Attention

A unifying theory proposes that both psychedelics and meditation expand awareness by affecting the attentional system. Meditation directly trains attention, while psychedelics disrupt attentional performance but free up attentional resources, creating a surplus that facilitates expanded awareness. The argument distinguishes between performance on attentional tasks and other qualities of attention.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This chapter presents a unifying theory of the psychedelic experiences induced by psychedelics and meditation. Both psychedelics and meditation are widely reported to 'expand’ awareness, and, given the close relationship between awareness and attention, the chapter argues that a natural target of analysis is that of the attentional system. In the case of meditation, this is especially clear since many meditative practices involve attentional training. In contrast, the case of psychedelics is less clear. This is partly due to limitations on empirical research, but more importantly, because psychedelics regularly induce impairments to attentional performance. However, the chapter argues that we need to distinguish performance on attentional tasks from other qualities of attention. The chapter then proposes that psychedelics regularly disrupt the attentional system, impairing attentional performance but, at the same time, freeing up attentional resources, thus creating an attentional surplus that facilitates expansions of awareness.