arXiv Preprint Archive
December 5, 2024
Graham Findlay, William Marshall, Larissa Albantakis et al.
preprint
Developments in machine learning and computing power suggest that artificial general intelligence is within reach. This raises the question of artificial consciousness: if a computer were to be functionally equivalent to a human, being able to do all we do, would it experience sights, sounds, and thoughts, as we do when we are conscious? Answering this question in a principled manner can only...
Anthropology of Consciousness
December 5, 2024
Olof Ohlson
1 citation
Transcendental Meditation (TM) holds that the essence of reality is “pure consciousness.” This piece contrasts three interpretations of their meditative trance: (i) TM doctrine, and (ii) scientific physicalism, (iii) with my own meditative experience. Pure consciousness events, defined as wakeful contentless consciousness, are known to occur, but what ontological basis do they have? While...
December 1, 2024
Chloe Lily West Jacobs
This dissertation explores the lasting impact of psychedelic use on brain networks, ranging from basic sensory processing to abstract mystical experiences. Recent research has highlighted the potential of these substances for treating psychiatric disorders, with therapeutic effects persisting weeks after a single dose. We focus on serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin and LSD, which are...
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
December 1, 2024
Gisela Lima, Carla Soares, Marta Teixeira et al.
4 citations
Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the search for the use of psychedelics in improving physical and mental health. Anaesthesia has evolved since very early times, born from the need to eliminate pain and reduce suffering and there are reports of the use of anaesthetics to achieve mystical states since the nineteenth century. Nowadays, the renaissance of psychedelics in...
Psychedelic Medicine
November 25, 2024
Noah D Gold, Broc A. Pagni, Petros Petridis et al.
3 citations
Background: Psilocybin can produce long-term changes in personality, personal values, and behavior. Although psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) is being actively studied for various psychiatric conditions, its effects on personal values in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) remain unexplored. This study examined the effects of PAT on personal values in patients with AUD and assessed...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
November 23, 2024
Daniel Perkins, Jerome Sarris, Tessa Cowley-Court et al.
5 citations
Emerging evidence indicates that ayahuasca consumption may have beneficial mental health effects. This study undertakes the largest analysis to date of associations between naturalistic ayahuasca use and current mental health status via an online cross-sectional survey. The sample included 7,576 participants (average age 41, 47% female) who had consumed ayahuasca in religious, traditional, or...
Frontiers in Psychology
November 21, 2024
David Priilaid, Christian Callaghan
1 citation
Within the psychology literature there is a dearth in understanding how and why instances of heightened creativity, or ‘Big-C’, may manifest randomly, often at an early age with minimal practice and experience. In contrast to ordinary “little-c” creativity, depictions of profound creative moments and the means by which they can be attained therefore remain as enigmatic as acts of mystical...
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
November 19, 2024
Anna Graefe, Madison E. Weirick, Scott B. Harpin et al.
3 citations
INTRODUCTION: Psychedelic science is re-emerging to address mental health conditions, of which certain populations in the United States experience disparities. However, the perspectives of registered nurses (RNs), who have important roles within mental health care, towards psychedelics are largely unknown. AIM/QUESTION: To assess attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs of a large, state-wide sample...
Journal of Vision
November 5, 2024
Sophia Jungers, Ranji Varghese, Link Swanson et al.
2 citations
In visual perception, an effect known as surround suppression occurs wherein the apparent contrast of a center stimulus is reduced when it is presented within a higher-contrast surrounding stimulus. Many key aspects of visual perception involve surround suppression, yet the neuromodulatory processes involved remain unclear. Psilocybin is a serotonergic psychedelic compound known for its robust...
Practical Theology
November 1, 2024
Narendra Jumadil Haikal Ramadhan
This book presents an interesting exploration of religious pluralism with an unconventional approach. Each reading of Exploring Religious Pluralism gave me a di ff erent experience which provided new ideas, phrases and re fl ections. This book is not only a read, but also a re fl ection tool, which invites us to re fl ect on our position in interfaith dialogue. The work is born from Knight ’ s...