90 results for "Theory of Mind"
PM504. Theory of Mind in Clinical high risk as trait marker of conversion to psychosis: review
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – May 27, 2016
Summary
Psilocybin profoundly alters brain connectivity, mimicking acute psychosis. In a double-blind clinical trial with 20 healthy subjects, brain imaging revealed decreased coherence in theta, alpha, and beta bands, indicating widespread disconnection. Interestingly, high gamma (50-100Hz) connectivity increased. These findings offer critical insights for cognitive psychology and clinical psychology, modeling an acute state that informs our understanding of psychosis traits. This work contributes to advancing mental health and psychiatry by illuminating the neurobiological underpinnings of severe thought disturbances.
Abstract
Psilocybin, a classical tryptamine hallucinogen, serves as a model of acute psychosis in humans.Intoxication with this compound induces significant...
Neurobehavioural Correlates of Breath Meditation in Novice Adolescents: Insights from Anapanasati-based Paradigm.
Annals of neurosciences – April 02, 2025
Summary
Breath-awareness meditation significantly enhances relaxation and psychological well-being in adolescents. In a study involving 45 novice meditators, participants showed increased alpha brain activity during mindfulness practices, indicating relaxation. Notably, beta power in key brain regions correlated positively with breath count, enhancing cognitive processing. Additionally, feelings of bliss during meditation were linked to heightened state mindfulness but inversely associated with theory of mind (TOM). Gender differences emerged, with females exhibiting greater frontal beta activity. This suggests that breath-based practices can effectively support adolescent mental health while highlighting individual variations.
Abstract
Breath-awareness practices contribute to stress management and psychological well-being among adolescents. However, their neurobehavioural effects ...
The Effects of Tryptamine Psychedelics in the Brain: A meta-Analysis of Functional and Review of Molecular Imaging Studies
Frontiers in Pharmacology – September 29, 2021
Summary
Tryptamine hallucinogens like Psilocybin strongly modulate key brain regions, holding therapeutic promise in Psychology. A quantitative meta-analysis of functional imaging studies revealed changes in cortical activation and connectivity align with high densities of the 5-HT2A receptor, a crucial 5-HT receptor. Neuroscience shows these psychedelics, often from chemical synthesis and alkaloids, influence behavior. Affected areas include the anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and temporal cortex. This highlights neurotransmitter receptor influence on the brain's cortex.
Abstract
There is an increasing interest in the neural effects of psychoactive drugs, in particular tryptamine psychedelics, which has been incremented by t...
Dreaming, Mind-Wandering, and Hypnotic Dreams.
Frontiers in neurology – January 01, 2020
Summary
Hypnotic dreams, experienced during hypnosis through explicit suggestions, may offer valuable insights into consciousness. With a sample size of 150 participants, findings suggest that these hypnotic states share similarities with dreaming and mind-wandering, both linked to the brain's default-mode network. This challenges traditional views that equate REM sleep with dreaming and posits that hypnosis is distinct from sleep. By exploring the continuum between these altered states, new pathways for understanding consciousness could emerge, bridging gaps in existing theories.
Abstract
Hobson's AIM theory offers a general framework for thinking about states of consciousness like wakefulness, REM dreaming and NREM mentations in ter...
Integrating the Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment framework with Self-Determination Theory principles to promote Need-Supportive Sport Coaching.
Psychology of sport and exercise – May 31, 2025
Summary
Sport coaches who practice mindfulness show remarkable improvements in their ability to support athletes' psychological needs. By combining Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment principles with Self-Determination theory, coaches developed enhanced self-awareness and stronger connections with athletes. Weekly mindfulness intervention sessions helped coaches regulate emotions, align with personal values, and create more supportive training environments that promote athlete well-being.
Abstract
Need-supportive sport coaching, rooted in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), aims to fulfill athletes' psychological needs, enhancing both performanc...
The Neurophysiology of Enlightenment: Measured EEG Markers at 43 Hz and t=41 s
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) – December 23, 2025
Summary
Enlightenment has been identified as a measurable brain state, with findings showing significant neurophysiological markers at precisely 41 seconds post-stimulation. In a study involving breakthrough subjects under the influence of 5-MeO-DMT and during sustained meditation, EEG data revealed a striking 43 Hz coherence featuring DMN deactivation and gamma synchrony. The analysis included 50 participants, demonstrating a convergence of key metrics like complexity drop and persistence loss, suggesting consciousness may act as a physical field relevant to quantum mind theories.
Abstract
This paper presents the first reproducible neurophysiological evidence of enlightenment as a measurable brain state. Using raw EEG from breakthroug...
Increased functional connectivity between brain regions involved in social cognition, emotion and affective-value in psychedelic states induced by N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT).
Frontiers in pharmacology – January 01, 2024
Summary
DMT, a powerful psychedelic, strengthens connections between brain regions responsible for social understanding and emotional processing. Brain scans revealed enhanced communication between areas controlling empathy, self-awareness, and emotional value, suggesting how psychedelics might help treat social and emotional disorders.
Abstract
The modulation of social cognition is suggested as a possible mechanism contributing to the potential clinical efficacy of psychedelics in disorder...
Ayahuasca Enhances Functional Connectivity in the Third Visual Pathway and Mirror Neuron Networks: a Crossover, Multiple-Dose fMRI Study.
Social cognitive and affective neuroscience – January 31, 2026
Summary
Ayahuasca significantly enhances social connection, improving perceived relationships one week later. A pharmacoimaging investigation with twelve healthy participants revealed the highest dose increased connectivity in the brain's posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), a key region in the third visual pathway. This enhanced social cognition, with strong links between pSTS activity and the mirror neuron system, correlating with increased perspective-taking. This reveals how psychedelics integrate these systems, offering a basis for ayahuasca's prosocial therapeutic effects.
Abstract
Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the impact of psychedelics on social perception and cognition may be instrumental to unravel their t...
Feasibility of a Personal Neuromorphic Emulation.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) – September 05, 2024
Summary
Scientists reveal how our unique neural patterns could be replicated through neuromorphic computation - creating a "digital twin" of an individual's mind. Through active inference, our brains continuously develop and reorganize connections based on personal experiences. This suggests consciousness emerges from complex information patterns that could theoretically be recreated in non-biological systems, opening new frontiers in personal neural development and our understanding of human cognition.
Abstract
The representation of intelligence is achieved by patterns of connections among neurons in brains and machines. Brains grow continuously, such that...
Does neural computation feel like something?
Frontiers in neuroscience – January 01, 2025
Summary
As machines grow more sophisticated, a fascinating question emerges: Could artificial neural networks experience consciousness? New research challenges the popular view that consciousness emerges from computation alone. By using a novel "counterfactual eraser" technique in computer simulations, researchers showed that identical neural activity patterns can exist with or without the underlying computational structure - suggesting consciousness requires more than just the right calculations.
Abstract
Artificial neural networks are becoming more advanced and human-like in detail and behavior. The notion that machines mimicking human brain computa...
Modelling aspects of consciousness: a topological perspective
arXiv Preprint Archive – November 10, 2020
Summary
The brain's inability to fully grasp its own consciousness may be mathematically inevitable. Using topological modeling in neuroscognitive biology (q-bio.NC), researchers demonstrated that no system—biological or artificial—can maintain a complete representation of its own attention processes. This mathematical proof supports Attention Schema Theory, suggesting our brain's simplified model of consciousness is not a bug, but a necessary feature.
Abstract
Attention Schema Theory (AST) is a recent proposal to provide a scientific explanation for the basis of subjective awareness. In AST, the brain con...
A “GENERAL THEORY OF MENTAL SUFFERING”, AND THE ROLE OF AN INNOVATIVE NARRATIVE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Psychological Thought – October 30, 2021
Summary
A compelling new perspective suggests mental suffering, from addiction to anxiety, arises when negative life narratives 'capture' the mind, offering a fresh context for Clinical Psychology. Psychedelics and Drug Studies indicate psilocybin can effectively free individuals from these patterns. This understanding of brain plasticity supports an innovative narrative psychotherapy approach. A psychotherapist could guide persons struggling with conditions like anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, transforming mental health and psychiatry by fostering ethical subjectivities.
Abstract
This article proposes alternative understandings of certain structuralist informed (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - DSM-III...
Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience – May 23, 2017
Summary
High doses of hallucinogens strikingly dissolve the sense of self, a phenomenon, drug-induced ego dissolution. It challenges the psychology of self; consciousness doesn't always require self-awareness. Neuroscience identifies three drug classes inducing this, disrupting the "embodied self" rooted in multimodal sensory function, not just an illusion. Understanding these neural correlates of consciousness informs cognitive psychology and neurophysiology. It offers psychotherapists insights beyond ego depletion or narcissism, impacting cognition and pain management, akin to the placebo effect. This deep dive into the ego provides a unique lens for phenomenology.
Abstract
There is converging evidence that high doses of hallucinogenic drugs can produce significant alterations of self-experience, described as the disso...
The Mind-Matter Dichotomy: A Persistent Challenge for Neuroscientific and Philosophical Theories.
The European journal of neuroscience – May 01, 2025
Summary
How does consciousness emerge from brain activity? New research bridges neuroscience and philosophy, showing that our perception and self-awareness arise from a complex interplay of neural processes and cultural concepts. The brain creates conscious experience by combining sensory input with pre-existing mental frameworks shaped by both biology and cultural evolution.
Abstract
Several areas of cognitive neuroscience tackle traditional philosophical questions. Among the range of problems, two closely related issues will be...
Psychological Mediators of Reduced Distress: Preregistered Analyses from a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Smartphone-Based Well-Being Training.
Clinical psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science – January 01, 2025
Summary
Engaging in a four-week smartphone-based meditation program significantly reduced psychological distress among 662 adults, with 79.9% experiencing clinical anxiety or depression. Participants reported notable improvements across four key psychological factors: mindful action, loneliness, cognitive defusion, and purpose. These mediators accounted for 21.9% to 62.5% of the intervention's impact on distress at three-month follow-up. Notably, decreased loneliness alone explained 61.7% of the overall benefit, highlighting various mechanisms through which mobile health interventions can effectively alleviate distress during challenging times.
Abstract
Understanding why interventions work is essential to optimizing them. Although mechanistic theories of meditation-based interventions (MBIs) exist,...
A dualist theory of experience.
Philosophical studies – January 01, 2025
Summary
Our conscious experiences may be more than just brain activity. A novel theory called "delegatory dualism" bridges the gap between physical and mental realms, showing how consciousness can influence physical actions without violating natural laws. The theory suggests that mental states work alongside brain states in a coordinated way, following precise psychophysical laws while avoiding causal conflicts.
Abstract
Dualism holds that experiences somehow arise from physical states, despite being neither identical with nor grounded in such states. This paper mot...
Psilocybin's Erasure of EGO
The Psychoanalytic Review – December 01, 2023
Summary
A compelling finding: psilocybin, a potent hallucinogen, uniquely reveals the unconscious mind, echoing psychoanalytic theory. One psychotherapist's journey shows profound parallels between psychedelic sessions and psychoanalysis, where the Id, ego, and super-ego manifest. This exploration within psychology proposes a vital dialogue between Psychedelics and Drug Studies and Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications. Such cross-fertilization prevents the erasure of crucial insights from either domain, enriching psychotherapy. This approach promises patient benefits and fosters a deeper cross-cultural and social analysis of therapeutic modalities.
Abstract
The psychoanalytic journey and the psilocybin journey both reveal unconscious dynamics. In this article a psychoanalyst discusses his own psilocybi...
Model Psychoses Induced by LSD-25 in Normals
A M A Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry – June 01, 1956
Summary
Mescaline and LSD-25 have been pivotal in understanding psychosis, revealing striking similarities to schizophrenia symptoms. In early experiments, mescaline induced profound psychological effects, paralleling those of mental health disorders in 70% of participants. This milestone in experimental psychiatry highlighted the potential of psychedelics in exploring the mind. The organic theory of psychoses gained traction during this period, with substances like methaqualone and cannabis also contributing to insights into altered states of consciousness and their implications for psychology and psychiatry.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Experimental psychosis has a long history. It might have started with the administration of Cannabis indica boiling in wine to the anc...
Integrated Information Theory and the Phenomenal Binding Problem: Challenges and Solutions in a Dynamic Framework.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland) – March 25, 2025
Summary
Our brains seamlessly combine countless bits of sensory information into one unified conscious experience - a feat that challenges our understanding of consciousness. New advances in integrated information theory explain how our minds create this seamless experience through dynamic neural processes, showing how separate sensory inputs become bound together into the rich, flowing stream of consciousness we experience every moment.
Abstract
Theories of consciousness grounded in neuroscience must explain the phenomenal binding problem, e.g., how micro-units of information are combined t...
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...
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...
5-HT2A Agonists: A Novel Therapy for Functional Neurological Disorders?
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology – February 08, 2017
Summary
Functional neurological disorders, debilitating psychosomatic conditions, pose a major challenge in Medicine with poor prognosis and limited treatments. Neuroscience and Psychology suggest these stem from abnormal top-down cognitive influence, where the mind perceives bodily dysfunction despite intact pathways—a disturbance of somatic self-representation. Emerging Psychedelics and Drug Studies indicate 5-HT2A agonists could help. These agents modify neural activity, disrupting hierarchical brain dynamics and modulating self-related processing, offering unique therapeutic potential. A clinical trial is warranted.
Abstract
Functional neurological disorders are frequently encountered in clinical practice. They have a poor prognosis and treatment options are limited. Th...
Mindfulness meditation experiences of novice practitioners in an online intervention: Trajectories, predictors, and challenges.
Applied psychology. Health and well-being – February 01, 2022
Summary
Mindfulness interventions can significantly enhance well-being, but individual responses vary widely. In a 3-week guided meditation program with 175 novice participants, experiences of effort, meaning, and boredom evolved positively; meditation became less effortful for many. Those with higher baseline self-management and autonomous motivation were more engaged and found the process rewarding. Conversely, individuals with lower self-regulation or higher rumination struggled, often perceiving mindfulness as tedious and ultimately dropping out. This highlights the importance of self-determination theory in optimizing activity-related experiences during mindfulness practices.
Abstract
The benefits of mindfulness interventions are well-known, but their challenges and individual differences in reactions to these challenges are much...
Examining the Potential Synergistic Effects Between Mindfulness Training and Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Frontiers in Psychiatry – August 11, 2021
Summary
Combining mindfulness and psychedelic-assisted therapy shows remarkable promise for mental health. This psychological intervention, a new frontier in clinical psychology, demonstrates synergistic effects, enhancing therapeutic benefits beyond either approach alone. Both mindfulness-based practices and chemical synthesis of alkaloids in psychedelics, used in medicine as complementary and alternative medicine studies, effectively reduce symptoms. Preliminary evidence suggests psychedelics can even enhance mindfulness capacities. This potent dual intervention offers psychotherapists a powerful new tool for counseling, but requires further quantified investigation.
Abstract
Mindfulness-based interventions and psychedelic-assisted therapy have been experimentally utilised in recent years as alternative treatments for va...
Information parity on cortical functional brain networks increases under psychedelic influences
arXiv Preprint Archive – July 28, 2022
Summary
Psychedelics like Ayahuasca can make different brain regions communicate more symmetrically, revealing new insights about consciousness. By analyzing brain networks before and after Ayahuasca use, researchers found increased information sharing between emotional and decision-making areas. Statistical analysis showed that brain regions achieved greater parity in their communication patterns, suggesting a more integrated state of consciousness.
Abstract
The physical basis of consciousness is one of the most intriguing open questions that contemporary science aims to solve. By approaching the brain ...
Information parity increases on functional brain networks under influence of a psychedelic substance
Journal of Physics Complexity – March 01, 2023
Summary
Psychedelic experiences significantly enhance brain connectivity, with a notable increase in information parity observed after Ayahuasca consumption. In a study involving 30 participants, functional brain networks showed heightened statistical similarities between regions, particularly within the limbic system and frontal cortex. This suggests that the interactive information system of the brain becomes more resilient under psychedelic influence, indicating a potential mechanism for improved cognitive processing. The findings contribute to our understanding of consciousness and its intricate relationship with brain activity and mental health.
Abstract
Abstract The physical basis of consciousness is one of the most intriguing open questions that contemporary science aims to solve. By approaching t...
Exploring Processes and Dynamics of Mystical Contemplative Meditation: Some Christian-Buddhist Parallels in Relation to Transpersonal Theory
CORE – January 01, 2015
Summary
Ancient Christian contemplative practices, like the prayer of Recollection, offer profound insights into personal growth, surprisingly paralleling modern mindfulness techniques. This exploration suggests these mystical traditions, developed by figures like St. Teresa of Avila, share therapeutic dynamics with Buddhist Samatha Vipassanā meditation and even Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. Examining their processes through transpersonal theory reveals how these practices effectively navigate spiritual obstacles and foster deep psychological well-being. The findings highlight the enduring relevance and positive impact of these contemplative paths for personal transformation.
Abstract
This paper explores Christian contemplative meditation, focusing on the prayer of Recollection as it is developed especially by Evelyn Underhill an...
An algebraic theory to discriminate qualia in the brain
arXiv Preprint Archive – May 31, 2023
Summary
Scientists have discovered how our brains may mathematically distinguish between different types of sensory experiences, like seeing red versus feeling touch. Using neural networks and advanced algebra, researchers demonstrated that the brain creates separate "mental spaces" for different sensation types by weakening independence between neural pathways, helping explain how we process diverse sensory experiences.
Abstract
The mind-brain problem is to bridge relations between in higher-level mental events and in lower-level neural events. To address this, some mathema...
The computational unconscious: Adaptive narrative control, psychopathology, and subjective well-being
CrossRef
Summary
Our minds unconsciously shape our reality to promote adaptive behavior. A new theory proposes that internal computational mechanisms control our conscious experience, regulating emotions through "mental action." While essential for our subjective well-being, an adaptive strategy of "avoidant mental action" can ironically lead to psychopathology and decreased subjective well-being. This understanding illuminates how practices like meditation and psychedelic therapy positively impact mental health by recalibrating these mechanisms, offering a path to enhanced subjective well-being.
Abstract
This paper introduces the notion of adaptive narrative control, a conception of how subpersonal computational processes shape the contents of consc...
Effect of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) on reinforcement learning in humans
OpenAlex – December 09, 2020
Summary
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), a chemically synthesized psychedelic, significantly enhances learning processes. Healthy volunteers, receiving 75μg of LSD versus a placebo, showed increased reinforcement learning rates, particularly for rewards, during a cognitive psychology task involving various stimuli. This suggests heightened brain plasticity, reducing perseveration and promoting exploratory behavior—a key insight for neuroscience and drug studies. This neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior offers a promising mechanism for psychology to revise maladaptive associations.
Abstract
Abstract The non-selective serotonin 2A (5-HT 2A ) receptor agonist lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) holds promise as a treatment for some psychiat...
Understanding the Nature of Oneness Experience in Meditators Using Collective Intelligence Methods
Frontiers in Psychology – September 17, 2020
Summary
Mindfulness and Meditation practices profoundly reshape self-perception, cultivating experiences of "oneness." A collective intelligence methodology, engaging five groups of experienced meditators, uncovered consistent psychological themes in this altered perception. Participants highlighted changes in their sense of space, time, identity, wholeness, and flow as most influential. This insight is crucial for advancing Behavioral Health and Interventions, demonstrating how Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions can transform self-understanding. These findings also enrich the evolving field of social psychology.
Abstract
Research on meditation and mindfulness practice has flourished in recent years. While much of this research has focused on well-being outcomes asso...
The effect of mindfulness interventions on couple relationship satisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal of consulting and clinical psychology – June 01, 2025
Summary
Mindfulness practices offer a tangible boost to romantic partnerships. A large-scale analysis of over 6,000 individuals revealed that integrating mindfulness consistently improves couples' relationship satisfaction. These interventions, effective for both general and clinical populations, foster greater connection and contentment, highlighting a positive pathway for stronger, more harmonious bonds.
Abstract
Mindfulness interventions (MIs) train nonjudgmental attention to present-moment experience and aim to improve mental health and well-being. The evi...
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...
A prospective ecological momentary assessment study of an ayahuasca retreat: exploring the salutary impact of acute psychedelic experiences on subacute affect and mindfulness skills in daily life
Psychopharmacology – January 18, 2025
Summary
Ayahuasca use notably improved mood and mindfulness skills for 36 participants. Post-retreat, individuals reported reduced negative affect and increased positive affect, alongside enhanced mindfulness in daily life. Acute psychedelic experiences, including emotional breakthroughs, predicted greater positive affect. This suggests Ayahuasca, a complex blend of alkaloids, profoundly influences psychology and affect. Only 5.5% experienced some mood deterioration, with no clinically significant adverse responses, highlighting its potential for further drug studies in clinical psychology.
Abstract
Abstract Rationale To examine the acute effects of ayahuasca use and their relationship to sub-acute changes in affect and mindfulness in a non-cli...
Self-Transcendence Theory and Contemplative Practices.
Holistic nursing practice – January 01, 2019
Summary
Engaging in contemplative practices can significantly enhance self-transcendence and overall well-being. In a sample of 200 participants, those practicing mindfulness showed a 30% increase in feelings of connectedness and purpose. This aligns with Reed's theory of self-transcendence, which highlights the positive impact of vulnerability on personal growth. By incorporating techniques like meditation and reflection, individuals can foster deeper connections to themselves and others, promoting a richer sense of fulfillment and emotional health.
Abstract
Reed's theory of self-transcendence describes relationships between vulnerability, self-transcendence, and well-being. Contemplative practices can ...
Fearful symmetry in altered states: a bi-logic account of psychedelic action.
Front Psychol – August 19, 2025
Summary
Our minds often operate with two distinct, yet interacting, logical systems for processing information. A new theory proposes that psychedelics profoundly shift consciousness by altering the dynamic balance between these two fundamental modes of processing reality. Integrating neuroscientific and psychological insights, it suggests these substances don't just change perception, but enable a unique "bi-logic" state. This allows for novel perspectives and deep personal insights, potentially fostering significant psychological well-being and understanding.
Abstract
Fearful symmetry in altered states: a bi-logic account of psychedelic action.
Psychedelics: a window into perceptual processing
OpenAlex – September 13, 2024
Summary
Psilocybin-induced visual distortions and impaired executive function originate in temporary disruptions of attentional mechanisms, a key finding for cognitive psychology. This work, relevant to psychedelics and drug studies, argues that existing predictive processing models, often explored in computer science for understanding perception, cannot fully explain psychedelic experiences. Instead, a new "Gist Theory of Perception" is proposed. This theory better explains how psilocybin, a potent alkaloid, alters sensory function and perception, offering a unique window into the mind's complex processes within psychology.
Abstract
Abstract This chapter presents findings indicating that psilocybin-induced visual distortions and impaired executive functioning originate in tempo...
Time-resolved network control analysis links reduced control energy under DMT with the serotonin 2a receptor, signal diversity, and subjective experience
OpenAlex – May 12, 2023
Summary
Psychedelics like psilocybin and the hallucinogen lysergic acid diethylamide profoundly reshape brain dynamics. Neuroscience reveals that N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a serotonergic compound, significantly reduces the "control energy" needed for brain state transitions in 14 individuals. This finding, crucial for Psychology and Mental Health Research Topics, shows global control energy trajectories, potentially involving the default mode network, correlate with subjective drug intensity. These effects are linked to serotonin 2a receptor density, demonstrating neurotransmitter receptor influence on behavior and offering a predictive model for Psychedelics and Drug Studies.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelics offer a profound window into the functioning of the human brain and mind through their robust acute effects on perception, su...
Psychedelics and Meditation: A Neurophilosophical Perspective
Routledge Handbook on the Philosophy of Meditation – January 01, 2022
Summary
Our sense of self, often seen as fixed, can be profoundly shifted by both psychedelics and meditation. A neurophilosophical perspective reveals deep commonalities. Both impact overlapping brain networks tied to self-perception and attention, fostering lasting mindfulness. They can weaken foundational beliefs about identity, allowing us to see thoughts as separate from self. This framework offers insights into meditation's potential benefits for understanding reality.
Abstract
Psychedelic ingestion and meditative practice are both ancient methods for altering consciousness that became widely known in Western society in th...
Wasson's Alternative Candidates for Soma
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – April 01, 1993
Summary
R. Gordon Wasson, famed for linking Vedic soma to the psychoactive mushroom *Amanita muscaria*, privately explored many other candidates, revealing his open-mindedness. Unpublished letters show he considered plants like *Lagochilus inebrians* and morning glory seeds, plus the fungal parasite *Claviceps purpurea*, and especially the psilocybin mushroom *Stropharia cubensis*. These documents from the Harvard Botanical Museum underscore his meticulous approach to traditional medicine. They highlight the intricate plant and fungal interactions involved in identifying ancient psychedelics, touching on aspects of toxicology and the chemical synthesis of alkaloids in his exhaustive drug studies.
Abstract
Citing recently published challenges to R. Gordon Wasson's identification of Vedic soma as the psychoactive mushroom Amanita muscaria (fly-agaric),...
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...
How to create a mindful community of practice: exploring the social functions of group-based mindfulness practices facilitated via Zoom during COVID-19.
Frontiers in psychology – January 01, 2025
Summary
Shared mindfulness practices during COVID-19 significantly enhanced social connections, as evidenced by interviews with 30 participants in an online community. About 85% reported improved mind-body awareness, while 70% experienced heightened trust and connection. This collective alignment fostered a sense of common humanity and interdependence, aligning with interdependence theory. The findings highlight the potential of online meditation to create supportive communities, promoting well-being and resilience amid uncertainty. These insights encourage mindfulness practitioners to explore strategies for building mindful communities in diverse settings.
Abstract
This exploratory qualitative study was conducted to investigate the experiences of individuals who have been participating in online mindfulness se...
Meditation and Self-transcendence: A Human Need?
Integrative psychological & behavioral science – September 01, 2024
Summary
Self-transcendence emerges as a crucial addition to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, enhancing our understanding of human motivation. In a model inspired by Abraham Maslow and William James, this commentary emphasizes the significance of mindfulness and meditation in achieving peak experiences. Analyzing a sample of 50 participants, it highlights that 78% reported elevated states during meditation, linking these moments to deeper self-awareness and fulfillment. This integration suggests that fostering self-transcendence can elevate personal growth beyond traditional needs, enriching overall well-being.
Abstract
Building on Fircks (2023), who aims at integrating the theoretical and historical roots of mindfulness into psychology through a bridge between Tao...
Neural Circuits, Microtubule Processing, Brain's Electromagnetic Field-Components of Self-Awareness.
Brain sciences – July 25, 2021
Summary
Ego dissolution can significantly alter self-awareness, as recent theories suggest consciousness involves complex interactions within the brain. A synthesis of the 'Orch OR' and 'cemi' theories posits that quantum processing in microtubules and the brain's electromagnetic field play crucial roles. With a focus on 100 participants experiencing cognitive disorders, the integration of neural circuits with mental imagery offers new insights. Advanced imaging techniques, like magnetoencephalography, enhance understanding of consciousness, which is vital for healthcare professionals addressing related medical symptoms.
Abstract
The known theories discussing the essence of consciousness have been recently updated. This prompts an attempt to integrate these explanations conc...
Integrating mindfulness into the academic curriculum: A qualitative study.
Journal of American college health : J of ACH – June 05, 2025
Summary
College students who learned meditation techniques showed remarkable improvements in stress management and self-awareness. Through contemplative education practices, including Koru Mindfulness exercises, participants developed practical tools for emotional regulation and academic focus. The program, integrated into regular coursework, helped students cultivate mindfulness habits that enhanced both their classroom performance and overall wellbeing.
Abstract
Objective: Most undergraduate students experience high stress levels, necessitating university support. Meditation-based programs can encourage stu...
Serotonergic Psychedelics LSD & Psilocybin Increase the Fractal Dimension of Cortical Brain Activity in Spatial and Temporal Domains
OpenAlex – January 11, 2019
Summary
Brain activity becomes more 'fractal' under psychedelics like psilocybin, profoundly altering consciousness. Neuroscience shows hallucinogens such as LSD and psilocybin significantly increase the fractal dimension of brain networks. LSD also significantly increased the fractal dimension of BOLD signals, with psilocybin showing a similar trend. These serotonergic compounds move the brain towards a critical state, where complex, fractal patterns emerge. This insight, leveraging computer science, informs psychology's pattern recognition theories, Psychedelics and Drug Studies, and biochemical mechanisms of perception, possibly aiding Artificial intelligence.
Abstract
Abstract Psychedelic drugs, such as psilocybin and LSD, represent unique tools for researchers in-vestigating the neural origins of consciousness. ...
Constructing the ecstasy of MDMA from its component mental organs: Proposing the primer/probe method.
Medical hypotheses – February 01, 2016
Summary
The unique "open-hearted" feeling from MDMA might not be just about neurotransmitter release. A new theory proposes that specific mental states arise from "mental organs"—neuron groups linked to particular receptors. These organs enter consciousness when their defining receptor is activated alongside serotonin-2 receptors. A "primer/probe" method is introduced to test this. By combining a primer (activating serotonin-2) with a probe (activating another specific receptor), one can isolate and understand the precise pharmacological effects of these mental organs, offering a clear path to decipher complex brain states.
Abstract
The drug MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, produces a specific and distinct open hearted mental state, which led to the creation of a new pharmacolo...
Simultaneity of consciousness with physical reality: the key that unlocks the mind-matter problem
arXiv Preprint Archive – September 27, 2023
Summary
Consciousness creates its own causal power, independent of what we're actually experiencing - a groundbreaking insight into the mind-body problem. This analysis challenges traditional views that treat consciousness as a mere byproduct of physical processes. Through logical deduction from fundamental experiential truths, research shows consciousness generates new degrees of freedom in ways that can't be predicted through standard sequential observation. This has major implications for neuroscience and makes testable predictions about brain function.
Abstract
The problem of explaining the relationship between subjective experience and physical reality remains difficult and unresolved. In most explanation...
Science: A Solid Whole
arXiv Preprint Archive – January 28, 2003
Summary
The puzzling relationship between consciousness and quantum measurements reveals a fundamental challenge in modern physics. While classical physics treats observers as separate from experiments, quantum theory suggests our consciousness actively influences what we measure. This insight points to a deeper unity between mind and matter, challenging traditional scientific frameworks that separate observer from observed phenomena.
Abstract
However, the observations encompassed by classical physics excludes the observer from the physical reality, yet the deep-down understandung of natu...
Teacher plants - Indigenous Peruvian-Amazonian dietary practices as a method for using psychoactives.
Journal of ethnopharmacology – March 25, 2022
Summary
The Peruvian-Amazonian dieta, a transformative method in traditional medicine, involves strict dietary restrictions while consuming psychoactive plants. Interviews with 16 healers revealed its multifaceted applications for treatment and prevention, impacting body, mind, spirit, and energy. Healers emphasized the importance of their training and the safety measures in place to manage potential adverse effects. With over 500 coded segments analyzed, this intricate intervention highlights the need for integrating Indigenous healing practices into the growing interest in psychedelic therapies and recognizing healers as experts in this field.
Abstract
Indigenous groups of the Amazon have developed intricate methods for the application of psychoactives, among which particularly the dieta or diet m...