Micro-phenomenology of immersion and perceived presences under DMT

Under DMT, immersive experiences and perceived presences follow a consistent structural pattern: bodily sensations arise first, then visual and auditory elements, and only after multisensory integration and 3D spatial characteristics develop do perceived sentient presences emerge. Micro-phenomenological interviews with 23 participants who received intravenous DMT (20mg) during fMRI-EEG recordings identified 125 phenomenological categories structuring immersion, including modal sensory dimensions, amodal feelings, self/world configurations, and social engagement modes. Perceived presences varied in sensory manifestation, semantic complexity, and social interaction modes. The findings advance understanding of non-ordinary states of consciousness and support future neurophenomenological research.

Study at a glance

Abstract

N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a potent psychedelic compound known to induce immersive experiences and perceived encounters with sentient presences. Despite previous research documenting these phenomena, a fine-grained structural analysis of their experiential dimensions has been lacking. This study employs micro-phenomenology, a guided interview method for eliciting precise experiential descriptions, to examine the structural dimensions and dynamic unfolding of immersion and perceived presences under DMT in a controlled laboratory setting. Twenty-three participants received intravenous DMT (20mg) during simultaneous fMRI-EEG recordings, followed by comprehensive micro-phenomenological interviews focused on their experiences. Analysis revealed 125 phenomenological categories structuring immersion, including modal sensory dimensions (visual, auditory, bodily), amodal feelings (felt space, felt presence), self/world configurations (perceptual position, internalisation, self/world distinction), and social engagement modes with perceived presences. The structure of perceived presences was characterised by variable sensory manifestations (visual, auditory, tactile, or purely felt), degrees of semantic complexity, and diverse social modes through which participants engaged with these presences. Dynamic analysis demonstrated consistent developmental patterns, with bodily effects typically preceding visual and auditory ones, and perceived presences emerging only after multisensory integration and 3D spatial characteristics had developed. These results identify characteristically immersive dimensions of envelopment and involvement in an emergent experiential landscape, with perceived presences typically manifesting as part of this immersive structure. These findings advance our understanding of non-ordinary states of consciousness and establish a foundation for future neurophenomenological research examining the relationship between subjective experience and neuronal activity during psychedelic states.