Neuropharmacological modulation of the aberrant bodily self through psychedelics

The body continuously shapes cognition through sensory input and self-referential processing. In healthy individuals, predictive coding integrates multisensory information to form a coherent sense of self. Psychiatric disorders often involve distorted perceptions of the bodily self, linked to disrupted integration and updating of multisensory systems. Changes in functional connectivity between somatomotor and high-level association networks in these disorders may be remediated by 5-HT2A receptor agonism via psychedelics. Psychedelic experiences alter bodily self-awareness, suggesting a central role for the bodily self. The article proposes that psychedelic-induced desynchronization of predictive coding involves modulation of somatomotor, sensorimotor, and high-level association networks, potentially correcting aberrant bodily self-perceptions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

As a continual source of sensory input and fundamental component of self-referential processing, the body holds an integral modulatory role in cognition. In a healthy state, predictive coding of multisensory integration promotes the construction of a coherent self. However, several psychiatric disorders comprise aberrant perceptions of the bodily self that are purported to involve discrepancies in the integration and updating of multisensory systems. Changes in functional connectivity of somatomotor and high-level association networks in these disorders could be successfully remediated through 5-HT2A receptor agonism via psychedelics. Reported alterations of bodily self-awareness during psychedelic experiences allude to a potentially central role of the bodily self. In this article, we bridge the domains of (aberrant) bodily self-awareness and psychedelics by discussing the predictive coding mechanisms underlying the bodily self and psychedelics. Furthermore, we propose that psychedelically-induced desynchronization of predictive coding might involve modulation of somatomotor, sensorimotor, and high-level association networks that could remediate aberrant perceptions of the bodily self.