ExploreAugust 23, 2026Siddhant Nikam, Nimisha S Narayan
Patients undergoing Still Point induction via compression of the fourth ventricle (CV4) in cranial osteopathy commonly report a distinctive quality of profound mental quiet, described as qualitatively different from ordinary relaxation. Cranial osteopathy, however, entered a prolonged crisis of scientific credibility once controlled work indicated that its founding construct, the Primary...
Abstract The scholarly, legal, and regulatory discourse on deliberately altered states of consciousness lacks a neutral vocabulary: its inherited terms — hallucinogen, psychedelic, entheogen — each embed a verdict on the nature of the states they name, forcing a position before argument begins. This essay proposes two process-oriented terms to close the gap. Noopoietics (from νοῦς and ποίησις)...
The precise neuromodulatory mechanisms underlying consciousness and its disorders, despite growing evidence in both animals and humans, remain poorly understood at the subcortical level. The basal ganglia, a key component of the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop, are known to play a crucial role in mediating consciousness and behavioural responsiveness to the environment. Here, we...
BackgroundResearch suggests that high ventilation breathwork (HVB) improves mental health by reducing experiential avoidance (EA) through altered states of consciousness (ASCs). The present study examined whether EA during participants’ most recent breathwork session predicted mental well-being afterward. Additionally, the study examined the relationships between EA, ASCs, emotional...
This review integrates anthropological and neuroscientific perspectives to elucidate music-induced trance processes and their relevance to non-ordinary states of consciousness (NSCs). The objectives are to deepen the understanding of trance phenomena, delineate links across diverse trance expressions, and inform future neuroscientific research. Drawing on anthropological insights, we examine...
Non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC) have long been described across cultures and spiritual traditions, while contemporary research increasingly examines them through neural, physiological, and phenomenological dimensions.This narrative literature review explores nonpathological NOSC across meditation, yoga, breathwork, psychedelic experiences, near-death experiences, and mystical...
PsyArXivJune 26, 2026Marc Wittmann, Amelia Lacassagne, Clara Koinegg et al.
preprint
This study investigates the effects of three variants of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Techniques (REST)—guided meditation, multimodal Ganzfeld (MMGF), and a control resting condition—on subjective experiences related to altered states of consciousness (ASC). Specifically, the study examines emotional responses, time perception, and perceived body boundaries, while also assessing the...
The renewal of psychedelic medicine has garnered significant scientific interest, with large efforts dedicated to the understanding of the complex subjective experiences induced by these substances. The Altered States of Consciousness (ASC) questionnaire represents the most comprehensive instrument for measuring such experiences yet lacks a validated French translation despite its centrality to...
Background Breathwork that increases ventilatory rate or depth represents an accessible non-pharmacological modality for potentially inducing altered states of consciousness (ASCs). Despite gaining traction as a potential therapeutic tool, empirical controlled research on breathwork and ASCs remains limited. Methods We examined the effects of a single session of high ventilation breathwork,...