This perspective article (2018) looks at the evidence for meaning-enhancing as a mediator in psychedelic therapy, spirituality and outcomes on creativity.
Abstract of The Meaning-Enhancing Properties of Psychedelics and Their Mediator Role in Psychedelic Therapy, Spirituality, and Creativity
“Past research has demonstrated to the ability of psychedelics to enhance suggestibility, and pointed to their ability to amplify perception of meaning. This paper examines the existing evidence for the meaning-enhancing properties of psychedelics, and argues that the tendency of these agents to enhance the perception of significance offers valuable clues to explaining their reported ability to stimulate a variety of therapeutic processes, enhance creativity, and instigate mystical-type experiences. Building upon previous research, which suggested the potential role of psychedelic meaning-enhancement in enhancing placebo response, the paper explores the mechanisms by which the meaning-amplifying properties of psychedelics might also play a role in enhancing creativity, as well as in effecting mystical-type experiences. The wider social and public-health implications of this hypothesis are discussed, and suggestions are made as to the various ways in which scientific understanding of the meaning-enhancing properties of psychedelics might be advanced and utilized.”
Author: Ido Hartogsohn
Notes on The Meaning-Enhancing Properties of Psychedelics and Their Mediator Role in Psychedelic Therapy, Spirituality, and Creativity
“Remarkably, one of the most striking qualities of psychedelics, which was noted on by both 1960s as well as by contemporary psychedelic researchers, is their ability to induce experiences which people regard as extremely meaningful. Between two thirds to 86% of those who have psychedelic experiences in a supportive therapeutic setting consider them to be either one of the five most meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their lives, or the single most meaningful experience”
This is a comment about the meaningfulness of the psychedelic experience, but it must be noted that in at least Griffiths et al (2006), the subjects were quite spiritually inclined.
On creativity:
“Here as well, meaning enhancement might play a key role. By magnifying the perceived significance of creative challenges and insights psychedelics provide users with the impetus to pursue new, less obvious lines of ideation that they might otherwise have ignored; and with enhanced motivation to explore new creative directions to their fullest ramifications. “
“By imbuing possible solutions with a magnified sense of meaning and plausibility, psychedelics might assist in reducing inhibitions, self-criticism, and kindle greater concentration and enthusiasm for creative exploration. Crucially, here as well, psychedelics might also enhance the perceived significance of such creative breakthroughs. As with spiritual experiences, this is not to say that creative-breakthroughs with psychedelics are invalid, but that one should be aware of the tendency to overstate the importance of such breakthroughs, particularly during, or shortly after psychedelic experience.”
My personal interpretation would be that the weighting of priors (top-down) is lowered, which then ‘blocks’ your ability to rightly judge which ideas are ‘good’ and thus allows you to come up with/dismiss fewer ideas before you’ve worked on them for a while.
Note: the paper doesn’t define or break creativity down into sub-components.
Summary of The Meaning-Enhancing Properties of Psychedelics and Their Mediator Role in Psychedelic Therapy, Spirituality, and Creativity
Psychedelics induce dramatic and variegated effects, including psychotherapeutic insights, creative breakthroughs, and mystical-type experiences. This paper argues that another often overlooked mediator of psychedelic action, namely the tendency of these agents to enhance the perception of meaning, is fundamental to understanding these effects.
Psychedelics have been shown to enhance the perception of meaning, but this has not been the focus of any deliberate and sustained line of inquiry. However, hints and traces of this idea permeate both popular and clinical psychedelic literature. Psychedelics have the ability to induce highly meaningful experiences, which are regarded as either one of the five most meaningful experiences of their lives or the single most meaningful experience.
While this in itself is no proof, it is telling that the word “psychedelic” conveys the idea that these substances enhance the perception of meaning. Psychedelics have been described as magnifiers, amplifiers, and augmenters of consciousness, because they cause mental phenomena to appear bigger, vaster, and more dramatic than otherwise. Evidence that psychedelics enhance perception of meaning can be found in the growing discourse contrasting the dissimilar modes in which psychedelics and SSRI-anti depressants treat depression. Psychedelics are regularly described as drugs that amplify consciousness and augment the intensity of perception, emotional reactions, and neurological indicators.
Find this paper
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2018.00129
Open Access | Google Scholar | Backup | 🕊
Cite this paper (APA)
Hartogsohn, I. (2018). The meaning-enhancing properties of psychedelics and their mediator role in psychedelic therapy, spirituality, and creativity. Frontiers in neuroscience, 12, 336609.