The study presented in this article draws on theories and methods developed within the psychology of religion to examine, from a fresh perspective, a problem established within the sociology of religion: the ‘oddity of the Italian situation’. The study employs the notion of openness to mystical experience as an indicator of the level of spiritual awareness among a sample of 1,155 Italians...
The term consciousness is here used to represent a feature of neural systems. This constraint allows for an attempt to model its evolutionary trajectory. Various lines of evidence point to the initiating events occurring in connection with the adaptation of vertebrates to a life on land, which started more than 300 million years ago in the early amniotes. Presumably, the main evolutionary...
Yuval Noah Harari warns of a very pessimistic future for our species: essentially, that it may be superseded by non-conscious Artificial Intelligence that can do anything we can and more. This assumes that we are physically instantiated algorithms that can be improved on in all respects. On such an assumption, our labor will become economically worthless once AI reaches a certain level. This...
Previous studies report sex differences in some, but not all, responses to cannabinoids in rats. The majority of studies use parenteral injection; however, most human use is via smoke inhalation and, increasingly, vapor inhalation. To compare thermoregulatory and locomotor responses to inhaled ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and their combination using an e-cigarette-based...
Cannabis concentrates, including dabs, contain extremely high levels of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Although these products appear to be gaining popularity among recreational cannabis consumers, little data exists regarding concentrate use in the US. We conducted a national web-based survey to examine patterns of concentrate use, specifically dabbing. 4077 respondents completed a survey...
A reduced effect of a given dose of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) emerges with repeated exposure to the drug. This tolerance can vary depending on THC dose, exposure chronicity and the behavioral or physiological measure of interest. A novel THC inhalation system based on e-cigarette technology has been recently shown to produce the hypothermic and antinociceptive effects of THC in rats. To...
Summary Introduction: Sleep paralysis (SP) is a condition that widely occurs among people all over the world. It has been known for thousands of years and is rooted in the culture of many countries. It arouses strong emotions, though still little is known about it. The clinical picture of the disorder can be very diverse. It is often accompanied by hypnopompic and hypnagogic hallucinations,...
The authors report about a clinical study conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Biotransenergetica, a transpersonal psychotherapy approach, in a general practitioner office. In addiction to prove the efficacy of Biotransenergetica this study demonstrates that there is no ostracism or rejection when research is conducted with rigorous methods. (This study will be published as a full article in...
Abstract Ibogaine is an indole alkaloid derived from the African shrub Tabernathe iboga with broad anti-addictive, anti-depressant, and central nervous system stimulating effects. It is categorized as an oneriogen (or atypical hallucinogen) and has been used in West African tribal rituals for centuries. It was identified by French explorers in the early 1900s, came to the United States in the...
Abstract A fascinating class of psychoactive substances possessing a long and mysterious history of human use are the classic hallucinogens. Forming a vital component of prehistorical and aboriginal culture and belief systems, hallucinogens were ultimately condemned and repressed by evolving civilizations, only to the “rediscovered” in the 20th century. Of compelling interest to...