June 2026
Altered states of consciousness
What June 2026's 9 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Altered states of consciousness research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 9 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below
Found by searching the library for Altered states of consciousness, non-ordinary states, altered consciousness, ASC, then ranked by relevance.
Research in June 2026 on altered states of consciousness (ASCs) found that breathwork can induce psychedelic-like effects and emotional breakthrough in healthy adults, and that ayahuasca experiences involve coordinated changes across brain connectivity, metabolism, and subjective dimensions. However, evidence is preliminary, with small sample sizes and limited controlled comparisons, and most studies focus on specific substances or practices rather than ASCs broadly.
Confidence in the evidence
Low-Moderate- Only one small experimental study (N=24) directly compared breathwork to meditation for ASC induction.
- The ayahuasca study (N=20) used a within-subject design with experienced users, limiting generalizability.
- The French 5D-ASC validation (N=777) is psychometric but does not test ASC effects directly.
- Qualitative and theoretical studies (e.g., Haredi ayahuasca, psychodynamic perspectives) provide context but no causal evidence.
How we rate confidence
Confidence reflects the strength of the underlying evidence, not whether the result is favorable. It weighs the number and size of studies, their design (randomized trials count for more than observational or single-case work), how consistently they point the same way, and their risk of bias.
Tiers run from Insufficient to High. High is rare in this field: small, early, or open-label studies land lower even when their direction is encouraging.
Evidence by study
Direction is each study's finding relative to your question: Supports, Opposes, No effect, Mixed, or Unclear.
| Study | Design | Sample size | Direction | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXPANSÃO GLOBAL DA AYAHUASCA E SAÚDE MENTAL 2026 | review | — | Unclear | A review of ayahuasca's global expansion highlights both therapeutic potential and psychosocial risks, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary and culturally respectful approaches. |
| Global pressure on ayahuasca threatens Amazonian plants and knowledge systems 2026 | review | — | Unclear | A news-style article warns that global pressure on ayahuasca threatens Amazonian plants and Indigenous knowledge systems. |
| Koshering Psychedelics: Ayahuasca in the Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jewish World 2026 | qualitative | 23 | Mixed | Haredi ayahuasca use was primarily therapeutic, with experiences including Jewish mystical content and strengthened religious belief, but also tensions around foreignness and idolatry. |
| The AASC Description of Consciousness 2026 | theoretical | — | Unclear | A theoretical paper proposes a formal description of consciousness using the AASC framework, arguing that consciousness is not reducible to report, computation, or neural correlates alone. |
| Psychometric validation of the French version of the five-dimensional altered states of consciousness questionnaire (5D-ASC) and associated 11 OAV subscales. 2026 | psychometric validation | 777 | Unclear | The French 5D-ASC questionnaire showed good internal consistency and construct validity for measuring altered states of consciousness, though comparative fit indices were marginally below thresholds. |
| An exploratory study of breathwork-induced altered states of consciousness in experienced practitioners: the airways to alteration (A2A) trial 2026 | experimental | 24 | Supports | High ventilation breathwork produced larger acute psychedelic-like effects (e.g., mystical experience, oceanic boundlessness) and greater emotional breakthrough and insight at one-week follow-up compared to body scan meditation. |
| Psychodynamic Perspectives on Psychedelic States and Treatment Contexts: A Conceptual and Clinical Introduction. 2026 | theoretical | — | Unclear | A psychodynamic framework is introduced for understanding unconscious material that emerges during psychedelic therapy, emphasizing symbolic imagery and affective intensity. |
| Brain-body integromics of the ayahuasca experience. 2026 | observational | 20 | Supports | Multilayer integration showed that ayahuasca-induced subjective dimensions (e.g., oceanic boundlessness) covaried with plasma alkaloids, metabolic changes, and reconfiguration of brain network connectivity. |
| Neurovascular Architecture Of The Brain As A Limit Of Biological Reproducibility: From The Connectome And Vasculome To The Problem Of Consciousness Identity 2026 | theoretical | — | Unclear | A theoretical paper proposes that consciousness depends on sustained neurovascular and metabolic integration, not just neural architecture, introducing a 'neurovascular limit' to reproducibility. |
A review of ayahuasca's global expansion highlights both therapeutic potential and psychosocial risks, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary and culturally respectful approaches.
review
A news-style article warns that global pressure on ayahuasca threatens Amazonian plants and Indigenous knowledge systems.
review
Haredi ayahuasca use was primarily therapeutic, with experiences including Jewish mystical content and strengthened religious belief, but also tensions around foreignness and idolatry.
qualitative · Sample size: 23
A theoretical paper proposes a formal description of consciousness using the AASC framework, arguing that consciousness is not reducible to report, computation, or neural correlates alone.
theoretical
The French 5D-ASC questionnaire showed good internal consistency and construct validity for measuring altered states of consciousness, though comparative fit indices were marginally below thresholds.
psychometric validation · Sample size: 777
High ventilation breathwork produced larger acute psychedelic-like effects (e.g., mystical experience, oceanic boundlessness) and greater emotional breakthrough and insight at one-week follow-up compared to body scan meditation.
experimental · Sample size: 24
A psychodynamic framework is introduced for understanding unconscious material that emerges during psychedelic therapy, emphasizing symbolic imagery and affective intensity.
theoretical
Multilayer integration showed that ayahuasca-induced subjective dimensions (e.g., oceanic boundlessness) covaried with plasma alkaloids, metabolic changes, and reconfiguration of brain network connectivity.
observational · Sample size: 20
A theoretical paper proposes that consciousness depends on sustained neurovascular and metabolic integration, not just neural architecture, introducing a 'neurovascular limit' to reproducibility.
theoretical
Points of agreement
- Breathwork and ayahuasca both induce altered states with overlapping features like mystical experience and emotional breakthrough.
- Subjective ASCs are linked to measurable biological changes (e.g., brain connectivity, metabolism).
- Cultural and contextual factors shape the experience and integration of ASCs.
Conflicts
- No direct conflicts reported; studies address different ASC modalities (breathwork vs. ayahuasca vs. theoretical) and do not contradict each other.
Gaps
- No large-scale, randomized controlled trials directly comparing different ASC induction methods.
- Durability of ASC effects beyond one week is unstudied.
- Blinding and placebo controls are absent in most studies.
- Diverse populations (e.g., clinical, non-experienced) are underrepresented.
- Standardized measurement of ASCs across modalities is lacking.