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Neuroscience of Consciousness

7 Papers Indexed in Blossom

Published Papers

Open Accessindividual

Exploring 5-MeO-DMT as a pharmacological model for deconstructed consciousness

In an exploratory observational study using micro-phenomenological interviews, psychometric questionnaires and EEG in naturalistic ceremonial settings, the authors show that 5‑MeO‑DMT can produce a progressive deconstruction of selfhood — in extreme cases a complete absence of self-experience and other phenomenal content with preserved awareness — accompanied by global alpha and posterior beta power reductions consistent with inhibition of top‑down models. The findings support 5‑MeO‑DMT as a pharmacological model for deconstructed consciousness while noting methodological limitations and the need for controlled, real‑time and phenomenologically trained studies.

Published
Journal
Neuroscience of Consciousness
Authors
Timmermann, C., Sanders, J. W., Reydellet, D., Barba, T., Luan, L. X., Soto Angona, Ó., Ona, G., Allocca, G., Smith, C. H., Daily, Z. G., Mason, N. L., Kloft-Heller, L., Kuchar, M., Janeckova, L., Palenicek, T., Erritzoe, D., Ramaekers, J. G., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Uthaug, M. V.
Open Accessmeta

On the Varieties of Conscious Experiences: Altered Beliefs Under Psychedelics (ALBUS)

This theory-building paper proposes the ALBUS (Altered Beliefs Under Psychedelics) model as an extension of the REBUS hypothesis, suggesting that 5-HT2A receptor activation can lead to both relaxation (REBUS) and strengthening (SEBUS) of beliefs depending on dosage and context. The authors draw parallels between psychedelic states and lucid dreaming, focusing on mechanisms of conscious perception, dreaming, and memory.

Published
Journal
Neuroscience of Consciousness
Authors
Safron, A., Juliani, A., Reggente, N., Klimaj, V., Johnson, M.
Open Accessindividual

Consciousness in active inference: Deep self-models, other minds, and the challenge of psychedelic-induced ego-dissolution

The paper argues that phenomenal consciousness can be explained within predictive processing via active inference as ‘subjective valuation’—a deep inference about the precision of self‑evidencing outcomes instantiated in deep self‑models—and that this framework can guide attributions of experience to other systems through sensory‑attenuation mechanisms. It further contends that psychedelic‑induced ego‑dissolution does not undermine this account but rather corroborates subjective valuation as constitutive of experience and highlights psychedelic research’s value for consciousness science and computational psychiatry.

Published
Journal
Neuroscience of Consciousness
Authors
Deane, G.
Open Accessindividual

Effects of ketamine on brain function during metacognition of episodic memory

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled fMRI study, a single intravenous dose of ketamine induced a psychedelic state and selectively impaired metacognitive sensitivity while increasing metacognitive bias during episodic memory retrieval, without affecting memory accuracy (d′) or reaction times. Ketamine also produced non-specific increases in BOLD signal across posterior cortical "hot zone" regions, whereas administration during encoding had no measurable behavioural or neural effects.

Published
Journal
Neuroscience of Consciousness
Authors
Lehmann, M., Neumann, C., Wasserthal, S., Schultz, J., Delis, A., Trautner, P., ´hurlemann, R., Ettinger, U.
Open Accessindividual

Psychedelics as a treatment for disorders of consciousness

This opinion paper (2019) proposes the use of psilocybin on patients with disorders of consciousness, since psilocybin can increase brain complexity, a possible indicator of conscious level.

Published
Journal
Neuroscience of Consciousness
Authors
Scott, G., Carhart-Harris, R. L.
Open Accessmeta

Dimensions of consciousness and the psychedelic state

This theoretical review (2018) critically analyzes whether psychedelic-induced experiences constitute a higher state of consciousness and argues that a unidimensional mode of classification is not appropriate, given that there are multiple ways in which altered states of consciousness may be ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ from one another across multiple dimensions.

Published
Journal
Neuroscience of Consciousness
Authors
Bayne, T., Carter, O.

Quick Facts

Papers Indexed
7
h-Index
20
Open Access
Yes
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Country
United Kingdom
Website
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