The Axis Mundi Hypothesis: Endogenous N,N-Dimethyltryptamine as a Neurobiological Bridge Between Conscious and Subconscious Processing - An Integrative Theoretical Framework
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) February 12, 2026 Mihai Alexandru
The brain produces its own DMT, a psychedelic compound, but its function has been unclear. The Axis Mundi hypothesis proposes that endogenous DMT serves two distinct evolutionary roles. At the cellular level, it acts as a sigma-1 receptor agonist that protects neurons during stress like low oxygen. At the network level, it modulates the boundary between conscious and subconscious awareness by acting on 5-HT2A receptors in the default mode network, regulating how much subconscious content reaches consciousness. This dual-function model integrates evidence from endogenous DMT biochemistry, brain imaging, memory suppression mechanisms, shared visual phenomenology, and receptor evolution. Seven testable predictions are offered to evaluate the framework.