Memory
Psychedelic Experience October 26, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780198843757.003.0006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes that some memory recollections count as psychedelic experiences and that verifying their accuracy in psychedelic-assisted therapy could test whether psychedelics are mind-revealing. |
Abstract
Abstract This chapter explores the idea that some memory recollections count as psychedelic experiences and that they can occur spontaneously, during and after meditation, and as a result of consuming psychedelic substances. The chapter also introduces the concept of mindfulness and unpacks the deep and important connection between mindfulness and memory. This analysis of mindfulness is then used for formulating a definition of mindfulness in terms of psychedelic space, as well as one in terms of mindfulness being the opposite of a psychecryptic (mind-concealing) state. The chapter then reviews the evidence that meditation and psychedelics can reveal hidden memories, arguing that while the evidence supports these hypotheses, the empirical research is not yet definitive. In particular, it is proposed that empirically verifying the accuracy of memories revealed during psychedelic-assisted therapy is a particularly salient way of testing the hypothesis that psychedelics are, indeed, psychedelic.