Exploring the Foundations of the Minimal Self: A Theoretical Synthesis
The minimal self is the basic, pre-reflective sense of being a subject of experience. This thesis provides a theoretical foundation for studying the minimal self by identifying and organizing existing and potential frameworks. A scoping review categorized mechanistic theories, highlighting a trend toward predictive models and revealing definitional variations. The work then proposes a method to refine theories by using insights from psychedelic ego-dissolution and meditative non-dual awareness—both considered genuine disruptions of the minimal self. This approach helps distinguish self-related from self-specifying data and separate enabling conditions from core mechanisms in neuroimaging. Three testable hypotheses and recommendations for future experimental studies are offered.