Human Brain Mapping
May 7, 2019
Michiel van Elk, M. Andrea Arciniegas Gomez, Wietske van der Zwaag et al.
122 citations
Watching awe-inspiring videos reduces activity in brain regions linked to self-focused thinking, such as the frontal pole, angular gyrus, and posterior cingulate cortex, which are part of the default mode network. In contrast, regions of the fronto-parietal network, including the supramarginal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, and insula, become more active when people analytically count perspective changes while viewing awe videos. These findings suggest that awe diminishes self-referential processing, consistent with participants reporting feeling their self was smaller.
Psychoactives
September 27, 2024
Rúna F. E. Walther, Hein T. van Schie
14 citations
A narrative review argues that the therapeutic use of psychedelics should refocus on the subjective experiences they induce—the original meaning of 'mind-manifesting'—rather than solely on the substances themselves. It surveys psychedelic substances used in modern therapy and indigenous rituals, along with non-pharmacological methods like breathwork, meditation, and sensory deprivation that can produce similar states. While mystical experiences are the strongest predictor of positive outcomes, other processes—awe, perspective shifts, insight, emotional breakthrough, acceptance, memory re-experiencing, and certain challenging experiences—also contribute significantly. Changes in metaphysical and self-related beliefs further influence outcomes. The review concludes that a purely medical and neurobiological view is reductive and should not overshadow the importance of phenomenological experiences in understanding and treating psychological issues rooted in subjective realities.
International Journal for the Psychology of Religion
December 5, 2022
Arne Bohn, Michiel H. H. Kiggen, Malin V. Uthaug et al.
10 citations
San Pedro, a cactus containing mescaline and used for millennia, is now popular in European ceremonial retreats. In a study of 42 participants at such retreats in the Netherlands, questionnaires measured 11 dimensions of altered consciousness, ego-dissolution, mystical experiences, and challenging experiences. Results indicate San Pedro produces deviations from normal waking consciousness on all 11 subscales, moderate ego-dissolution, and a complete mystical experience in two-thirds of participants. Spiritual experiences are strongly expressed, while disembodiment, anxiety, impaired control, and transcendence of space are low; physical distress and grief can occur during challenging experiences. Network analysis revealed two separate networks of positive and negative altered states.
Preprints.org
July 30, 2024
Rúna F. E. Walther, Hein T. van Schie
preprint
This narrative review argues that therapeutic benefits of psychedelics arise primarily from the subjective experiences they induce, not from the substances themselves. The strongest predictor of positive outcomes is the occurrence of mystical experiences, but other psychological processes—awe, perspective shifts, insight, emotional breakthrough, acceptance, memory re-experiencing, and certain challenging experiences—also contribute significantly. The review covers both pharmacological methods (various psychedelics used in therapy and indigenous rituals) and non-pharmacological methods (breathwork, meditation, sensory deprivation) that can induce psychedelic states. It concludes that a purely medical and neurobiological approach is reductive and should not overshadow the importance of phenomenological experiences in understanding and treating psychological issues.