Psychedelics, entropic brain theory, and the taxonomy of conscious states: a summary of debates and perspectives.
Sidath Rankaduwa, Adrian M. Owen
Neuroscience of Consciousness 2023 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niad001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Disorders of consciousness Entropic brain theory Psychedelic states States of consciousness Theories and models Psychedelics hallucinogens Entheogens Psychoactive compounds Mind science Awareness research Cognitive frameworks Neural processing |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key points | Argues that the entropic brain theory offers a framework for understanding psychedelic states and their potential to inform debates about consciousness and treat disorders of consciousness. |
Abstract
Given their recent success in counseling and psychiatry, the dialogue around psychedelics has mainly focused on their applications for mental health. Insights from psychedelic research, however, are not limited to treating mental health, but also have much to offer our current understanding of consciousness. The investigation of psychedelic states has offered new perspectives on how different aspects of conscious experience are mediated by brain activity; as such, much more has been learned about consciousness in terms of its phenomenology and potential mechanisms. One theory that describes how psychedelics influence brain activity is the "entropic brain theory" (EBT), which attempts to understand conscious states-normal and psychedelic-in terms of "brain entropy." Given its wide explanatory reach, this theory has several implications for current debates in consciousness research, namely the issue of whether consciousness exists in levels vs. dimensions; whether the psychedelic state is itself a "higher" level of consciousness; and if so, whether psychedelics could be used to treat disorders of consciousness. To understand how psychedelics could possibly treat a minimally conscious or vegetative patient, one must first understand EBT and how this theory intersects with these ongoing debates. Thus, this article offers a formal summary of EBT, distilling its core principles and their implications for a theoretical model of consciousness. In response to their proposed use in treating disorders of consciousness, we emphasize the importance of "set" and "setting" in ascertaining the therapeutic value of psychedelics for vegetative and/or minimally conscious patients.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on psilocybin, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics | 2019 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psychedelics as Medicines: An Emerging New Paradigm General population | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Theorizing that Psychedelic Assisted Therapy May Play a Role in the Treatment of Trauma-Induced Personality Disorders. | 2024 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| What Geometric Visual Hallucinations Tell Us about the Visual Cortex | 2002 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Psilocybin-assisted therapy of major depressive disorder using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a therapeutic frame | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 17
- Psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of human studies European Neuropsychopharmacology August 7, 2023
- Dynamical structure-function correlations provide robust and generalizable signatures of consciousness in humans Communications Biology September 30, 2024
- Psychedelics and disorders of consciousness: the current landscape and the path forward. Neuroscience of Consciousness June 15, 2024
- Psilocybin enhances insightfulness in meditation: a perspective on the global topology of brain imaging during meditation. Scientific Reports March 26, 2024
- Classification schemes of altered states of consciousness. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2025
and 12 more in the library
Cites 41
- The Brain's Default Mode Network Annual Review of Neuroscience May 4, 2015
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial Journal of Psychopharmacology November 30, 2016
- Detecting Awareness in the Vegetative State Science September 7, 2006
- Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study. The Lancet Psychiatry May 17, 2016
- A Theoretically Based Index of Consciousness Independent of Sensory Processing and Behavior Science Translational Medicine August 14, 2013
and 36 more in the library