This academic book chapter (2016) explores the phenomenology, structure, and dynamic of altered states of consciousness (ASC) produced by classic serotonergic hallucinogens or psychedelics.
Abstract
“Classic serotonergic hallucinogens or psychedelics produce an altered states of consciousness (ASC) that is characterized by profound alterations in sensory perception, mood, thought including the perception of reality, and the sense of self. Over the past years, there has been considerable progress in the search for invariant and common features of psychedelic states. In the first part of this review, we outline contemporary approaches to characterize the structure of ASCs by means of three primary etiology-independent dimensions including oceanic boundlessness, anxious ego-dissolution, and visionary restructuralization as well as by 11 lower-order factors, all of which can be reliably measured by the altered state of consciousness questionnaire (APZ-OAV). The second part sheds light on the dynamic nature of psychedelic experiences. Frequently, psychedelic subjects progress through different stages over time and levels of changes along a perception-hallucination continuum of increasing arousal and ego-dissolution. We then review in detail the acute effects of psychedelics on sensory perception, emotion, cognition, creativity, and time perception along with possible neural mechanisms underlying them. The next part of this review outlines the influence of non-pharmacological factors (predictors) on the acute psychedelic experience, such as demographics, genetics, personality, mood, and setting, and also discusses some long-term effects succeeding the acute experience. The last part presents some recent concepts and models attempting to understand different facets of psychedelic states of consciousness from a neuroscientific perspective.“
Authors: Katrin H. Preller & Franz X. Vollenweider
Summary of Phenomenology, Structure, and Dynamic of Psychedelic States
Introduction
Classic hallucinogens such as LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline produce a so-called altered state of consciousness (ASC) in humans. The ASC is characterized by profound alterations of sensory perception, mood, thought, perception of reality, and the sense of self.
Hallucinogens affect a number of psychological domains and brain functions, and can be used to treat depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addictions. They also represent a unique heuristic experimental tool that can provide novel insights into the dimensions of the human unconscious.
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Phenomenology, Structure, and Dynamic of Psychedelic States
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Authors
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Katrin PrellerKatrin Preller is one of the upcoming researchers, currently at the University of Zurich and Yale University, and is focused on the neurobiology and pharmacology of psychedelics.
Franz Vollenweider
Franz X. Vollenweider is one of the pioneering psychedelics researchers, currently at the University of Zurich. He is also the director of the Heffter (sponsored) Research Center Zürich for Consciousness Studies (HRC-ZH).
Institutes
Institutes associated with this publication
University of BaselThe University of Basel Department of Biomedicine hosts the Liechti Lab research group, headed by Matthias Liechti.