Abstract
Neuropharmacological effects of psychedelics have profound cognitive, emotional, and social effects that inspired the development of cultures and religions worldwide. Findings that psychedelics objectively and reliably produce mystical experiences press the question of the neuropharmacological mechanisms by which these highly significant experiences are produced by exogenous neurotransmitter analogs. Humans have a long evolutionary relationship with psychedelics, a consequence of psychedelics' selective effects for human cognitive abilities, exemplified in the information rich visionary experiences. Objective evidence that psychedelics produce classic mystical experiences, coupled with the finding that hallucinatory experiences can be induced by many non-drug mechanisms, illustrates the need for a common model of visionary effects. Several models implicate disturbances of normal regulatory processes in the brain as the underlying mechanisms responsible for the similarities of visionary experiences produced by psychedelic and other methods for altering consciousness. Similarities in psychedelic-induced visionary experiences and those produced by practices such as meditation and hypnosis and pathological conditions such as epilepsy indicate the need for a general model explaining visionary experiences. Common mechanisms underlying diverse alterations of consciousness involve the disruption of normal functions of the prefrontal cortex and default mode network (DMN). This interruption of ordinary control mechanisms allows for the release of thalamic and other lower brain discharges that stimulate a visual information representation system and release the effects of innate cognitive functions and operators. Converging forms of evidence support the hypothesis that the source of psychedelic experiences involves the emergence of these innate cognitive processes of lower brain systems, with visionary experiences resulting from the activation of innate processes based in the mirror neuron system (MNS).
Highlights
Institutionalized use of psychedelics in religions of pre-modern societies worldwide reveal the central roles of these substances in the evolution of spiritual experiences, cultures, and religions (Schultes et al, 1992; Rätsch, 2005; Rush, 2013; Ellens, 2014; Winkelman, 2014; Winkelman and Hoffman, 2015; Panda et al, 2016)
These similarities across methods for altering consciousness lead to specific hypotheses regarding the common mechanisms of visionary experiences found in association with psychedelics, as well as mysticism and other alterations of consciousness
Similarities in visionary experiences across diverse modes of altering consciousness attest to a common mechanism released by the interruption of the PFC and default mode network (DMN)
Summary
Institutionalized use of psychedelics in religions of pre-modern societies worldwide reveal the central roles of these substances in the evolution of spiritual experiences, cultures, and religions (Schultes et al, 1992; Rätsch, 2005; Rush, 2013; Ellens, 2014; Winkelman, 2014; Winkelman and Hoffman, 2015; Panda et al, 2016). The interruption of the normal patterns of the DMN by psychedelics provides important information about the mechanisms of their neuropharmacological action in producing phenomenological experience, such as the relationship of the decreased connectivity between the parahippocampus and retrosplenial cortex in producing an experience of “egodissolution” (Muthukumaraswamy et al, 2013; Carhart-Harris et al, 2016) These kinds of effects of reduced activity and connectivity within the DMN are found with a number of non-pharmacological methods for altering consciousness. The commonalities involve compromising the integrity of the DMN, including its connectivity with other areas of the brain, especially the PFC These similarities across methods for altering consciousness lead to specific hypotheses regarding the common mechanisms of visionary experiences found in association with psychedelics, as well as mysticism and other alterations of consciousness. When released by psychedelics this visionary modality and effortlessly takes dominance of our consciousness through an internal engagement with deep narrative levels of the mind that present the significant affective dynamics of life. Lohmar (2016; p. 20) noted that this expressive system provides a medium for three forms of material essential for the performance of thinking: the ability to retain in mind an object; engender other cognitions regarding this image object; and manipulate these to consider future possibilities
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
