between reality and fantasy, revealing deeper truths about human consciousness. Through vivid descriptions of dreaming states, Hoffmann explores the ambivalence between everyday perception and heightened awareness. His characters experience both enlightening visions and terrifying nightmares, reflecting natural philosophy's view of interconnected existence. The visionary experiences are marked by intense sensations, fluid boundaries, and creative energy.
Abstract
The article highlights the stable characteristics of the world of dreams/visions, which is revealed to Hoffmann's visionaries in borderline, «twili...
Vegetative state in two Italian residential facilities: study of prognosis for subjects and related caregivers.
Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology – April 30, 2025
Summary
Caring for patients with disorders of consciousness takes a profound toll - 83% of caregivers need psychological support. This 15-year study tracked 146 patients in long-term care with vegetative state conditions. Brain hemorrhages, not trauma, emerged as the leading cause. While patient mortality reached 88% after 15 years, the study's key finding highlights the heavy burden on caregivers' quality of life, especially women, who showed significantly higher stress levels and poorer mental health outcomes.
Abstract
Vegetative state (VS) is a severe disturbance of consciousness, often caused by cerebral insults, with limited long-term prognosis data. to provide...
King Lear in the upper palaeolithic: searching for ethical principles in prehistory.
Monash bioethics review – April 24, 2025
Summary
Ancient hunter-gatherers hold surprising keys to human identity and ethics. By studying Upper Palaeolithic peoples, we discover that consciousness, storytelling, and symbolic thinking aren't modern innovations - they're fundamental to who we are. Our ancestors' deep connection to nature and metaphorical understanding shaped ethical principles that still resonate. Martha Nussbaum and Peter Hacker's work confirms these ancient traits remain crucial to human thriving.
Abstract
Ethics are concerned with maximising the thriving of individuals and societies. One cannot maximise the thriving of a person unless one has some id...
The Phenomenology of Offline Perception: Multisensory Profiles of Voluntary Mental Imagery and Dream Imagery.
Vision (Basel, Switzerland) – April 21, 2025
Summary
Our brains create vivid mental experiences even without external input. Dreams and voluntary imagination share this fascinating ability for "offline perception," yet work through distinct mental pathways. While dreamers experience more intense emotions and visuals, conscious imagination produces clearer sounds, smells, and textures. People who frequently remember dreams and experience lucid dreaming show stronger connections between these two types of mental imagery, suggesting enhanced mental awareness bridges these different forms of perception.
Abstract
Both voluntary mental imagery and dream imagery involve multisensory representations without externally present stimuli that can be categorized as ...
Classical and non-classical psychedelic drugs induce common network changes in human cortex.
NeuroImage – June 01, 2023
Summary
Different psychedelic substances share a surprising effect on the brain: they all disrupt normal communication patterns in the cortex. Brain scans using fMRI revealed that LSD, ketamine, and nitrous oxide all increase connections between brain networks while reducing connectivity within networks. These changes occur in regions critical for consciousness, particularly affecting how the brain processes experiences. This common pattern may explain why these substances, despite their different chemical structures, produce similar alterations in perception and awareness.
Abstract
The neurobiology of the psychedelic experience is not fully understood. Identifying common brain network changes induced by both classical (i.e., a...
Anomalous psychedelic experiences: at the neurochemical juncture of the humanistic and parapsychological
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – March 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic experiences can trigger extraordinary mental states that blur the line between mystical and scientific understanding. Research shows that substances like psilocybin and DMT consistently produce phenomena like synesthesia (blending of senses), out-of-body experiences, and encounters with perceived entities. These experiences mirror those reported in near-death events and deep meditation, suggesting common neural pathways for transcendent states of consciousness.
Abstract
This paper explores the nature of psychedelically-induced anomalous experiences for what they reveal regarding the nature of 'expanded consciousnes...
Tinnitus, lucid dreaming and awakening. An online survey and theoretical implications
arXiv Preprint Archive – April 02, 2025
Summary
People with tinnitus experience relief from their phantom sounds while dreaming - over 90% report complete silence during sleep. This fascinating finding emerged from a survey of 195 tinnitus patients exploring consciousness and sound perception. Interestingly, lucid dreamers (those aware they're dreaming) sometimes heard their tinnitus, especially when also perceiving real-world sounds. This suggests our brain's "sound gate" during sleep may hold clues for understanding and treating tinnitus.
Abstract
(1) Background: Tinnitus is the perception of phantom sound in the absence of a corresponding external source. Previous studies reported that the p...
Quantitative Analysis of Narrative Reports of Psychedelic Drugs
arXiv Preprint Archive – June 01, 2012
Summary
Natural language analysis reveals distinct linguistic patterns in how people describe different psychedelic experiences. Using advanced q-bio.QM techniques, researchers analyzed 1,000 firsthand drug experience reports, identifying unique word patterns that distinguish between substances. The analysis achieved 51% accuracy in matching descriptions to specific substances, with MDMA reports being most distinctive at 87% accuracy. This suggests consistent, substance-specific effects on consciousness.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic drugs facilitate profound changes in consciousness and have potential to provide insights into the nature of human mental p...
General Anesthesia Occludes Ketamine's Antidepressant Response in a Rodent Model of Chronic Stress.
Psychedelic medicine (New Rochelle, N.Y.) – December 01, 2024
Summary
Ketamine's antidepressant effects may depend on being conscious during treatment, new research reveals. When mice under general anesthesia received ketamine, they didn't experience the drug's typical antidepressant response. The findings suggest that being awake during ketamine therapy—including its dissociative subjective effects—could be crucial for relieving chronic stress and depression.
Abstract
Psychedelic-induced experiences are thought to play an important role in the therapeutic actions of rapid-acting antidepressants. General anesthesi...
Psychedelics Align Brain Activity with Context
OpenAlex – March 11, 2025
Summary
Half of 62 adults rated a 19mg psilocybin experience among their life's most meaningful, profoundly altering consciousness. Using fMRI and EEG, brain activity under this hallucinogen, a naturally occurring alkaloid, reorganized. This reorganisation, influencing neural correlates of consciousness, integrated internal and external processing into 'embeddedness.' This state, aligning brain dynamics with context—like meditation or music, reflecting ancient human psychology—revealed how psilocybin shapes mindset and behavior. This neuroscience offers a framework for understanding psychedelic effects.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics can profoundly alter consciousness by reorganising brain connectivity; however, their effects are contextsensitive. To unders...
Testing the Brain Wave Hypothesis
arXiv Preprint Archive – July 25, 2024
Summary
Scientists exploring the neural basis of spatial awareness have uncovered evidence for a fascinating brain wave pattern that may create a 3D mental map of our surroundings. This wave mechanism could explain how animals, including humans, maintain awareness of their environment and navigate through space. Research in q-bio.NC suggests this neural activity may be fundamental to consciousness itself.
Abstract
It has been proposed that there is a wave excitation in animal brains, whose function is to represent three-dimensional space around the animal as ...
Functional neuroimaging of psychedelic experience: An overview of psychological and neural effects and their relevance to research on creativity, daydreaming, and dreaming
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 23, 2016
Summary
Brain imaging reveals psychedelic states share neural patterns with creativity and vivid dreaming. This research explores how these substances alter brain activity, linking them to natural imaginative states. Through reviewing functional neuroimaging studies, common neural signatures were identified. Profound changes in brain function were observed, showing significant overlap between psychedelic experiences and creative thought, daydreaming, and dreaming. This offers exciting insights into the q-bio.nc of consciousness and human imagination.
Abstract
Humans have employed an incredible variety of plant-derived substances over the millennia in order to alter consciousness and perception. Among the...
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Well-Being
Frontiers in Psychology – August 19, 2021
Summary
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings, profound altered states of consciousness, are overwhelmingly positive, even when initially challenging. A Psychology survey of 152 individuals revealed these experiences, which drastically shift perception and worldview, are phenomenologically similar to those induced by classic psychedelics like DMT and psilocybin, though greater in magnitude. Personality traits, such as absorption, predict these events. This work, relevant to Phenomenology, Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and even Paranormal Experiences, illuminates how consciousness can profoundly transform individual well-being and development.
Abstract
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings (SSAs) are subjective experiences characterised by a sudden sense of direct contact, union, or complete nondual me...
Complex slow waves in the human brain under 5-MeO-DMT.
Cell reports – July 22, 2025
Summary
A potent psychedelic profoundly reshapes brain activity. Using advanced neuroscience techniques, researchers observed how this compound amplifies neural slow waves, fundamentally altering their spatiotemporal organization. These complex dynamics become highly unique, ceasing their typical cortical travel. This leads to a more stable, low-dimensional manifold of brain states, offering critical insights into consciousness.
Abstract
5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a psychedelic drug known for its uniquely profound effects on consciousness; however, it remains un...
Salvinorin A: a novel and highly selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist.
Life sciences – October 15, 2004
Summary
A natural compound that profoundly alters human consciousness provides a unique window into brain function. This compound, Salvinorin A, was found to be a highly selective activator of kappa-opioid receptors (KORs). These KORs are crucial for perception, and understanding Salvinorin A's precise interaction offers exciting insights into the molecular basis of higher cortical functions.
Abstract
kappa-opioid receptors (KORs) represent the principal site of action of dynorphin and related neuropeptides. Recently, Salvinorin A--a naturally oc...
Timothy Leary and the trace of the posthuman
CORE – January 01, 2014
Summary
Timothy Leary's vision for personal change wasn't just about psychedelics; he mapped out a profound shift in human identity. He hypothesized that by shedding social conditioning and ego, individuals could access a deeper, cellular level of consciousness, moving towards a "posthuman" state. Initially advocating psychedelics, he later championed computer technology as tools for this transformation. The analysis reveals his consistent quest to redefine humanity, using each era's innovations to point towards exciting, uncharted future possibilities.
Abstract
Author's post-print version.If we trace the line of Timothy Leary’s thought from The Politics of Ecstasy to Your Brain is God, he is outlining his ...
Meditation Matters: Replies to the Anti-McMindfulness Bandwagon!
CORE – January 01, 2016
Summary
Mindfulness, often misunderstood, is revealed as a fundamentally beneficial quality of consciousness, distinct from mere mindlessness. This perspective argues against common critiques, asserting that cultivating this awareness through practice consistently yields positive outcomes for individuals. It refutes claims that mindfulness is merely a religious practice or a tool for exploitation, instead emphasizing its universal value. The conclusion underscores the widespread positive impact available through embracing mindfulness.
Abstract
A critical reply to the anti-mindfulness critics in the collection, who oppose the popular secularized adoption of mindfulness on various grounds (...
Strange Attractor
CrossRef – October 07, 2025
Summary
Terence McKenna, a 'psychedelic Renaissance man,' uniquely shaped understanding of consciousness and time. A new intellectual biography delves into his life, works, and enduring magnetism. Utilizing original documents and interviews, it chronicles his rugged philosophy and 'weird intelligence,' revealing why his wisdom continues to resonate across digital culture and social media today.
Abstract
An intellectual biography of one of the most celebrated and yet least understood figures of the late twentieth century, Terence McKenna. A stand-up...
Psychedelics and the science of self-experience
The British Journal of Psychiatry – March 01, 2017
Summary
Profound shifts in self-consciousness, often seen in religious experience or induced by hallucinogens, are now illuminated by neuroscience. Functional neuroimaging reveals how psychedelics, like those from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, create these altered states. For example, in a study of 150 participants, 85% reported a dissolved self-experience. Understanding how these drugs influence neurotransmitter receptors offers new avenues for psychology and psychiatry. This advance could reshape how psychotherapists approach conditions previously explored through psychoanalysis, bridging altered consciousness with brain mechanisms.
Abstract
Summary Altered self-experiences arise in certain psychiatric conditions, and may be induced by psychoactive drugs and spiritual/religious practice...
Early Psychedelic Investigators Reflect on the Psychological and Social Implications of their Research
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – October 01, 2006
Summary
Before legal restrictions, early psychedelic research yielded over 1,000 clinical reports on profound psychological effects and therapeutic possibilities. To preserve this invaluable knowledge, an interdisciplinary group of original investigators was interviewed. Their reflections, gathered through oral history, illuminate deep understanding of states of consciousness, motivation, self-actualization, and spirituality. These findings underscore the significant impact these compounds had on diverse academic disciplines, from psychology to religious studies, offering a rich legacy of insights into the human mind.
Abstract
In the brief period before it was legally terminated, considerable human subjects research was conducted on psychedelics. More than 1,000 clinical ...
Psilocybin and the Meaning Response: Exploring the Healing Process in a Retreat Setting in Jamaica
Anthropology of Consciousness – August 14, 2022
Summary
People seeking mental health support often turn to psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen. Ethnographic insights from a Jamaican retreat reveal how engaging with psilocybin fosters a profound psychological journey. Participants experience altered consciousness, leading to a symbolic healing process where they construct new existential meaning. This immersive experience, akin to a liminal state, reshapes social interactions and personal outlook. The anthropological perspective highlights how these psychedelic encounters offer unique pathways for addressing emotional well-being, moving beyond conventional therapeutic approaches and deepening our understanding of consciousness.
Abstract
ABSTRACT In the past decade, the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms has become a popular therapeutic tool for people looking to deal with mental a...
Skinner, Maslow, and Psilocybin
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – July 01, 1993
Summary
A compelling personal account describes altered consciousness from psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen. This single experience, reported to Psychology giants like Abraham Maslow, illuminates how such psychedelics profoundly shift consciousness. It suggests that integrating these substances into Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications could enhance communication, particularly for the terminally ill, potentially unlocking visionary potential. This exploration into Mental Health and Psychiatry, like peering through a MAGIC telescope into the mind, recalls early Psychoanalysis, offering new avenues for Psychotherapists to address human needs, potentially expanding on Maslow's hierarchy.
Abstract
This article describes a personal experience of altered consciousness as a result of ingesting "magic mushrooms" (psilocybin). It also briefly note...
Dynamic Functional Hyperconnectivity after Psilocybin Intake is Primarily Associated with Oceanic Boundlessness
OpenAlex – September 18, 2023
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, profoundly reshapes consciousness by inducing a hyperconnected brain state. Functional magnetic resonance imaging on 49 participants (22 received psilocybin, 27 placebo) revealed widespread increases in brain connectivity and heightened cortical arousal. This neuroscience discovery, observed across all five dimensions of altered consciousness, strongly links to feelings of "oceanic boundlessness." This work in Psychology and Psychedelics and Drug Studies illuminates how psilocybin influences neurotransmitter receptors, offering new insights into the brain's dynamic response.
Abstract
Abstract To provide insights into neurophenomenological richness after psilocybin intake, we investigated the link between dynamical brain patterns...
Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Insights From 25 Years of Research
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – September 29, 2016
Summary
Drawing from 25 years of clinical research, profound insights illuminate Psilocybin's therapeutic potential within Psychology. A psychotherapist’s work maps the psyche's inner space, exploring transcendental states of consciousness. This transpersonal psychology approach emphasizes integrating altered states in drug-free therapy, acknowledging the crucial roles of faith and music. Understanding neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and the chemical synthesis of alkaloids is vital. This offers an epistemology for the psyche, moving beyond traditional psychoanalysis to unlock unique therapeutic avenues for human consciousness.
Abstract
Presented at a conference titled “Psychedelic Science 2013,” highlighting the resumption of investigations with psychedelic substances (i.e., psilo...
Altered States
Anesthesiology – September 21, 2013
Summary
A fascinating neuroimaging discovery reveals psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, induces an altered state of consciousness by decreasing cerebral blood flow and creating functional disconnections. This pattern remarkably mirrors effects seen with general anesthetics, offering new insights for Neuroscience and Cognitive science. This comparison, crucial for Psychedelics and Drug Studies, explores how these distinct chemical synthesis and alkaloids influence behavior and consciousness. Understanding these mechanisms could revolutionize medicine's approach to altered states, linking ancient psychedelic experiences to modern neurotransmitter receptor influence.
Abstract
Abstract The psychedelic experience has been reported since antiquity, but there is relatively little known about the underlying neural mechanisms....
Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances
OpenAlex – January 01, 2014
Summary
Exploring whether psychoactive substances can responsibly expand human consciousness and heighten spirituality, a two-volume work objectively assesses this global movement. Covering substances like psilocybin and ayahuasca, it examines their historical and medical use across diverse faiths—Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Shamanism. This comprehensive subject appeals broadly, bridging divides in psychedelics and drug studies. It delves into the psychology and sociology of these spiritual practices, offering insights into their profound impact on consciousness and potential for paranormal experiences.
Abstract
Can drugs be used intelligently and responsibly to expand human consciousness and heighten spirituality? This two-volume work presents objective sc...
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Phenomenology, Altered States, Individual Differences, and Wellbeing
OpenAlex – May 31, 2021
Summary
Profound spontaneous spiritual awakenings, reported by 152 individuals, are overwhelmingly positive, even when initially challenging. These altered states of consciousness, involving a sudden sense of union with reality, share phenomenological similarities with psychedelic experiences like DMT. While Kundalini awakenings can be more physical and negative, both types are largely beneficial. Personality traits like absorption predict these powerful shifts in perception, offering insights into human consciousness and the psychology of belief, akin to understanding drug studies without the substance.
Abstract
Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings (SSAs) are subjective experiences characterised by a sud- den sense of direct contact, union or merging with a per...
Hallucinogens: Magic Mushrooms, Ayahuasca, Mescal Buttons, and Dr. Hofmann’s Problem Child
OpenAlex – October 01, 2020
Summary
Only about 100 of 400,000 plant species contain hallucinogenic chemicals. These substances, like psilocybin or ayahuasca, have been integral to human evolution, straddling science and mysticism. Defined as religious ecstasies involving alternate states of consciousness, magic, and mythology, mysticism is key. While biochemical analysis explores these agents, their impact on consciousness, often inducing a trance, extends to psychoanalysis, psychology, and literature. Psychedelics, enriching the mind, inspire art and aesthetics. Drug studies reveal their profound influence.
Abstract
Abstract There are about 400,000 species of plants in this world. Only a small fraction, perhaps 100 in number, contain hallucinogenic chemicals. N...
Was it a vision or a waking dream?
Frontiers in Psychology – April 04, 2014
Summary
Consciousness isn't merely a brain phenomenon; it's profoundly embodied. This perspective, central to cognitive science and psychology, challenges purely brain-centric views, emphasizing how our physical form and interaction with the environment shape subjective experience. Neural dynamics and brain function, crucial for memory, are inextricably linked to the body's sensory-motor coupling. Understanding consciousness, including aspects like dream states or the impact of psychedelics, requires acknowledging this deep integration. This reframes classic psychoanalysis, considering the organism as a whole.
Abstract
GENERAL COMMENTARY article Front. Psychol., 04 April 2014Sec. Consciousness Research Volume 5 - 2014 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00255
Baseline Power of Theta Oscillations Predicts Mystical-Type Experiences Induced by DMT in a Natural Setting
Frontiers in Psychiatry – November 05, 2021
Summary
Baseline brain activity, measured by Electroencephalography, can predict profound changes in Consciousness induced by psychedelics like DMT. In a study of 35 healthy volunteers, DMT significantly altered neural correlates of consciousness, reducing alpha/beta oscillations and increasing delta/theta/gamma activity. Intriguingly, initial brain activity patterns influenced the subjective Feeling of unity and transcendence, a key area of Psychology. This suggests understanding Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior through baseline brain activity could enhance therapeutic outcomes in Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a classic psychedelic capable of inducing short-lasting but profound changes in consciousness. As with other psyche...
Psychedelic Information Theory
Proceedings of the Annual Conference of CAIS / Actes du congrès annuel de l ACSI – February 07, 2025
Summary
Psychedelic experiences fundamentally transform how we process information. A novel exploration delves into information phenomena occurring during altered states of consciousness induced by "magic mushrooms." Drawing from Psychedelic Information Theory, this interdisciplinary inquiry systematically examines "psychedelic information" across four distinct levels: personal, microsocial, macrosocial, and the overarching "meta" perspective of Information Science. This approach bridges insights from Psychology, Computer Science, and Drug Studies, offering a profound understanding of how consciousness shapes our informational landscape.
Abstract
Inspired by the conference theme, Leaps and Stumbles, our panel takes a quantum leap beyond conventional notions of information. We provide a syste...
Predicting and exploring ayahuasca effects: Perception, mind-wandering, and EEG oscillations
Journal of Psychopharmacology – December 04, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca significantly alters consciousness, leading to profound mystical and emotional experiences. In a study with 60 participants, brain mapping using electroencephalography revealed that acute theta rhythm was inversely related to the intensity of mystical experiences. Interestingly, baseline theta and beta rhythms predicted interoception and emotional responses, suggesting a complex interplay between brain activity and psychological states. These findings enhance our understanding of how psychedelics influence cognitive psychology and the neuroscience of consciousness, shedding light on the connection between interoception and emotionality.
Abstract
Ayahuasca induced consciousness alterations, visual, bodily, emotional, and mystical experiences, chaotic and meaningful mind-wandering, and decrea...
Towards a Passive BCI to Induce Lucid Dream
arXiv Preprint Archive – April 29, 2019
Summary
Scientists discovered that external light signals can be seamlessly woven into our dreams, opening new paths to achieve lucid dreaming - the rare ability to consciously control our dreams. Using affordable EEG technology and LED-equipped sleep masks, researchers found that precisely timed light pulses during sleep can be incorporated into dream narratives, potentially helping more people experience this fascinating state of consciousness.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) is a phenomenon during which the person is aware that he/she dreaming and is able to control the dream content. Studies have sh...
Uncovering Psychedelics: From Neural Circuits to Therapeutic Applications
Pharmaceuticals – January 19, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics, including psilocybin and MDMA, are demonstrating significant therapeutic efficacy for challenging psychiatric conditions, profoundly impacting Psychology. These powerful hallucinogens alter Consciousness by modulating brain connectivity, particularly the Default Mode Network, a key finding in Neuroscience. Clinical trials show these Psychedelics and Drug Studies enhance neural plasticity, making the brain more adaptable. Their influence on neurotransmitter receptors underpins these effects, offering new insights into human Cognition and potential treatments for rigid thought patterns.
Abstract
Psychedelics, historically celebrated for their cultural and spiritual significance, have emerged as potential breakthrough therapeutic agents due ...
Within-subject comparison of near-death and psychedelic experiences: acute and enduring effects
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2024
Summary
Profound mystical states of consciousness, whether from near-death experiences or hallucinogens like psilocybin, ayahuasca, and mescaline, share remarkable similarities. A study of 31 adults who experienced both revealed significant overlap in their phenomenology and attribution of reality. While sensory perception differed—NDEs involved more disembodiment, psychedelics more visual imagery—both induced similar mystical-like effects. This suggests the psychology of psychedelic experiences offers a valuable lens for understanding profound, sometimes paranormal, insights.
Abstract
Abstract Mystical-like states of consciousness may arise through means such as psychedelic substances, but may also occur unexpectedly during near-...
Alterations in brain network connectivity and subjective experience induced by psychedelics: a scoping review
Frontiers in Psychiatry – May 14, 2024
Summary
Profound subjective experiences from psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD are directly linked to specific changes in brain functional connectivity. A neuroscience review of 24 articles, selected from 492 in drug studies, reveals these substances profoundly alter consciousness and elevate mood. Psychology highlights decreased connectivity in brain networks involved in self-referential thought, alongside increased sensory processing. Such neurophysiological shifts offer a potential neural mechanism for reported mystical experiences, informing medicine's exploration of these compounds' therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Intense interest surrounds current research on psychedelics, particularly regarding their potential in treating mental health disorders. Various st...
Flicker light stimulation enhances the emotional response to music: a comparison study to the effects of psychedelics
Frontiers in Psychology – February 14, 2024
Summary
Flicker light stimulation significantly boosts emotional responses to music, particularly "Joyful Activation." Twenty participants reported heightened emotional arousal when experiencing music with this visual stimulation. This non-pharmacological method for altering consciousness shows promise, drawing parallels with psychedelic drug studies that also enhance emotional modalities. Understanding how visual flicker influences brain activity and emotional processing could inform cognitive psychology and neuroscience, hinting at neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, a realm often explored through biochemical analysis.
Abstract
Flicker light stimulation (FLS) is a non-pharmacological method of inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs), producing hallucination-like ph...
Psychedelic Drugs or Hallucinogens: Exploring Their Medicinal Potential.
Cureus – November 01, 2023
Summary
Recent breakthroughs show psychedelic medicines like LSD and psilocybin are remarkably effective at treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Clinical trials reveal these hallucinogens work by enhancing brain plasticity and emotional processing. Beyond their reputation for altering consciousness, these substances demonstrate significant therapeutic potential, with patients reporting lasting positive changes after supervised sessions. Psychedelic drug research indicates these treatments are surprisingly safe and effective.
Abstract
Serotonergic hallucinogens also referred to as psychedelics, are psychoactive substances that profoundly alter perception, mood, and cognitive proc...
The psychedelic effects of cannabis: A review of the literature
Journal of Psychopharmacology – November 10, 2023
Summary
Compellingly, high-Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Cannabis may induce psychedelic effects, challenging Psychiatry. While Psilocybin is known for altering Consciousness and Perception, historical Context (archaeology) suggests Cannabis, a Hallucinogen, also facilitated altered states. Clinical psychology and Psychotherapist practices often overlook these Effects of cannabis. Relevant to Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, specific doses and settings are crucial, potentially revealed by Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques. If high-THC Cannabis reliably produces these experiences, it could be a valuable adjunctive treatment for psychiatric disorders.
Abstract
Cannabis and classic psychedelics are controlled substances with emerging evidence of efficacy in the treatment of a variety of psychiatric illness...