Modulating self-referential processing through meditation and psychedelics: is scientific investigation of self-transcendence clinically relevant?

Meditation and psychedelics both appear to alter self-referential processing, potentially leading to experiences of self-transcendence. This review examines whether scientific investigation of self-transcendence through these methods has clinical relevance. The authors suggest that changes in self-referential processing may underlie therapeutic benefits for mental health conditions, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear. The paper argues that understanding how meditation and psychedelics modulate the sense of self could inform new treatments for disorders characterized by maladaptive self-focus, such as depression and anxiety.

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Abstract

Modulating self-referential processing through meditation and psychedelics: is scientific investigation of self-transcendence clinically relevant?