Your Brain on Infinity
Melissa Lynn Maffeo
Cambridge University Press eBooks March 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/9781009322348.009 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Feeling Hallucinogen Affect linguistics Depression economics Infinity Intersection aeronautics Telepathy Psychoanalysis Cognitive psychology Epistemology Mode computer interface |
| Key points | Argues that psychedelics' effects on the default mode network and ego can produce mystical experiences and potential therapeutic benefits, and questions whether these states are supernatural or neural in origin. |
Abstract
Psychedelic substances like ayahuasca, psilocybin, and LSD have been used for thousands of years in spiritual ceremonies, with users often reporting transcendent and life-altering experiences. Chapter 8 traces the arc of psychedelic use from ancient rituals and colonization to the countercultural revolution and modern neuroscience labs. The chapter blends cultural history with psychopharmacology, showing how these compounds mimic serotonin and interact with the brain’s serotonin receptors to create altered states of consciousness. Citing research from neuroscience and psychology, the chapter considers how psychedelics affect the default mode network, ego, and self-referential processing. These effects can lead to feelings of oneness, ego death, and even reductions in depression and anxiety. The chapter asks whether the mystical states brought on by psychedelics are supernatural or simply deeply meaningful expressions of altered neural processing. Regardless, their potential therapeutic value, especially when guided in proper set and setting, positions psychedelics at the intersection of brain, mind, and meaning.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 27
- 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
- Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance Psychopharmacology July 7, 2006
- Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 23, 2012
- Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study Journal of Psychopharmacology January 13, 2015
- Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action Neuroreport December 1, 1998
and 22 more in the library