The symbolic architecture of non-ordinary consciousness remains largely unmapped in cognitive science and artificial intelligence. While conventional models prioritize rational coherence, altered states such as those induced by psychedelics reveal distinct symbolic regimes characterized by recursive metaphor, ego dissolution, and semantic destabilization. We present \textit{Glyph}, a generative...
Abstract Purpose Despite the presence of mystical-type experiences in psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), an understanding of the cognitive processes involved is still lacking. Guided by theory and empirical research, we hypothesized a cognitive-grounded perspective based on current metacognition models to promote the understanding of the psychological processes involved in mystical-type...
Psilocybin produces an altered state of consciousness in humans and is associated with complex spatiotemporal changes in cortical networks. Given the emphasis on rodent models for mechanistic studies, there is a need for characterization of the effect of psilocybin on cortex-wide network dynamics. Previous electroencephalographic studies of psychedelics in rodents have primarily used sparse...
The aim of this research is to determine the influence of the poetics of dreams and nightmares on the nature of the fantastic in the works of H. P. Lovecraft. The article raises the question of the place of dreams, nightmares, and altered (liminal) states of consciousness in "genre-conditioned" fantastic literature, and on the features of their depiction directly in "Lovecraftian horrors." The...
This paper proposes the "4D Consciousness Hypothesis," suggesting that time is not a unidirectional linear flow but rather a Time Field influenced by both gravity and consciousness, within which multiple timelines coexist and intersect. While traditional physics acknowledges that time can be altered by gravity through special and general relativity, it does not adequately explain phenomena such...
Abstract Perceptual consciousness is defined as the subjective experience associated with the processing of sensory cues from the environment. Subjective experience unfolds over time and is accompanied by a sense of confidence, yet the mechanisms underlying these two properties remain elusive. Here, we propose a computational mechanism that accounts not only for the onset of subjective...
Altered states of consciousness (ASC) encompass phenomena such as near-death experiences (NDEs). NDEs are concise accounts of individuals who have undergone clinical death and subsequently been spontaneously resuscitated or revived, retaining recollection of their experiences during that interval. Numerous individuals who have undergone near-death experiences have recounted experiencing intense...
Ego Unification Therapy (EUT) was developed by Ms. Kataoka and has been successfully used for dissociative disorders and PTSD for the past 20 years, but it is only known to some clinicians in Japan.In the original ego integration therapy, the therapist instantly puts the client into an altered state of consciousness, then returns to the traumatic scene from childhood, passes the pain there to...
The Open Data initiative Altered States Database (ASDB) collects psychometric questionnaire data on the subjective experiences of pharmacologically and non-pharmacologically induced altered states of consciousness. The ASDB is updated annually and can be utilized by both researchers and non-scientists to access information or conduct further analyses. The current update adds data published in...
PsyArXivMarch 13, 2025Kristin Schiffer, Eric Pfeifer, Christine Stolterfoth et al.
preprint
Purpose: This study explores individual experiences during Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Technique), focusing on the perception of silence, darkness, and gravity. In Floatation-REST, an individual lies on the surface of highly saline water in a dark and silent environment, which typically leads to profound physical and mental relaxation. Prior research on Floatation-REST...