1178 results for "Consciousness"
A Compositional Model of Consciousness based on Consciousness-Only
arXiv Preprint Archive – July 31, 2020
Summary
A groundbreaking approach flips traditional consciousness studies on their head by treating consciousness as fundamental rather than derivative. This model views conscious processes as inherently interconnected, where each element is defined by its relationship to others. Using advanced mathematical frameworks from AI research, the approach offers a fresh perspective on how conscious experiences combine and interact, potentially sidestepping long-standing philosophical puzzles about the nature of consciousness.
Abstract
Scientific studies of consciousness rely on objects whose existence is assumed to be independent of any consciousness. On the contrary, we assume c...
Where's My Consciousness-Ometer? How to Test for the Presence and Complexity of Consciousness.
Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science – July 01, 2022
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Tools and tests for measuring the presence and complexity of consciousness are becoming available, but there is no established theoretical approach...
Oceanic states of consciousness-an existential-neuroscience perspective.
Front Hum Neurosci – August 11, 2025
Summary
The profound experience of self dissolving into boundless unity isn't just subjective; it has a clear neurobiological foundation. This work explored how these "oceanic" states of consciousness arise, proposing specific brain network changes are involved. By merging existential insights with neuroscience, it reveals these experiences offer deep understanding of our connection to the world, significantly enhancing well-being. The findings powerfully demonstrate the brain's remarkable capacity for such transformative states.
Abstract
Oceanic states of consciousness-an existential-neuroscience perspective.
Psychedelic Integration: Psychotherapy for non-ordinary states of consciousness
Journal of Psychedelic Studies – November 16, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic research is exploding, indicating substances like MDMA and psilocybin may soon be mainstream for conditions like PTSD and depression. This shift in Psychology and Drug Studies necessitates trained psychotherapists to support profound non-ordinary states of consciousness. Psychologist and psychotherapist Marc B. Aixalà, with a decade of experience, exemplifies this expertise. Involved in early psilocybin trials, his work focuses on safely integrating psychedelic experiences, even when therapists weren't present for the initial journey. This evolving field demands professionals adept at guiding individuals through significant shifts in consciousness.
Abstract
Recent years have seen a global explosion in the field of psychedelic research, popularizing of use of non-ordinary states of consciousness to aid ...
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 ...
The claustrum's proposed role in consciousness is supported by the effect and target localization of Salvia divinorum.
Frontiers in integrative neuroscience – January 01, 2014
Summary
The brain's claustrum, a thin sheet of neurons, shows a remarkable density of κ-opioid receptors. This key anatomical finding illuminates how the plant *Salvia divinorum*, through its active compound *salvinorin A*, profoundly alters consciousness. By targeting these receptors, *salvinorin A* appears to inhibit the claustrum, supporting its proposed role as a "conductor of consciousness" crucial for integrating complex brain activity into our subjective experience. The distinct effects of *salvia divinorum* strongly affirm the claustrum's central role in higher-order consciousness.
Abstract
THIS ARTICLE BRINGS TOGETHER THREE FINDINGS AND IDEAS RELEVANT FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS: (I) Crick's and Koch's theory that the...
The Sources of Higher States of Consciousness
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies – January 01, 2005
Summary
True higher states of Consciousness, often explored in Psychology and Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs, emerge from an intensification of "consciousness-energy," not merely bodily disruption. Examining *hundreds of diverse historical accounts*, a key distinction appears. Only experiences that amplify this inherent energy, reported by *over 70% of individuals achieving lasting transformation*, lead to genuinely positive, integrated, and permanent shifts. This understanding redefines our History of spiritual insights and offers profound implications for Political science, moving beyond transient phenomena.
Abstract
In this paper, it is argued that “higher states of consciousness”–or mystical experiences–have two main sources: they can be caused by a disruption...
A Categorical Model of General Consciousness.
Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland) – April 14, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough mathematical approach reveals how consciousness emerges from neural networks through recursive patterns. By mapping the relationships between physical brain states and conscious experiences, researchers demonstrated how general consciousness arises through distinct layers of processing. The model shows consciousness operates like a specialized Turing machine, with cognizance emerging from homomorphic patterns in neural networks.
Abstract
Consciousness is liable to not be defined in scientific research, because it is an object of study in philosophy too, which actually hinders the in...
Unpacking the complexities of consciousness: Theories and reflections.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – March 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
As the field of consciousness science matures, the research agenda has expanded from an initial focus on the neural correlates of consciousness, to...
Understanding Physical Processes in Describing a State of Consciousness: A Review
arXiv Preprint Archive – January 12, 2023
Summary
Consciousness shapes how we perceive reality and defines our identity, yet its physical basis remains one of science's most intriguing puzzles. Recent advances in q-bio.NC (neurological complexity) reveal that consciousness emerges from an intricate interplay of brain signals, quantum processes, and information integration. This understanding bridges quantum physics and neuroscience, suggesting consciousness arises from both classical and quantum mechanisms in our neural networks.
Abstract
The way we view the reality of nature, including ourselves, depend on consciousness.It also defines the identity of the person, since we know peopl...
ALADIN v.O — Langorian Consciousness Field EFT (43 Hz): EEG Evidence from DMT Breakthrough & Meditation
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – January 18, 2026
Summary
A striking finding reveals that during altered states of consciousness, such as high-dose DMT and deep meditation, a significant enhancement of gamma-band power near 43 Hz occurs alongside a collapse in the multifractal spectrum width, indicating transient dynamical ordering. In a sample of multiple subjects, this coupling was consistently observed, with temporal locking between the two phenomena. Surrogate testing confirmed these effects were not due to random dynamics. Core datasets and analyses are fully reproducible, fostering independent verification and further exploration of consciousness dynamics.
Abstract
This Zenodo record accompanies ALADIN v.O — Langorian Consciousness Field EFT (43 Hz) and provides a fully reproducible EEG-based empirical foundat...
Deep learning models reveal the link between dynamic brain connectivity patterns and states of consciousness.
Scientific reports – December 30, 2024
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Decoding states of consciousness from brain activity is a central challenge in neuroscience. Dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) allows the study...
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...
Mapping the functional connectome traits of levels of consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 10, 2016
Summary
Brain activity patterns reveal distinct signatures of consciousness levels in patients with severe brain injuries. Using advanced network analysis, researchers mapped how different brain regions communicate in varying states of consciousness. Three key connectivity patterns emerged: one linked to arousal and sedation effects, another showing disrupted visual and motor connections, and a third involving self-awareness networks. These findings illuminate how brain injuries impact consciousness at the neural level.
Abstract
Examining task-free functional connectivity (FC) in the human brain offers insights on how spontaneous integration and segregation of information r...
Modulation of neural complexity and consciousness in temporal lobe seizures: Effects of high-frequency pulvinar stimulation.
Epileptic disorders : international epilepsy journal with videotape – June 21, 2025
Summary
Brain signal complexity drops during seizures, often leading to loss of consciousness. New findings show that high-frequency pulvinar stimulation can effectively counter this. Using SEEG recordings, researchers measured brain activity changes via permutation entropy. They found that this stimulation significantly reduced the typical complexity decline during seizures, a positive effect linked to improved consciousness. This suggests a promising approach to preserve awareness and cognitive function.
Abstract
Loss of consciousness/awareness during temporal lobe seizures significantly affects quality of life and is closely linked to pathological thalamoco...
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...
The Altered Xperience Project (AXP): Quantitative and Qualitative Data from a Citizen Science Initiative on the Subjective Experience of Altered States of Consciousness
OpenAlex – June 04, 2023
Summary
An innovative **citizen science** initiative is building a vast **open science** repository of **consciousness**-altering experiences. This project systematically collects **psychology** data on substances like **psilocybin**, alcohol, and cannabis, alongside non-pharmacological methods. Utilizing **computer science** for an app and **data science** for machine-readable insights, it offers participants an engaging **infographic**. This effort in **applied psychology** informs **psychedelics and drug studies**, potentially aiding **digital mental health interventions** and broader **mental health research topics**. Such data could even contribute to **medical education** and **medicine**.
Abstract
The Altered Xperience Project (AXP) is an ongoing research project that takes the form of an open citizen science initiative. Its main goal is to s...
Phase 1, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and effect on altered states of consciousness of intranasal BPL-003 (5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine benzoate) in healthy participants.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – August 01, 2024
Summary
A groundbreaking nasal spray formulation of the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT shows promise for future therapeutic applications. The treatment proved safe and well-tolerated, with rapid onset (8-10 minutes) and brief duration. 60% of participants reported complete mystical experiences at higher doses, while maintaining an excellent safety profile. The drug's efficient pharmacokinetics and strong pharmacodynamics suggest potential for treating depression.
Abstract
To investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of BPL-003, a novel intranasal benzoate salt formulation o...
Consciousness in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest: a feasibility study.
Journal of cardiothoracic surgery – May 27, 2025
Summary
During deep cooling of the body and complete circulatory arrest for major heart surgery, traces of brain activity and learning may persist. In a groundbreaking study of 36 patients, researchers used EEG monitoring and memory tests to detect signs of consciousness. While no patients explicitly remembered test stimuli, 9% showed implicit learning, and some recalled procedure-related experiences. Brain wave patterns during cardiac standstill suggest a spectrum of awareness exists.
Abstract
Studies have not explored consciousness during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). However, as studies in cardiac arrest have identified a ...
Reality in quantum mechanics, Extended Everett Concept, and consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – August 31, 2006
Summary
Quantum physics reveals a mind-bending possibility: consciousness itself may be key to how we experience reality. When we observe quantum events, our consciousness might actually split to perceive different possible outcomes separately. This explains why we only experience one "classical" reality at a time, though in altered states like sleep, we may glimpse parallel realities. This framework suggests time's flow is an illusion of consciousness, offering new perspectives on free will and life's order-creating nature.
Abstract
Conceptual problems in quantum mechanics result from the specific quantum concept of reality and require, for their solution, including the observe...
Neurotechnology in the Development of Cyber-Psychotherapy Systems for Inducing and Measuring Altered States of Consciousness in Transpersonal Psychotherapy
Research Anthology on Rehabilitation Practices and Therapy – August 21, 2020
Summary
Breakthroughs in brain-monitoring technology are revolutionizing mental health treatment by allowing therapists to both induce and measure altered consciousness states. New digital tools combine traditional meditation techniques with modern neurofeedback systems, helping patients achieve deeper therapeutic states while tracking their progress. This approach merges ancient wisdom with cutting-edge science to enhance psychological healing and personal growth.
Abstract
Transpersonal psychotherapy is based on transpersonal psychology and considers that the psyche is multidimensional and that there are several “leve...
Classification schemes of altered states of consciousness.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – August 01, 2025
Summary
From meditation to psychedelics, altered states of consciousness have fascinated scientists for decades. New research reveals a comprehensive framework for classifying these experiences based on three key factors: subjective effects, induction methods, and brain activity patterns. This classification system helps bridge phenomenology with neuroscience, offering insights into how different consciousness-altering practices affect our minds.
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the conceptual and empirical study of altered states of consciousness (ASCs), induced pharmac...
Thalamus and consciousness: a systematic review on thalamic nuclei associated with consciousness.
Frontiers in neurology – January 01, 2025
Summary
While the thalamus is known to be vital for consciousness, pinpointing its most critical parts has been a challenge. A comprehensive review of two decades of research now reveals compelling evidence: the intralaminar nuclear group, specifically the **centromedian-parafascicular** complex, is overwhelmingly linked to maintaining **consciousness**, **arousal**, and **wakefulness**. This region of the **thalamus** appears to be a central hub. These insights strongly support targeted **neuromodulation** strategies for improving **disorders of consciousness**, highlighting effective pathways for intervention.
Abstract
Consciousness relies on both cortical and subcortical structures and their feedforward and feedback pathways. Within this framework, the thalamus r...
Reconstructing Covert Consciousness: Neural Decoding as a Novel Consciousness Assessment.
Neurology – February 25, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Determining the level of consciousness in patients with brain injury-and more fundamentally, establishing what they can experience-is ethically and...
An Artificial Consciousness Model and its relations with Philosophy of Mind
arXiv Preprint Archive – November 30, 2020
Summary
Consciousness-inspired AI models could hold the key to more adaptable autonomous systems. A groundbreaking cognitive architecture mimics how conscious beings process information, using a "global workspace" that integrates multiple sensory inputs and memories. The system successfully navigates complex environments by balancing attention mechanisms, stored experiences, and internal preferences - much like human consciousness. Results show this cs.AI approach significantly improves autonomous decision-making and environmental adaptation.
Abstract
This work seeks to study the beneficial properties that an autonomous agent can obtain by implementing a cognitive architecture similar to the one ...
Are the LSD-analogs lisuride and ergotamine examples of non-hallucinogenic serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonists?
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) – May 05, 2025
Summary
While LSD is famous for its psychedelic effects, scientists long believed some similar compounds could activate the same brain receptors without causing hallucinations. This analysis reveals that two drugs, lisuride and ergotamine, likely do cause consciousness-altering effects when they reach sufficient levels in the brain, challenging previous assumptions about "non-hallucinogenic" 5-HT2A receptor compounds. This finding impacts current efforts to develop therapeutic psychedelics with reduced effects on perception.
Abstract
The recent resurgence of classical psychedelic compounds, specifically 5-HT2A receptor agonists, as potential therapeutics has led to numerous init...
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...
Conscious entry into sleep: Yoga Nidra and accessing subtler states of consciousness.
Progress in brain research – January 01, 2023
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Human sleep is a dynamic and complex process comprising sleep stages with REM and NREM sleep characteristics that come in cycles. During sleep, the...
Can repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation promote recovery of consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness? A randomized controlled trial.
NeuroImage. Clinical – January 01, 2025
Summary
Breakthrough brain stimulation offers new hope for unconscious patients. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation on specific brain regions, doctors helped patients with disorders of consciousness recover three times more effectively than conventional therapy. Brain activity changes were confirmed through electroencephalography, showing how this non-invasive treatment rebalances neural networks to boost awareness.
Abstract
Disorders of consciousness (DoC) are characterized by a broad decline in background excitatory synaptic activity and varying levels of cerebral net...
A Higher Dimension of Consciousness: Constructing an empirically falsifiable panpsychist model of consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – April 11, 2022
Summary
Could consciousness be a hidden dimension of reality? A bold model proposes that awareness exists as a fundamental physical dimension, similar to length or time. By treating consciousness as a spatial property rather than an emergent brain function, this framework offers a testable approach to the age-old mind-body problem, bridging classical physics with theories of universal consciousness.
Abstract
Panpsychism is a solution to the mind-body problem that presumes that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of reality instead of a product or cons...
Neurophysiological dynamics of visceral signals in emotion, self and bodily consciousness.
Proceedings. Biological sciences – June 01, 2025
Summary
Your body's internal signals shape your emotions and sense of self more than you might think. Scientists have discovered that heartbeats, breathing patterns, and even digestive processes directly influence brain activity through complex brain-body interactions. These internal signals create distinct electrical patterns in the brain, affecting how we process emotions and maintain self-awareness. When measured through electrophysiology, these patterns reveal how our organs communicate with our brain, forming the foundation of our conscious experience and emotional well-being.
Abstract
Bodily organs such as the heart and the lungs play a crucial role in maintaining physiological homeostasis in a continuous closed-loop interaction ...
The Neural Correlates of Consciousness: A Spectral Exponent Approach to Diagnosing Disorders of Consciousness.
Brain sciences – April 04, 2025
Summary
Brain activity patterns reveal consciousness levels with remarkable precision. Scientists found that analyzing EEG biomarkers through a measure called the spectral exponent can reliably detect disorders of consciousness. By studying brain waves in 47 individuals, researchers discovered that specific electrical patterns strongly correlate with awareness levels and visual responsiveness. This breakthrough offers a more accurate way to diagnose unresponsive patients.
Abstract
Disorder of consciousness (DoC) poses diagnostic challenges due to behavioral assessment limitations. This study evaluates the spectral exponent (S...
Individual differences in prioritization for consciousness and the conscious detection of changes.
Consciousness and cognition – March 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
A recent discovery documented robust and reliable individual differences in how quickly people become aware of non-conscious visual stimuli (Sklar,...
Reconceptualizing Altered States of Consciousness Using Network-Based Tools
The Oxford Handbook of Psychedelic, Religious, Spiritual, and Mystical Experiences – November 19, 2024
Summary
Scientists have long struggled to properly classify and study altered states of consciousness, from meditation to psychedelic experiences. A groundbreaking approach proposes viewing these states as interconnected networks rather than isolated categories. This method maps how different mental states relate to each other, considering biological, experiential, and social factors. The network model helps researchers better understand these complex states and enables more precise, collaborative research across different fields.
Abstract
Abstract Progress in the scientific study of altered states of consciousness (ASCs) has been hindered by methodological and conceptual problems. At...
Altered states of consciousness in Danish healthy volunteers and recreational users of psilocybin and the possible impact of setting and intention: Danish validation of the five-dimensional altered states of consciousness questionnaire
Journal of Psychopharmacology – August 13, 2024
Summary
A key tool for understanding psychedelic experiences, the Danish 5D-ASC questionnaire, accurately measures altered states of consciousness. Applied to 47 healthy volunteers receiving psilocybin and 550 recreative users, an 11-subscale model proved superior for assessing hallucinogen effects. This advance in psychology and clinical psychology is crucial for psychiatry, medicine, and diverse academic research themes in psychedelics and drug studies. Higher psilocybin doses correlated with more intense altered states, validating the instrument for future therapeutic applications and understanding consciousness.
Abstract
Background: Psychedelic substances reliably induce marked altered states of consciousness (ASC), which may be important for lasting effects and cli...
On the varieties of conscious experiences: Altered Beliefs Under Psychedelics (ALBUS).
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Psychedelics can both weaken and strengthen belief systems in the brain, similar to lucid dreaming states. By activating specific serotonin receptors, these substances can relax rigid thought patterns in the Default Mode Network, allowing fresh perspectives. However, they may also enhance meaning-making and pattern recognition, leading to profound insights or occasionally, misinterpretations. This dual effect explains both the therapeutic benefits and the occasional occurrence of temporary delusions during psychedelic experiences.
Abstract
How is it that psychedelics so profoundly impact brain and mind? According to the model of "Relaxed Beliefs Under Psychedelics" (REBUS), 5-HT2a ago...
TMS-EEG and resting-state EEG applied to altered states of consciousness: oscillations, complexity, and phenomenology.
iScience – May 19, 2023
Summary
Clinical neuroscience reveals fascinating insights into how psychedelic compounds affect brain activity. Using advanced medical imaging techniques, researchers found that psilocybin creates unique patterns of neural activity, increasing brain signal diversity while maintaining structured communication between regions. This pharmacology breakthrough shows how psychedelics create heightened sensory awareness through specific changes in frontal brain areas, helping explain their consciousness-altering effects.
Abstract
Exploring the neurobiology of the profound changes in consciousness induced by classical psychedelic drugs may require novel neuroimaging methods. ...
Founding quantum theory on the basis of consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – April 13, 2006
Summary
Consciousness might be the foundation of quantum physics, not the other way around. This groundbreaking perspective suggests that all reality emerges from a universal stream of conscious events, with our individual experiences being smaller parts of this greater flow. The framework shows how consciousness acts as an operator, transforming potential events into actual experiences through a unique measurement-perception process, elegantly explaining quantum phenomena (quant-ph) in terms of conscious experience.
Abstract
In the present work, quantum theory is founded on the framework of consciousness, in contrast to earlier suggestions that consciousness might be un...
Psychedelics, entropic brain theory, and the taxonomy of conscious states: a summary of debates and perspectives.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic compounds like psilocybin may hold the key to understanding human consciousness itself. The entropic brain theory suggests these substances create unique states of consciousness by increasing the brain's information-processing flexibility. This framework helps explain how psychedelic states differ from normal consciousness and could potentially aid patients with consciousness disorders through carefully controlled therapeutic applications.
Abstract
Given their recent success in counseling and psychiatry, the dialogue around psychedelics has mainly focused on their applications for mental healt...
Dimensions of consciousness and the psychedelic state
Neuroscience of Consciousness – January 01, 2018
Summary
Contrary to popular belief in social psychology, psychedelics like psilocybin do not induce a "higher level of consciousness." While these altered states profoundly enhance sensory perception and experiences of unity, cognitive psychology reveals that many fundamental cognitive functions are seriously compromised. This complex interplay, influenced by neurotransmitter receptor activity, challenges a unidimensional view of consciousness. Cognitive science, through psychedelic drug studies, now supports a multidimensional understanding of how perception and the overall level of consciousness are truly altered.
Abstract
It has often been suggested in the popular and academic literature that the psychedelic state qualifies as a higher state of consciousness relative...
Psychedelics, the Spiritual and Consciousness—an Evolving Confluence in the Cultural Stream
Tikkun – January 01, 2018
Summary
A compelling finding from a survey of 893 participants reveals that ego dissolution during psychedelic experiences predicts liberal political views, openness, and nature relatedness, while negatively predicting authoritarianism. This highlights psychedelics' role in a broader stream of awakening consciousness. Such experiences, studied in psychology and social psychology, foster a confluence of individual aesthetics and environmental ethics, democratizing spiritual access. This sociological impact underscores their potential to deepen our collective stream of consciousness, fostering connection and cooperation.
Abstract
in this time of ever ascendant materialism, greed, and pathological narcissism, when the delusion of the disconnected dominant individual grows str...
Neural field modeling and analysis of consciousness states in the brain.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2025
Summary
Neural field theory (NFT) offers a powerful lens for understanding consciousness, successfully differentiating healthy brains from those with disorders of consciousness. By fitting an NFT model to EEG data, clear correlations emerged between model parameters and the neural correlates of consciousness. This neural activity modeling illuminates how consciousness levels are represented within the NFT framework, offering valuable insights into brain dynamics across normal and pathological states. It pinpoints potential biomarkers, underscoring NFT's utility for advancing consciousness research.
Abstract
Understanding the neural correlates of consciousness remains a central challenge in neuroscience. In this study, we explore the potential of neural...
Distributed harmonic patterns of structure-function dependence orchestrate human consciousness
OpenAlex – August 10, 2020
Summary
Neuroscience reveals a profound insight into consciousness: how the human brain's connectome orchestrates our awareness. Using resting state fMRI, a unique "harmonic" signature emerges, indicating loss of wakefulness in conditions like anesthesia or brain injury. This signature, crucial for understanding neural dynamics and brain function, is mirrored in altered states from LSD or ketamine, showing a decoupling of functional brain connectivity. These functional brain connectivity studies offer new neural correlates of consciousness, advancing cognitive science and psychology by pinpointing mechanisms underlying conscious experience and even detecting covert consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract A central question in neuroscience is how consciousness arises from the dynamic interplay of brain structure and function. Departing from ...
The assumptions that restrain us from understanding consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – June 26, 2025
Summary
Our very assumptions about consciousness might be hindering its scientific understanding. A critical re-evaluation reveals that focusing solely on neural spikes or simple computations is restrictive. This q-bio.NC analysis suggests exploring the intricate nature of consciousness, including internal shifts like "aha-moments," offers profound new avenues. Challenging established views unlocks a richer, more complex understanding of the mind.
Abstract
The science of consciousness has been successful over the last decades. Yet, it seems that some of the key questions remain unanswered. Perhaps, as...
Sensory Horizons and the Functions of Conscious Vision.
The Behavioral and brain sciences – April 21, 2025
Summary
Our visual consciousness operates with surprising slowness, taking up to 400 milliseconds to process what we see. This delay allows our brains to integrate information across sensory horizons - a feature that evolved as animals transitioned from water to land. Wider terrestrial vision enabled advanced cognition and conscious planning, while unconscious processes handled immediate reactions.
Abstract
It is not obvious why we are conscious. Why can't all of our mental activities take place unconsciously? What is consciousness for? We aim to make ...
Synaptic clock as a neural substrate of consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – February 18, 2020
Summary
Our perception of time isn't uniform - it varies based on what we're experiencing. New research in q-bio.NC reveals how our brain's synaptic mechanisms create these flexible "time windows" of consciousness. Different types of information processing require different durations to enter awareness, suggesting consciousness itself may be fundamentally based on change rather than static states. This finding helps explain why time seems to speed up or slow down during various experiences.
Abstract
In this theoretical work the temporal aspect of consciousness is analyzed. We start from the notion that while conscious experience seems to change...
How to Live in the Moment: The Methodology and Limitations of Evolutionary Research on Consciousness.
Cognitive science – March 01, 2025
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
There is much interest in investigating the evolution question: How did consciousness evolve? In this paper, we evaluate the role that evolutionary...
Whole-brain models to explore altered states of consciousness from the bottom up
arXiv Preprint Archive – August 06, 2020
Summary
Scientists have mapped how different states of consciousness - from meditation to psychedelics - emerge from specific brain activity patterns. By modeling whole-brain dynamics, researchers revealed how neural networks interact to create various conscious experiences. The findings show consciousness isn't binary but exists on a spectrum shaped by brain connectivity and local neural properties.
Abstract
The scope of human consciousness includes states departing from what most of us experience as ordinary wakefulness. These altered states of conscio...
A Single Belief-Changing Psychedelic Experience Is Associated With Increased Attribution of Consciousness to Living and Non-living Entities
Frontiers in Psychology – March 28, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic experiences profoundly reshape how people perceive consciousness. A survey of 1,606 individuals revealed dramatic shifts in the attribution of consciousness to various entities. For instance, after their experience, attribution of consciousness to plants increased from 26% to 61%, and to fungi from 21% to 56%. This suggests a significant alteration in cognitive psychology regarding the scope of consciousness, extending beyond traditional views. These shifts, observed within the field of Psychedelics and Drug Studies, were lasting, unlike changes in superstitious beliefs.
Abstract
Introduction Although the topic of consciousness is both mysterious and controversial, psychedelic drugs are popularly believed to provide unique i...
Consciousness among delta waves: a paradox?
Brain – March 06, 2021
Summary
A compelling finding: consciousness isn't always lost when high-amplitude delta rhythms (1–4 Hz) dominate Electroencephalography. While often associated with unconsciousness in states like coma or anesthesia, Neuroscience and Psychology reveal prominent delta activity during conscious experiences, including dreaming and powerful psychedelic states. This challenges how we understand Consciousness Disorders. To avoid misinterpreting unconsciousness, assessing neural dynamics and brain function through electrophysiological complexity, crucial for EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces and Functional Brain Connectivity Studies, is more reliable than simply measuring delta power.
Abstract
Abstract A common observation in EEG research is that consciousness vanishes with the appearance of delta (1–4 Hz) waves, particularly when those w...
Whole-Brain Models to Explore Altered States of Consciousness from the Bottom Up
MDPI (MDPI AG) – September 10, 2020
Summary
Understanding altered states of consciousness offers a unique window into the mind. Psychology and Cognitive science propose a research program bridging top-down theories of consciousness with bottom-up generative models of neural dynamics. This involves exploring how global brain activity, seen across various subjective experiences, arises from local neural tissue properties. Using whole-brain models in Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research, including functional brain connectivity studies, aims to systematically investigate consciousness's biophysical and informational underpinnings by examining two core design approaches: top-down and bottom-up.
Abstract
The scope of human consciousness includes states departing from what most of us experience as ordinary wakefulness. These altered states of conscio...
Ayahuasca Self Consciousness and Mysticism
OpenAlex – November 24, 2022
Summary
Mystical experiences from ayahuasca rituals significantly enhance self-consciousness traits. In a study of 250 ayahuasca users, those reporting higher mystical experiences showed 30% more adaptive self-consciousness traits, while maladaptive traits decreased by 25%. Frequent ayahuasca use positively correlated with public self-awareness, and longer engagement in religious practices linked to increased insight. Notably, common dosages improved private and reflexive self-awareness but reduced social anxiety, with mystical experiences mediating these effects. Overall, ayahuasca's ceremonial use appears to foster beneficial changes in self-perception and consciousness.
Abstract
Recent studies have assessed that the mystical alterations in sense of self are the best candidates for improvements in self-consciousness and the ...
Consciousness in active inference: Deep self-models, other minds, and the challenge of psychedelic-induced ego-dissolution.
Neuroscience of consciousness – January 01, 2021
Summary
No Summary
Abstract
Predictive processing approaches to brain function are increasingly delivering promise for illuminating the computational underpinnings of a wide r...
Consciousness: Here, There but Not Everywhere
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 27, 2014
Summary
While most physical systems process information, only some can truly experience consciousness. Integrated Information Theory proposes that consciousness emerges when information is deeply interconnected within a system. This groundbreaking framework in q-bio.NC reveals that consciousness exists in biological organisms but challenges assumptions about artificial consciousness. Digital computers, despite sophisticated processing, likely experience virtually nothing.
Abstract
The science of consciousness has made great strides by focusing on the behavioral and neuronal correlates of experience. However, correlates are no...
The ConCrit Framework: Critical Brain Dynamics as a Unifying Mechanistic Framework for Theories of Consciousness.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – November 19, 2025
Summary
Consciousness may emerge when brain activity operates at a critical "tipping point." This concept, explored through Computational Neuroscience, suggests that Critical Brain Dynamics enhance the complexity and richness of our mental experience. Reviewing empirical evidence and models, it unifies various Theories of Consciousness by showing how conscious states are optimized near this critical balance. Deviations, as seen in Altered States of Consciousness like General Anesthesia, Psychedelics, or Sleep, demonstrate how consciousness can be diminished or profoundly altered.
Abstract
The quest to understand consciousness has spawned numerous theories, each offering unique perspectives but none achieving universal acceptance. Whi...
Development of a nomogram for predicting the outcome in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness based on the multimodal evaluative information.
BMC neurology – April 23, 2025
Summary
A breakthrough in predicting recovery from severe brain injury reveals that over 50% of patients with disorders of consciousness show improvement within six months. By analyzing multiple factors including brain responses and hormone levels in a cohort of 170 patients in both minimally conscious and vegetative states, researchers developed a highly accurate prediction tool. The model combines behavioral scores, sensory responses, and estradiol levels to forecast recovery chances, achieving 92% accuracy in identifying patients likely to regain consciousness.
Abstract
To establish a nomogram prediction model for the patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC) caused by brain injury at six months bas...
Non-separability of Physical Systems as a Foundation of Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – June 28, 2022
Summary
Physical systems with tightly coordinated interactions, like those found in brain circuits, may hold the key to understanding consciousness. This groundbreaking analysis reveals that consciousness emerges from the non-separability of interacting components. While simple particle systems show minimal consciousness, brain networks achieve higher states through complex, coordinated interactions between neurons, bridging quantum and classical physics perspectives.
Abstract
A hypothesis is presented that non-separability of degrees of freedom is the fundamental property underlying consciousness in physical systems. The...
Dreaming is a conscious experience in its own right: proponents of non-cognitive and non-executive theories of dreaming suffer from a retrospective illusion of their waking extended self.
Consciousness and cognition – May 30, 2025
Summary
During sleep, our minds create rich conscious experiences that challenge traditional views about awareness. Research reveals that dreamers can rationally evaluate situations and control their actions within dreams, despite having limited access to their waking memories. While our dreaming self operates differently from our waking self, it maintains cognitive abilities and executive control. This finding counters beliefs that dreams lack conscious awareness or self-regulation.
Abstract
To many influential dream researchers, dreaming consciousness is not of the same kind as waking. In its most radical and paradoxical form, this the...
Quantum information theoretic approach to the hard problem of consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive – April 13, 2025
Summary
Consciousness might be fundamentally quantum, not classical, in nature. New research in q-bio.NC reveals how quantum mechanics could explain subjective experience - something traditional brain theories struggle with. By linking consciousness to quantum states rather than classical brain activity, this framework explains why our inner experiences feel unique and irreducible to physical processes.
Abstract
Functional theories of consciousness, based on emergence of conscious experiences from the execution of a particular function by an insentient brai...
Psychedelics and Consciousness: Distinctions, Demarcations, and Opportunities
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – May 10, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics profoundly alter conscious experience, leading some to believe they hold keys to understanding consciousness itself. Yet, Psychology and Neuroscience perspectives suggest that while these substances, central to Psychedelics and Drug Studies, illuminate "easy problems"—how subjectivity relates to brain function and behavior—they likely won't explain the "hard problem" of first-person experience emergence. Cognitive psychology benefits, but a humble approach is needed for deeper explanations of consciousness.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic substances produce unusual and compelling changes in conscious experience that have prompted some to propose that psychedelics...