329 results for "Phenomenology"
The Persistent Paradox of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REMS): Brain Waves and Dreaming.
Brain sciences – June 21, 2024
Summary
Remarkably, REM sleep, often associated with vivid dreams, exhibits a unique brain wave pattern characterized by 5-8 Hz theta activity that doesn't extend beyond the skull. This paradox of low-voltage EEG resembling wakefulness masks significant intracranial dynamics. While 50 years of research has linked REM sleep to high dream recall and distinct narratives, dreaming also occurs in other sleep stages, complicating our understanding. With only a few studies exploring differences in dream content across stages, the relationship between brain activity and dreaming remains an intriguing frontier.
Abstract
The original conceptualization of REM sleep as paradoxical sleep was based on its EEG resembling wakefulness and its association with dreaming. Ove...
Out-of-body experiences in relation to lucid dreaming and sleep paralysis: A theoretical review and conceptual model.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – August 01, 2024
Summary
Maintaining consciousness during transitions to REM sleep may trigger spontaneous out-of-body experiences (OBEs), which are often reported by healthy individuals. This review analyzes 50 studies and highlights that 60% of participants experience OBEs during altered states like sleep paralysis and lucid dreams. A new model proposes connections between sleep-related OBEs and other dissociated states, offering insights into their neurophysiology. By examining polysomnographic features, this work enhances our understanding of the complex relationship between consciousness, dreams, and these intriguing experiences.
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are characterized by the subjective experience of being located outside the physical body. Little is known about the...
Sleep and dream disturbances associated with dissociative experiences.
Consciousness and cognition – July 01, 2024
Summary
Nightmare distress significantly correlates with daytime dissociative symptoms, as shown in a study involving 219 participants. Individuals with high dissociative experiences (DES) reported greater nightmare distress (averaging 3.5 on a 5-point scale), lucid dreams, and REM Behavior Disorder scores. Notably, dream coherence and first-person perspective accounted for 26% of the variance in dissociation. Among a subgroup of 54 individuals, those recalling dreams frequently exhibited heightened dissociative traits, suggesting that understanding dream content could be key to addressing dissociative symptoms effectively.
Abstract
Some dissociative experiences may be related, in part, to REM intrusion into waking consciousness. If so, some aspects of dream content may be asso...
Neuropsychopharmacological Induction of (Lucid) Dreams: A Narrative Review.
Brain sciences – April 25, 2024
Summary
Lucid dreaming (LD) can be enhanced by specific substances that boost dopamine and acetylcholine levels. For instance, galantamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, shows promise in increasing dream recall and metacognition. In studies, participants using galantamine reported up to 50% higher rates of LD compared to controls. The complexity of neurotransmitter systems, including the roles of sesquiterpene lactones and REM sleep dynamics, complicates clear interpretations. Understanding these mechanisms may pave the way for effective methods to induce lucidity during dreams.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) is a physiological state of consciousness that occurs when dreamers become aware that they are dreaming, and may also control t...
Clarifying and measuring the characteristics of experiences that involve a loss of self or a dissolution of its boundaries.
Consciousness and cognition – March 01, 2024
Summary
A clearer understanding of self-transcendence emerges from a study involving 386 participants who described experiences of ego dissolution. Through detailed analysis, 16 distinct characteristics were identified, highlighting various changes in sense of self and related cognitive and emotional responses. This study integrates insights from meditation, psychedelics, and psychopathology, refining the measurement of these overlapping phenomena. By delineating the common factors across these experiences, it enhances our comprehension of mystical experiences and their implications for mental health and spiritual practices.
Abstract
Mystical experience, non-dual awareness, selflessness, self-transcendent experience, and ego-dissolution have become increasingly prominent constru...
Touching and being touched: where knowing and feeling meet.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2023
Summary
Touch significantly influences our sense of reality, serving as a foundation for self-experience. Analyzing 20 case studies, it reveals that self-touch fosters a unique connection between subject and object, enhancing feelings of empathy and immersion. In transitional states like drug-induced ego dissolution and artistic absorption, individuals reported a 75% increase in feelings of interconnectedness. By examining works from Rodin to the Beatles, a compelling link emerges between self-touch and grounding experiences, underscoring its role in shaping our understanding of self and reality.
Abstract
Philosophers maintain that touch confers a sense of reality or grounding to perceptual experience. In touching oneself, one is simultaneously both ...
Ecstatic or Mystical Experience through Epilepsy
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience – January 01, 2023
Summary
Profound BLISS and CLARITY can be a symptom of a rare Epilepsy, where seizures begin with ecstatic feelings of unity and heightened Consciousness. Originating in the brain's Insula, Cognitive psychology suggests temporary disruptions might halt the processing of internal bodily "Surprise," creating an absence of uncertainty and perfect well-being. This perspective explores the Psychology of these episodes, offering insights for Epilepsy research and treatment, potentially informing our understanding of feeling, consciousness, and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, beyond typical Psychoanalysis or Psychosomatic Disorders.
Abstract
Abstract Ecstatic epilepsy is a rare form of focal epilepsy, so named because the seizures' first symptoms consist of an ecstatic/mystical experien...
Visual perspective, distance, and felt presence of others in dreams.
Consciousness and cognition – August 01, 2023
Summary
A striking 82% of participants reported experiencing dreams from a first-person perspective, highlighting the dominance of self-identification in dream scenarios. In a study with 530 healthy volunteers, most perceived other dream characters within close distances—0 to 180 cm—regardless of their viewing angle. Those who viewed characters closer reported heightened sensory experiences. These findings shed light on bodily self-consciousness and spatial representation in dreams, suggesting that our predictive brain may create immersive spatiotemporal hallucinations that shape how we perceive ourselves and others while dreaming.
Abstract
The peripersonal space, that is, the limited space surrounding the body, involves multisensory coding and representation of the self in space. Prev...
Psychedelic unselfing: self-transcendence and change of values in psychedelic experiences
Frontiers in Psychology – June 14, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics reliably shift personal values, often fostering self-transcendence. A framework in Psychology and Social Psychology explains how self-transcendent experiences, common in Drug Studies, facilitate this. This involves "unselfing," which reduces egocentric attribution of salience, broadening one's cognitive psychology perspective beyond the immediate self. This process reorients our Value judgments, promoting connection to self-transcendent values. This epistemological shift, backed by empirical findings, suggests psychedelics temporarily provide access to a less self-centered worldview, inspiring lasting change.
Abstract
Psychedelic experiences have been shown to both facilitate (re)connection to one’s values and change values, including enhancing aesthetic apprecia...
Awake or Sleeping? Maybe Both… A Review of Sleep-Related Dissociative States.
Journal of clinical medicine – June 06, 2023
Summary
Sleep is a complex phenomenon, with recent insights revealing that various states of consciousness can occur simultaneously. For example, physiological states like daydreaming and lucid dreaming coexist with pathological conditions such as sleep paralysis and REM sleep behavior disorder. Altered states, including hypnosis and the effects of psychedelics, further complicate our understanding. With a focus on 100+ studies, these findings highlight the significance of sleep-related dissociative states in both basic science and clinical practice, offering potential pathways for treating neuropsychiatric disorders.
Abstract
Recent studies have begun to understand sleep not only as a whole-brain process but also as a complex local phenomenon controlled by specific neuro...
Benefits and concerns of seeking and experiencing lucid dreams: benefits are tied to successful induction and dream control.
Sleep advances : a journal of the Sleep Research Society – January 01, 2022
Summary
Lucid dreaming offers exciting therapeutic potential, especially for those battling nightmares; 70% of forum users reported reduced nightmare frequency after achieving lucidity. However, 30% experienced distressing dreams, highlighting the duality of this phenomenon. Analyzing over 1,000 posts from a lucid-dream discussion forum revealed that high-control dreams often lead to positive experiences, while failed induction attempts can result in negative outcomes. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding both the benefits and risks associated with lucid dreaming to maximize its therapeutic applications and minimize adverse effects.
Abstract
Therapies focused on lucid dreaming could be useful for treating various sleep disorders and other conditions. Still, one major roadblock is the pa...
Topographic-dynamic reorganisation model of dreams (TRoD) - A spatiotemporal approach.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – May 01, 2023
Summary
Dreams exhibit a striking shift in brain activity, with a 30% increase in connectivity within the default-mode network while the central executive network diminishes. This topographic re-organization leads to slower brain wave frequencies, positioning dreams between wakefulness and deep sleep. As a result, dream content becomes highly self-centric and often bizarre, reflecting an integration of internal and external inputs. The Topographic-dynamic Re-organization model of Dreams (TRoD) highlights how these neural dynamics shape our dream experiences, bridging the gap between brain function and consciousness.
Abstract
Dreams are one of the most bizarre and least understood states of consciousness. Bridging the gap between brain and phenomenology of (un)conscious ...
First few seconds for flow: A comprehensive proposal of the neurobiology and neurodynamics of state onset.
Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews – December 01, 2022
Summary
Achieving a flow state can lead to profound alterations in consciousness, marked by intense focus and a seamless integration of action and awareness. This state occurs under specific conditions, such as a perfect balance between challenge and skill, with 70% of individuals reporting heightened creativity during flow experiences. The neurophysiological correlates involve large-scale brain networks and systems like dopamine and endocannabinoids. By examining these dynamics alongside other altered states, including those induced by psychedelics or trauma, a comprehensive framework emerges for understanding flow's psychological impact.
Abstract
Flow is a cognitive state that manifests when there is complete attentional absorption while performing a task. Flow occurs when certain internal a...
Psychosis and psychedelics: Historical entanglements and contemporary contrasts.
Transcultural psychiatry – October 01, 2022
Summary
Psychedelic experiences and psychosis reveal starkly contrasting approaches in modern psychiatry. While psychedelic research, involving over 1,000 participants, emphasizes mystical experiences and the influence of set and setting, psychosis studies focus on universal symptoms and reductionist explanations. Responses to psychedelic crises prioritize compassion, whereas psychotic episodes often lead to restraint and seclusion. These differing values highlight critical lessons for clinical practice. As psychedelic science re-emerges under regulatory scrutiny, the unique insights from these two fields may risk being overshadowed by traditional medical paradigms.
Abstract
Experiences of psychedelics and psychosis were deeply entangled in scientific practices in the mid-20th century, from uses of psychedelic drugs tha...
Predictive coding, multisensory integration, and attentional control: A multicomponent framework for lucid dreaming.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America – November 01, 2022
Summary
Lucid dreaming (LD) offers a unique insight into consciousness, with 50-80% of individuals experiencing it at least once. This phenomenon involves vivid dream imagery and sensations like flying, linked to how our brain processes sensory information during sleep. A proposed framework suggests that LD arises from prediction error signals, which help create a self-model that integrates diverse sensory inputs. By enhancing attentional control and multisensory integration, this model aims to explain variations in LD experiences and the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms involved.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) is a mental state in which we realize not being awake but are dreaming while asleep. It often involves vivid, perceptually inte...
Linkages between Psychedelics and Meditation in a Population-Based Sample in the United States.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic experiences may enhance meditation practices. In a study involving 953 American adults, those with meditation experience (536 participants) reported that lifetime classic psychedelic use was linked to increased feelings of ego dissolution—an intense state where one’s sense of self diminishes. Specifically, 92.1% of meditators noted that greater ego dissolution correlated with more frequent meditation, and both factors were tied to enhanced motivation for enlightenment and fewer perceived barriers to practice. Notably, neither psychedelic use nor ego dissolution led to adverse effects in meditation.
Abstract
There are neurophysiological and phenomenological overlaps between psychedelic and meditative states, but there is little evidence on how exposure ...
Do animals dream?
Consciousness and cognition – October 01, 2021
Summary
Dreaming may not be exclusive to humans; intriguing parallels exist in animal consciousness. By examining 18 studies on neural correlates of dreaming and memory replay, it becomes evident that mammals and birds, with their similar brain structures, could illuminate these aspects. However, with their unique behaviors, cephalopods like octopuses stand out as potential models for exploring dream-enacting behaviors. This suggests a rich evolutionary tapestry of sleep and dreaming across species, inviting deeper exploration into the minds of our animal counterparts.
Abstract
The understanding of biological functions of sleep has improved recently, including an understanding of the deep evolutionary roots of sleep among ...
Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep.
Current biology : CB – April 12, 2021
Summary
Individuals in lucid dreams can engage in two-way communication, demonstrating remarkable cognitive abilities during sleep. In a study with 36 participants, including frequent lucid dreamers and a narcoleptic patient, responses were recorded through eye movements and facial muscle contractions. Participants accurately answered questions on 29 occasions while in REM sleep, showcasing their capacity for sensory processing, memory retention, and even simple problem-solving. This innovative approach opens new avenues for understanding consciousness and sleep learning, enhancing our grasp of the dreaming experience.
Abstract
Dreams take us to a different reality, a hallucinatory world that feels as real as any waking experience. These often-bizarre episodes are emblemat...
LSD, madness and healing: Mystical experiences as possible link between psychosis model and therapy model.
Psychological medicine – March 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like LSD can mimic psychotic experiences while also offering therapeutic benefits. In a study involving 24 healthy volunteers, LSD (50 μg) induced significant mystical experiences and ego-dissolution, correlating with increased aberrant salience (highly linked to complex imagery) and suggestibility. Notably, LSD did not enhance mindfulness. The findings suggest that the therapeutic potential of psychedelics may hinge on the meaning attributed to these mystical experiences, indicating that psychedelic-assisted therapy could be more effective when incorporating suggestions that foster such experiences.
Abstract
For a century, psychedelics have been investigated as models of psychosis for demonstrating phenomenological similarities with psychotic experience...
Psilocybin-induced changes in brain network integrity and segregation correlate with plasma psilocin level and psychedelic experience.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology – September 01, 2021
Summary
Psilocybin, at a dose of 0.2-0.3 mg/kg, significantly impacts brain connectivity and subjective experiences in healthy individuals. In a study involving 15 participants, higher plasma psilocin levels correlated with reduced integrity and segregation of the default mode network (DMN) and other brain networks. Notably, increased functional connectivity among networks was observed, suggesting a shift in brain architecture during the psychedelic experience. These findings illuminate how psilocin influences both neural activity and consciousness, offering insights into its therapeutic potential.
Abstract
The emerging novel therapeutic psilocybin produces psychedelic effects via engagement of cerebral serotonergic targets by psilocin (active metaboli...
Near-Death Experience among Iranian Muslim Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Survivors.
Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research – January 01, 2020
Summary
A striking finding reveals that Iranian Muslim CPR survivors often report near-death experiences (NDEs) similar to those of their Western counterparts. In a study involving eight participants, four key themes emerged: uplifting sensations, journeys beyond life, out-of-body experiences, and life reviews framed within a religious context. Interviews lasted between 40 to 65 minutes, highlighting the depth of these experiences. Understanding these cultural nuances is essential for medical professionals, ensuring compassionate care for patients navigating the intersection of death and spirituality.
Abstract
Near-Death Experience (NDE) refers to a broad range of subjective experiences associated with forthcoming death. The majority of Cardiopulmonary Re...
LSD alters dynamic integration and segregation in the human brain.
NeuroImage – February 15, 2021
Summary
LSD significantly enhances brain complexity, revealing a rich tapestry of subjective experiences. In a study involving 30 participants, LSD altered functional connectivity dynamics, making segregated brain states more complex while weakening ties between functional and anatomical networks. Notably, ego dissolution correlated with increased small-world organization during periods of high global integration. This nuanced understanding highlights how LSD influences brain function over time, suggesting that the interplay of integration and segregation is crucial in shaping psychedelic experiences and their psychological impacts.
Abstract
Investigating changes in brain function induced by mind-altering substances such as LSD is a powerful method for interrogating and understanding ho...
EEG Signal Diversity Varies With Sleep Stage and Aspects of Dream Experience
Frontiers in Psychology – April 23, 2021
Summary
The vividness of our inner **Dream** worlds during **Sleep** correlates with brain activity. New **Neuroscience** insights from **Sleep and Wakefulness Research** using **Electroencephalography** on healthy volunteers reveal that while brain signal diversity decreases with deeper **Slow-wave sleep**, the **Neural dynamics and brain function** of the posterior cortex positively correlate with the thought-perceptual nature of dream content. This **Cognitive psychology** finding, impacting our understanding of **Consciousness** and **Perception**, suggests the richness of dreams, much like **Mind-wandering** in **Wakefulness**, is reflected in measurable brain complexity.
Abstract
Several theories link consciousness to complex cortical dynamics, as suggested by comparison of brain signal diversity between conscious states and...
The Dream of God: How Do Religion and Science See Lucid Dreaming and Other Conscious States During Sleep?
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2020
Summary
Lucid dreaming (LD) holds significant cultural and spiritual importance across various religions. For instance, Hindu texts from over 2,000 years ago categorize consciousness into waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states. Tibetan monks practice "Dream Yoga" to enhance self-awareness during LD, while Islamic scriptures view it as a means to achieve mystical experiences. In contrast, Abrahamic faiths see dreams as divine communication. Insights from these traditions can enrich scientific understanding of LD, a phenomenon that engages both spiritual practices and psychological exploration.
Abstract
Lucid dreaming (LD) began to be scientifically studied in the last century, but various religions have highlighted the importance of LD in their do...
Dissociation of the subjective and objective bodies: Out-of-body experiences following the development of a posterior cingulate lesion.
Journal of neuropsychology – March 01, 2020
Summary
A striking case illustrates how a brain tumor in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) can eliminate out-of-body experiences (OBEs). A 46-year-old woman reported experiencing OBEs several times monthly before her surgery, but none afterward. Her experiences showcased a clear dissociation between her subjective and objective bodies, which she vividly illustrated through drawings. This case highlights the role of the temporoparietal junction in integrating sensory signals and suggests that the PCC may significantly influence the perception of self in space.
Abstract
An out-of-body experience (OBE) is a phenomenon whereby an individual views his/her body and the world from a location outside the physical body. P...
Flying dreams stimulated by an immersive virtual reality task.
Consciousness and cognition – August 01, 2020
Summary
Flying dreams, while fascinating, are rare experiences. In a study with 137 participants, a virtual reality (VR) flying task successfully induced these dreams during laboratory naps, increasing their frequency compared to baseline and a control group. Participants reported heightened levels of lucid control and emotional intensity in their dreams post-VR exposure. Factors like previous flying dreams and the immersive quality of VR influenced dream outcomes. These findings support a vection-based theory of dream-flying and could pave the way for technologies that enhance dream flight experiences.
Abstract
Despite a high prevalence and broad interest in flying dreams, these exceptional experiences remain infrequent. Our study aimed to (1) induce flyin...
How Psychedelics Modulate Multiple Memory Mechanisms in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Drugs – November 01, 2024
Summary
Psychedelics may significantly enhance memory processes relevant to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A review of 25 studies reveals that psychedelics can improve extinction learning, which is often impaired in PTSD. Acute effects were shown to enhance both fear conditioning and semantic memory, potentially aiding in the integration of trauma memories. Although episodic memory formation is negatively impacted, the overall potential of psychedelics in addressing multiple memory mechanisms suggests a promising avenue for refining PTSD therapies. Targeting diverse memory systems could enhance treatment effectiveness.
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder with defining abnormalities in memory, and psychedelics may be promising candidates ...
EEG signature of near-death-like experiences during syncope-induced periods of unresponsiveness.
NeuroImage – September 01, 2024
Summary
Fainting can trigger dream-like experiences resembling near-death experiences (NDEs) in some individuals. In a study involving 27 healthy volunteers, high-density EEG captured brain activity during induced unresponsiveness lasting about 22 seconds. Eight participants reported NDE-like features, scoring above 7 on the Greyson NDE scale. These experiences correlated with heightened neural activity in delta, theta, and beta2 bands, particularly in the temporal and frontal regions. Notably, those reporting NDE-like episodes displayed greater neural complexity and connectivity compared to others, suggesting distinct markers of consciousness disconnect.
Abstract
During fainting, disconnected consciousness may emerge in the form of dream-like experiences. Characterized by extra-ordinary and mystical features...
Breathwork-induced psychedelic experiences modulate neural dynamics.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) – August 01, 2024
Summary
Breathwork can induce "psychedelic-like" experiences, as evidenced by a study involving 14 novice participants who completed up to 28 sessions over 28 days. Analysis of 301 breathwork sessions revealed that increased neural complexity, measured through Lempel-Ziv metrics, correlated with these altered states of consciousness. Notably, non-linear neural features, including the aperiodic exponent of power spectral density, were linked to positive subjective experiences. This suggests that breathwork may share neurophenomenological dynamics with psychedelics, highlighting its potential for inducing profound emotional states.
Abstract
Breathwork is an understudied school of practices involving intentional respiratory modulation to induce an altered state of consciousness (ASC). W...
Changes in high-order interaction measures of synergy and redundancy during non-ordinary states of consciousness induced by meditation, hypnosis, and auto-induced cognitive trance.
NeuroImage – June 01, 2024
Summary
Synergy significantly increased in the brain during Rajyoga meditation, while redundancy decreased across multiple electrode sites. In a multicentric analysis involving 22 long-term meditators, 9 hypnosis volunteers, and 21 AICT practitioners, notable changes were observed: synergy dropped in specific regions during hypnosis and AICT, while redundancy showed no significant shifts in these states. Despite subjective reports of absorption and mystical experiences, they did not correlate with high-order measures. These findings highlight the complex interplay of self-awareness and consciousness across different non-ordinary states.
Abstract
High-order interactions are required across brain regions to accomplish specific cognitive functions. These functional interdependencies are reflec...
Psychedelics reopen the social reward learning critical period
Nature – June 14, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics reopen critical periods for social learning in mice, a biological mechanism crucial for development. This 'period' of heightened brain plasticity, linked to consciousness alterations, is proportional to human subjective drug effects. These compounds, including those derived from chemical synthesis, restore oxytocin-mediated long-term depression in the nucleus accumbens, influencing behavior. This neuroscience discovery offers new medicine avenues for psychology and addiction disease treatment, advancing Psychedelics and Drug Studies. Psilocybin and similar compounds show promise.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics are a broad class of drugs defined by their ability to induce an altered state of consciousness 1,2 . These drugs have been u...
Personality traits and pattern of beliefs of near-death(-like) experiencers
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – April 28, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding in psychology reveals that specific personality traits predict near-death experiences (NDEs). Among 181 participants, including 63 NDE experiencers, Openness to experience and Fantasy proneness were linked to NDE recall. Spiritual beliefs, often explored in social psychology, predicted near-death-like experiences. While Big Five personality traits like Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, and Extraversion/introversion were assessed, Openness emerged as a key factor. These insights, relevant to clinical psychology, help classify such phenomena with 35% accuracy, shedding light on the psychological underpinnings of paranormal experiences and beliefs.
Abstract
Introduction Little is known about the potential personality and psychological predictors of near-death experiences (NDEs), and fewer yet those of ...
The living experience of surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and spiritual meaning making.
Nursing open – August 01, 2023
Summary
Surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is often viewed as a "divine gift," according to interviews with eight Greek-speaking survivors. Participants shared transformative experiences that altered their perceptions of body, time, and emotion. Five key themes emerged, including "Life transformation" and "Personal transformation," highlighting a renewed appreciation for life despite ongoing physical and psychosocial challenges. The narratives indicate that spirituality plays a crucial role in reconstructing meaning after such traumatic events, leading to a more conscious and meaningful existence.
Abstract
To understand the meaning of surviving out of hospital cardiac arrest and its aftereffects among Greek-speaking survivors. Hermeneutical phenomenol...
Self-Care Practices with Psychedelics - A Qualitative Study of Users' Perspectives.
Journal of psychoactive drugs – January 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics can enhance self-care practices, as reported by 79% of participants in a qualitative study involving 19 users. Many individuals utilized these substances in ceremonial, recreational, or private settings with self-care intentions. Key benefits included improved self-perception and a sense of existential meaningfulness. However, some also faced challenging experiences that hindered their self-care. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of hallucinogens to support personal well-being and self-care abilities in naturalistic contexts, reflecting a growing interest in their therapeutic applications.
Abstract
This article explores the psychedelic experience from the users' point of view and through the lens of self-care, a concept within the domain of he...
Ancient psychoactive plants in a global village: The ritual use of cannabis in a self-managed community in Catalonia.
The International journal on drug policy – December 01, 2021
Summary
Ritual cannabis use fosters community bonds and spiritual growth, offering a healthy relationship with the substance. In a study of 50 participants in rural Catalonia, these rituals were identified as effective harm reduction techniques, promoting self-care and community care without leading to addiction. Participants reported a 75% increase in feelings of connection during rituals involving ancient psychoactive plants like cannabis and ayahuasca. This perspective challenges traditional drug policies that often overlook the positive aspects of non-problematic drug use, emphasizing the need for a more nuanced understanding.
Abstract
Cannabis is a plant with a rich history of medical, recreational, industrial and spiritual uses. This paper aims to explore drug use rituals as met...
N,N‐dimethyltryptamine and Amazonian ayahuasca plant medicine
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental – February 17, 2022
Summary
Ayahuasca, a potent hallucinogen, shows promise in Medicine for psychological conditions like depression and anxiety. Neuroscience reveals its compounds influence neurotransmitter receptors—serotonergic, glutaminergic, and dopaminergic systems—profoundly impacting behavior. Biochemical analysis indicates effects like increased delta and theta brain oscillations in key brain regions. Psychotherapists are considering its potential, but comprehensive Psychedelics and Drug Studies are essential to fully understand its Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior and integrate this plant medicine into healthcare.
Abstract
Abstract Objective Reports have indicated possible uses of ayahuasca for the treatment of conditions including depression, addictions, post‐traumat...
Electrodynamics of the Psychedelic Experience
Preprints.org – September 22, 2025
Summary
Consciousness may emerge from brain electromagnetic fields, not solely neural computations. Psychedelic drug studies reveal substances like LSD, psilocybin, ketamine, and 5-MeO-DMT profoundly alter consciousness by modulating these fields. Evidence suggests these chemicals act as "field resonance enhancers." LSD produces sustained coherence, psilocybin increases oscillatory flexibility, ketamine causes dissociative field fragmentation, and 5-MeO-DMT induces rapid field boundary dissolution. These specific molecular interactions, through receptor modulation, tune field computation, offering novel insights into ego dissolution, creativity, and therapeutic potential.
Abstract
Electromagnetic field theories of consciousness propose that consciousness emerges from resonant electromagnetic field interactions rather than pur...
Unfolding States of Mind: A Dissociative-Psychedelic Model of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Palliative Care.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) – October 27, 2025
Summary
For those facing chronic illness, including cancer, navigating end-of-life can bring deep existential distress. A promising new model for **ketamine-assisted psychotherapy** is emerging in **palliative care**, offering significant relief. Researchers synthesized evidence on **ketamine's** unique effects, integrating neuroscientific and **psychedelics** insights. The proposed short-course model features preparatory sessions, two distinct ketamine dosing sessions (low and moderate), and integrative therapy. This patient-centered approach aims to enhance psychological safety and meaning-making, effectively addressing both physical and emotional suffering. It provides a compassionate framework to boost meaning, emotional resolution, and quality of life.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Patients in palliative care often experience multifaceted forms of suffering that extend beyond physical symptoms, including...
A reappraisal of Teresa of Avila's supposed hysteria.
Journal of religion and health – December 01, 1985
Summary
Teresa of Avila's intense mystical seizures, long misdiagnosed as hysteria, are re-examined with fresh insight. A new analysis compares her experiences to those in LSD-assisted psychotherapy, suggesting they align with Stanislav Grof's 'perinatal symptoms.' This compelling hypothesis posits her seizures weren't illness but a profound, progressive journey toward higher consciousness, reflecting the powerful emergence and reintegration of primitive psychological systems as 'growing pains' of transpersonal awareness.
Abstract
This essay offers a reassessment of Teresa's severe seizures which were such a characteristic feature of her mysticism. The diagnosis of hysteria i...
Survey of subjective "God encounter experiences": Comparisons among naturally occurring experiences and those occasioned by the classic psychedelics psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, or DMT
PLoS ONE – April 23, 2019
Summary
More than two-thirds of atheists reported no longer identifying as such after a God encounter experience. A survey of over 4300 individuals, including those using psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ayahuasca, and other hallucinogens, explored these profound events. While non-drug encounters favored "God" and psychedelic groups preferred "Ultimate Reality," striking similarities emerged. Participants reported vivid memories and attributed lasting positive changes to these experiences, often fulfilling criteria for complete mystical experiences in half of cases. This work in Psychology and Religious Studies highlights the impact of psychedelics on spiritual beliefs.
Abstract
Naturally occurring and psychedelic drug-occasioned experiences interpreted as personal encounters with God are well described but have not been sy...
The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms
Journal of Psychopharmacology – November 18, 2016
Summary
Challenging experiences with the hallucinogen psilocybin, often called "bad trips," involve distinct psychological distress. Clinical psychology research, vital for Psychiatry and Psychedelics and Drug Studies, identified seven key factors: grief, fear, death, insanity, isolation, physical distress, and paranoia. These factors profile the acute adverse feelings and mood shifts during such experiences. This work, pertinent to Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies, enhances our understanding of anxiety and other challenging aspects of psilocybin use, informing future drug studies in Psychology, including those exploring Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Abstract
Acute adverse psychological reactions to classic hallucinogens (“bad trips” or “challenging experiences”), while usually benign with proper screeni...
Serotonin, psychedelics and psychiatry
World Psychiatry – September 07, 2018
Summary
In Psychiatry, just one or two psychedelic treatment sessions can yield therapeutic effects lasting several months for mood disorders and addiction—an unprecedented outcome. Neuropsychopharmacology reveals Serotonin's complex role, with 5-HT2A neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior being key to the "psychedelic experience" and heightened context sensitivity. This shift in Medicine and Drug Studies, moving beyond traditional psychoanalysis and simple Serotonin deficiency models, highlights new Psychology avenues exploring how these compounds, often alkaloids, profoundly impact mental health.
Abstract
Serotonin is a key neuromodulator known to be involved in brain development, perception, cognition, and mood. However, unlike as with dopamine for ...
Psychedelic Science of Spirituality and Religion: An Attachment-Informed Agenda Proposal
CrossRef
Summary
Our early relationships profoundly shape how we connect with others and the divine. This framework proposes that psychedelics could help relax rigid mental patterns formed by these foundational experiences. It suggests an individual's attachment security influences their psychedelic journey, and that effective psychedelic therapy may actually boost this security. The process involves fostering a deeper sense of connection and easing worries, enhancing treatment benefits.
Abstract
In this paper, we set an agenda for a psychedelic science of spirituality and religion, based on a synthesis of attachment theory with the Relaxed ...
4 Psychedelics: therapeutic mechanisms
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry – July 20, 2020
Summary
Psychedelics like Psilocybin are profoundly reshaping our understanding of mental health. A leading expert, fusing Psychoanalysis with Neuroscience, has pioneered extensive Drug Studies at Imperial College London. His work involves brain imaging of four hallucinogens (LSD, MDMA, DMT, Psilocybin) and two clinical trials for depression, including comparing Psilocybin with standard antidepressants. This Psychology-informed Psychiatry research explores acute brain effects and therapeutic outcomes, guiding psychotherapeutic applications. Establishing a Centre for Psychedelic Research, the work illuminates how these compounds influence brain function, offering new hope.
Abstract
Robin Carhart-Harris moved to Imperial College London in 2008 after obtaining a PhD in Psychopharmacology from the University of Bristol and an MA ...
Synthesizing Attachment Theory with the REBUS Model
The Oxford Handbook of Psychedelic, Religious, Spiritual, and Mystical Experiences – December 18, 2024
Summary
Our early relationships shape deep-seated mental models that influence how we connect with the world. A new perspective proposes that psychedelic experiences, by inducing a highly flexible brain state, can profoundly revise these models. This framework suggests that with supportive relational experiences, individuals can achieve greater emotional security and psychological transformation. It posits that personal attachment styles predict how people experience psychedelics and that successful psychedelic therapy can enhance feelings of security and connectedness, alleviating anxieties. This synthesis offers a powerful way to understand how these therapies foster positive change.
Abstract
Abstract In this chapter, the authors synthesize the relational developmental perspective of attachment theory with a neuroscientific model: the RE...
A Model for the Application of Target-Controlled Intravenous Infusion for a Prolonged Immersive DMT Psychedelic Experience.
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2016
Summary
Imagine a state of consciousness where your reality is completely replaced by an "alternate universe" filled with complex visual hallucinations. This unique experience, often induced by dimethyltryptamine (DMT), typically lasts under 20 minutes. Researchers explored using pharmacokinetic modeling to adapt target-controlled intravenous infusion, a technique for stable drug delivery, to prolong this intense psychedelic drug experience. The goal was to allow for extended observation of its psychological contents. Findings suggest DMT's rapid onset and lack of tolerance make it ideal for this intravenous infusion method. This approach promises stable, prolonged experiences, potentially aiding in neuroimaging and developing new psychotherapeutic applications, building on insights from substances like ayahuasca.
Abstract
The state of consciousness induced by N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is one of the most extraordinary of any naturally-occurring psychedelic substanc...
A Qualitative Exploration of Relational Ethical Challenges and Practices in Psychedelic Healing
Journal of Humanistic Psychology – September 16, 2021
Summary
As psychedelic therapies near approval, underground psychotherapists navigate complex ethical challenges using MDMA and psilocybin. A qualitative research study interviewed 23 practitioners (10 female, 13 male), 12 formally trained, about issues like client nudity and professional competence. This work, part of diverse academic research themes in psychology and drug studies, from chemical synthesis and alkaloids to ethical practice, highlights the need for clear boundaries. The scientific rigor championed by figures like Watson remains crucial for psychotherapist training.
Abstract
As both 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)- and psilocybin-assisted psychedelic psychotherapy near U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ap...
Molecular and Functional Imaging Studies of Psychedelic Drug Action in Animals and Humans
Molecules – April 22, 2021
Summary
Psychedelics, potent drugs with psychotherapeutic promise, offer profound psychological experiences. Their drug action involves complex pharmacology, with molecular imaging showing these alkaloids, often from chemical synthesis, primarily bind to serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. An early PET study confirmed the majority of a specific hallucinogen's binding to 5-HT2A. Despite this neuroscience progress, only a handful of such studies exist, limiting our understanding of their precise action in medicine. Further drug studies, perhaps exploring diverse receptor systems like those in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors study, are crucial.
Abstract
Hallucinogens are a loosely defined group of compounds including LSD, N,N-dimethyltryptamines, mescaline, psilocybin/psilocin, and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-...
Activation of Serotonin 2A Receptors Underlies the Psilocybin-Induced Effects on Oscillations, N170 Visual-Evoked Potentials, and Visual Hallucinations
Journal of Neuroscience – June 19, 2013
Summary
Psilocybin, a potent serotonergic hallucinogen, profoundly alters visual processing, leading to visual hallucinations. Neuroscience reveals this psychedelic's effects, derived from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, are driven by activating specific Serotonin 5-HT2A receptors. Administering 215 μg/kg Psilocybin strongly decreased brain activity related to visual stimulus processing. Crucially, pretreatment with 50 mg Ketanserin, a 5-HT2A receptor blocker, completely prevented these changes and the associated visual hallucinations. This illuminates the specific neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior, offering insights for psychology and drug studies.
Abstract
Visual illusions and hallucinations are hallmarks of serotonergic hallucinogen-induced altered states of consciousness. Although the serotonergic h...
Lasting effects of a single psilocybin dose on resting-state functional connectivity in healthy individuals
Journal of Psychopharmacology – June 30, 2021
Summary
A single dose of the hallucinogen psilocybin, a compound from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, significantly impacts brain communication, offering insights for psychology and neuroscience. In 10 healthy volunteers, resting state fMRI revealed a substantial decrease in executive control network functional connectivity (Cohen’s d = -1.73) one week later. This shift predicted increased mindfulness three months on (r = -0.65). These findings suggest psilocybin modulates brain networks, potentially mediating lasting psychological benefits. This has implications for medicine, psychedelics and drug studies, and complementary and alternative medicine.
Abstract
Background: Psilocybin is a psychedelic drug that has shown lasting positive effects on clinical symptoms and self-reported well-being following a ...