Self-Transcendent Perceptual Dynamics and the Effects of Dispositional Mindfulness on Altered States of Consciousness: A Prospective Longitudinal Observational Study of a Naturalistic Psychedelic Retreat
PsyArXiv December 31, 2025 Sebastian Ehmann, Nikoloz Mosahvili, Angela White et al. preprint
People with higher levels of dispositional mindfulness—the tendency to pay attention to present-moment experience nonjudgmentally—are more likely to experience self-transcendent perceptual changes during a naturalistic psychedelic retreat. Over a prospective longitudinal observational study, participants who scored higher on mindfulness measures reported greater alterations in consciousness, including feelings of unity and sacredness. The findings suggest that pre-existing mindfulness may shape how individuals respond to psychedelic experiences, potentially enhancing their capacity for profound shifts in perception and self-awareness.