The authors argue that nonordinary experiences—such as hallucinations, mystical states, or altered perceptions—are more common than typically assumed and offer a valuable lens for studying consciousness. They review evidence suggesting these experiences are not inherently pathological but can provide insights into the nature of conscious awareness. The paper calls for a broader, more inclusive scientific approach that treats such phenomena as legitimate subjects of inquiry rather than anomalies to be dismissed.
Conscious-Connected Breathwork (CCB), a high-ventilation breathing practice lasting over 15 minutes, consistently triggers altered states of consciousness, heightened emotional intensity, and decreased heart-rate variability (HRV) during the session, followed by increased baseline HRV afterward. The post-session HRV increase was larger in participants who experienced a wider range of emotions during the session, suggesting emotional catharsis rather than a purely physiological response may drive this improvement. The presence of evocative music did not significantly modulate any of these effects, indicating the breathing practice itself is the primary driver. This work characterizes subjective breathwork experiences using natural language processing and relates them to physiological changes.
Individuals who report more frequent mind-wandering show weaker integration of the default mode network in their resting-state EEG functional networks. The finding suggests that a less cohesive default mode network is associated with greater propensity for task-unrelated thoughts.