Interpersonal Functioning & Social Connectedness

Psychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness

This narrative review discusses how meditation and psychedelic drugs can alter states of consciousness. There is converging evidence that psychedelics and meditation can produce strong, short-term, and reversible disruptions of self-consciousness and underlying neural processes. However, experiences of “self-loss” are not uniform and can be decomposed in “narrative” aspects (e.g. loss of access to autobiographical information), as well as bodily and multisensory aspects (e.g. loss of body ownership). Finally, the authors consider long-term outcomes of experiences of self-loss on individual traits and prosocial behavior.

Authors

  • Robin Carhart-Harris
  • Leor Roseman

Published

Frontiers in Psychology
meta Study

Abstract

In recent years, the scientific study of meditation and psychedelic drugs has seen remarkable developments. The increased focus on meditation in cognitive neuroscience has led to a cross-cultural classification of standard meditation styles validated by functional and structural neuroanatomical data. Meanwhile, the renaissance of psychedelic research has shed light on the neurophysiology of altered states of consciousness induced by classical psychedelics, such as psilocybin and LSD, whose effects are mainly mediated by agonism of serotonin receptors. Few attempts have been made at bridging these two domains of inquiry, despite intriguing evidence of overlap between the phenomenology and neurophysiology of meditation practice and psychedelic states. In particular, many contemplative traditions explicitly aim at dissolving the sense of self by eliciting altered states of consciousness through meditation, while classical psychedelics are known to produce significant disruptions of self-consciousness, a phenomenon known as drug-induced ego dissolution. In this article, we discuss available evidence regarding convergences and differences between phenomenological and neurophysiological data on meditation practice and psychedelic drug-induced states, with a particular emphasis on alterations of self-experience. While both meditation and psychedelics may disrupt self-consciousness and underlying neural processes, we emphasize that neither meditation nor psychedelic states can be conceived as simple, uniform categories. Moreover, we suggest that there are important phenomenological differences even between conscious states described as experiences of self-loss. As a result, we propose that self-consciousness may be best construed as a multidimensional construct, and that “self-loss,” far from being an unequivocal phenomenon, can take several forms. Indeed, various aspects of self-consciousness, including narrative aspects linked to autobiographical memory, self-related thoughts and mental time travel, and embodied aspects rooted in multisensory processes, may be differently affected by psychedelics and meditation practices. Finally, we consider long-term outcomes of experiences of self-loss induced by meditation and psychedelics on individual traits and prosocial behavior. We call for caution regarding the problematic conflation of temporary states of self-loss with “selflessness” as a behavioral or social trait, although there is preliminary evidence that correlations between short-term experiences of self-loss and long-term trait alterations may exist.

Available with Blossom Pro

Research Summary of 'Psychedelics, meditation, and self-consciousness'

Introduction

Recent advances in cognitive neuroscience have produced substantial literatures on both meditation and classical psychedelics, yet few attempts have systematically compared the two domains. Millière and colleagues situate their review at the intersection of these literatures, noting that many contemplative traditions explicitly aim to diminish ordinary self-experience, while classical psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, mescaline) are known to cause profound disruptions of self-consciousness often labelled "ego dissolution." The introduction emphasises that neither meditation nor psychedelic states are uniform categories: effects vary by practice style, dose, individual differences and contextual factors, and dramatic self-disruptions tend to occur mainly in highly experienced meditators or at high drug doses. The paper sets out to compare phenomenological and neurophysiological evidence on how meditation and psychedelics alter self-experience. Millière and colleagues propose that self-consciousness is multidimensional and that "self-loss" can take several distinct forms affecting narrative (self-related thought, autobiographical memory) and embodied or multisensory aspects (body ownership, interoception, spatial self-location). They aim to synthesise existing empirical findings, highlight convergences and differences between meditative and drug-induced states, and discuss implications for trait-level changes and therapeutic outcomes.

Expert Research Summaries

Go Pro to access AI-powered section-by-section summaries, editorial takes, and the full research toolkit.

Full Text PDF

Full Paper PDF

Create a free account to open full-text PDFs.

Study Details

References (57)

Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom

Clinical Studies of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

Anderson, E. W., Rawnsley, K. · European Neurology (1954)

33 cited
Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: a proof-of-concept study

Bogenschutz, M. P., Forcehimes, A. A., Pommy, J. A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)

Neural correlates of the psychedelic state as determined by fMRI studies with psilocybin

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Erritzoe, D., Williams, T. et al. · PNAS (2012)

The therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs: past, present, and future

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Goodwin, G. M. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2017)

The paradoxical psychological effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Kaelen, M., Bolstridge, M. et al. · Psychological Medicine (2016)

253 cited
Functional connectivity measures after psilocybin inform a novel hypothesis of early psychosis

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Leech, R., Erritzoe, D. et al. · Schizophrenia Bulletin (2012)

241 cited
The entropic brain: a theory of conscious states informed by neuroimaging research with psychedelic drugs

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Leech, R., Shanahan, M. et al. · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2014)

Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Muthukumaraswamy, S., Roseman, L. et al. · PNAS (2016)

Show all 57 references
Psychedelics and the essential importance of context

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Haijen, E. C. H. M. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2018)

Psilocybin links binocular rivalry switch rate to attention and subjective arousal levels in humans

Carter, O. L., Hasler, F. ;., Pettigrew, J. D. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2007)

Seeing with the eyes shut: Neural basis of enhanced imagery following ayahuasca ingestion

De Araujo, D. B., Ribeiro, S., Cecchi, G. A. et al. · Human Brain Mapping (2011)

Classical hallucinogens and neuroimaging: A systematic review of human studies: hallucinogens and neuroimaging

Dos Santos, R. G., Osório, F. L., Crippa, J. A. et al. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2016)

90 cited
Psilocybin can occasion mystical-type experiences having substantial and sustained personal meaning and spiritual significance

Griffiths, R. R., Richards, W. A., Mccann, U. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2006)

Recent advances in the neuropsychopharmacology of serotonergic hallucinogens

Halberstadt, A. L. · Behavioural Brain Research (2014)

Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation

Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A., Griffiths, R. R. · The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (2016)

562 cited
LSD Increases Primary Process Thinking via Serotonin 2A Receptor Activation

Sumiyoshi, T., Kraehenmann, R., Pokorny, D. et al. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2017)

Psychedelic drug assisted psychotherapy in patients with terminal cancer

Goodman, L. E., Grof, S., Kurland, A. A. et al. · Journal of Death and Dying (1972)

LSD-induced entropic brain activity predicts subsequent personality change

Lebedev, A. V., Kaelen, M., L€ Ovd En, M. et al. · Human Brain Mapping (2016)

292 cited
Finding the self by losing the self: Neural correlates of ego-dissolution under psilocybin

Lebedev, A. V., L€ Ovd En, M., Rosenthal, G. et al. · Human Brain Mapping (2015)

Self unbound: ego dissolution in psychedelic experience

Letheby, C., Gerrans, P. · Neuroscience of Consciousness (2017)

Alterations of consciousness and mystical-type experiences after acute LSD in humans

Liechti, M. E., Dolder, P. C., Schmid, Y. · Psychopharmacology (2016)

190 cited
Mystical experiences occasioned by the hallucinogen psilocybin lead to increases in the personality domain of openness

Maclean, K. A., Johnson, M. W., Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2011)

Increased thalamic resting state connectivity as a core driver of LSD-induced hallucinations

Lenz, C., Dolder, P. C., Lang, U. E. et al. · Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica (2017)

Broadband Cortical Desynchronization Underlies the Human Psychedelic State

Muthukumaraswamy, S. D., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Moran, R. J. et al. · Journal of Neuroscience (2013)

427 cited
Psychedelics

Nichols, D. E. · Pharmacological Reviews (2016)

Psychedelics and the science of self-experience

Nour, M. R., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · British Journal of Psychiatry (2017)

The psychedelic state induced by ayahuasca modulates the activity and connectivity of the default mode network

Palhano-Fontes, F., Andrade, K. C., Tófoli, L.F. et al. · PLOS ONE (2015)

Effect of psilocybin on empathy and moral decision-making

Pokorny, T., Preller, K. H., Kometer, M. et al. · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (2017)

155 cited
The fabric of meaning and subjective effects in LSD-induced states depend on serotonin 2A receptor activation

Preller, K. H., Herdener, M., Pokorny, T. et al. · Current Biology (2017)

Effects of serotonin 2A/1A receptor stimulation on social exclusion processing

Preller, K. H., Pokorny, D., Hock, A. et al. · PNAS (2016)

The peak experience variable in DPT-assisted psychotherapy with cancer patients

Richards, W. A., Rhead, J. C., Dileo, F. B. et al. · Journal of Psychedelic Drugs (1997)

The effects of psilocybin and MDMA on between-network resting state functional connectivity in healthy volunteers

Roseman, L., Leech, R., Feilding, A. et al. · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2014)

229 cited
Quality of acute psychedelic experience predicts therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression

Roseman, L., Nutt, D. J., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2018)

Increased spontaneous MEG signal diversity for psychoactive doses of ketamine, LSD and psilocybin

Schartner, M., Carhart-Harris, R. L., Barrett, A. B. et al. · Scientific Reports (2017)

19 cited
Acute effects of lysergic acid diethylamide in healthy subjects

Schmid, Y., Enzler, F., Gasser, P. et al. · Biological Psychiatry (2015)

Exploring the therapeutic potential of Ayahuasca: acute intake increases mindfulness-related capacities

Soler, J., Elices, M., Franquesa, A. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2015)

113 cited
Dose-response study of N,N-dimethyltryptamine in humans: subjective effects and preliminary results of a new rating scale

Strassman, R. J., Qualls, C. R., Uhlenhuth, E. H. et al. · JAMA Psychiatry (1994)

Prediction of psilocybin response in healthy volunteers

Studerus, E., Gamma, A., Kometer, M. et al. · PLOS ONE (2012)

Psychometric evaluation of the altered states of consciousness rating scale (OAV)

Studerus, E., Gamma, A., Vollenweider, F. X. · PLOS ONE (2010)

Acute, subacute and long-term subjective effects of psilocybin in healthy humans: a pooled analysis of experimental studies

Studerus, E., Kometer, M., Hasler, F. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2010)

423 cited
Unifying theories of psychedelic drug effects

Swanson, L. R. · Frontiers in Pharmacology (2018)

Increased global functional connectivity correlates with LSD-induced ego dissolution

Tagliazucchi, E., Roseman, L., Kaelen, M. et al. · Current Biology (2016)

LSD modulates effective connectivity and neural adaptation mechanisms in an auditory oddball paradigm

Timmermann, C., Spriggs, M. J., Kaelen, M. et al. · Neuropharmacology (2018)

Psilocybin induces schizophrenia-like psychosis in humans via a serotonin-2 agonist action

Vollenweider, F. X., Vollenweider-Scherpenhuyzen, M. F. I., Bäbler, A. et al. · NeuroReport (1998)

Cited By (55)

Papers in Blossom that reference this study

Intact neurophysiological markers of death denial in long-term ayahuasca users

Dor-Ziderman, Y., David, J., Berkovich-Ohana, A. · Psychopharmacology (2025)

Evaluation of the peak experience scale as a rapid assessment tool for the strength of a psychoactive experience with 5-MeO-DMT

Reckweg, J. T., Mason, N. L., Theunissen, E. L. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2025)

Processing of self-related thoughts in experienced users of classic psychedelics and non-users: a source localisation EEG study

Ruban, A., Magnuski, M., Hobot, J. et al. · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry (2025)

1 cited
DMT micro-phenomenology

Sanders, J. W., Milliere, R., Daily, Z. G. et al. · Preprints (2024)

Meditating on psychedelics. A randomized placebo-controlled study of DMT and harmine in a mindfulness retreat

Meling, D., Egger, K., Aicher, H. D. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2024)

Esketamine combined with a mindfulness-based intervention for individuals with alcohol problems

Gent, E. M., Bryan, J. W., Cleary, M. A. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2024)

Show all 55 papers
Shared functional connectome fingerprints following ritualistic ayahuasca intake

Mallaroni, P., Mason, N. L., Kloft, L. et al. · NeuroImage (2024)

5-MeO-DMT: An atypical psychedelic with unique pharmacology, phenomenology & risk?

Dourron, H. M., Nichols, C. D., Simonsson, O. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2023)

18 cited
5-MeO-DMT for post-traumatic stress disorder: a real-world longitudinal case study

Ragnhildstveit, A., Khan, R., Seli, P. et al. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2023)

28 cited
N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-Occasioned Familiarity and the Sense of Familiarity Questionnaire (SOF-Q)

Lawrence, D. W., Timmermann, C. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2023)

Meditation Trips: A Thematic Analysis of the Combined Naturalistic Use of Psychedelics With Meditation Practices

Azmoodeh, K., Thomas, E., Kamboj, S. K. · Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology (2023)

9 cited
Prevalence and associations of challenging, difficult or distressing experiences using classic psychedelics

Simonsson, O., Hendricks, P. S., Chambers, R. et al. · Journal of Affective Disorders (2023)

Human brain effects of DMT assessed via EEG-fMRI

Timmermann, C., Roseman, L., Haridas, S. et al. · PNAS (2023)

158 cited
Psychedelics and psychological strengths

Brasher, T., Rosen, D., Spinella, M. · International Journal of Wellbeing (2023)

Effective connectivity of functionally anticorrelated networks under LSD

Stoliker, D., Novelli, L., Vollenweider, F. X. et al. · Biological Psychiatry (2023)

23 cited
Altered States of Consciousness During Ceremonial San Pedro Use

Bohn, A., Kiggen, M. H. H., Uthaug, M. V. et al. · International Journal for the Psychology of Religion (2022)

Psychedelic Identity Shift: A Critical Approach to Set And Setting

Devenot, N., Seale-Feldman, A., Smith, E. et al. · Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal (2022)

28 cited
Default Mode Network Modulation by Psychedelics: A Systematic Review

Gattuso, J. J., Perkins, D., Ruffell, S. G. D. et al. · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology (2022)

A long trip into the universe: Psychedelics and space travel

Lerer, L. B., Varia, J. · Frontiers in Space Travel (2022)

2 cited
Neural Mechanisms and Psychology of Psychedelic Ego Dissolution

Stoliker, D., Egan, G. F., Friston, K. J. et al. · Pharmacological Reviews (2022)

Psychedelic Microdosing, Mindfulness, and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Mediation Study

Hartong, V., van Emmerik, A. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)

Motives for the use of serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review

Basedow, L. A., Kuitunen-Paul, S. · Drug and Alcohol Review (2022)

Predictors and potentiators of psychedelic-occasioned mystical experiences

Gandy, S. · Journal of Psychedelic Studies (2022)

Linkages between Psychedelics and Meditation in a Population-Based Sample in the United States

Simonsson, O., Goldberg, S. B. · Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (2022)

21 cited
Effective Connectivity of LSD-induced Ego Dissolution

Stoliker, D., Novelli, L., Vollenweider, F. X. et al. · MedRvix (2021)

4 cited
Models of psychedelic drug action: modulation of cortical-subcortical circuits

Doss, M. K., Madden, M. B., Gaddis, A. et al. · Brain (2021)

A narrative synthesis of research with 5-MeO-DMT

Ermakova, A. O., Dunbar, F., Rucker, J. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)

Does psychedelic therapy have a transdiagnostic action and prophylactic potential?

Kočárová, C., Horacek, J., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Frontiers in Psychiatry (2021)

73 cited
Combining Psychedelic and Mindfulness Interventions: Synergies to Inform Clinical Practice

Payne, J. E., Chambers, R., Liknaitzky, P. · ACS Pharmacology and Translational Science (2021)

55 cited
Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration: A Transtheoretical Model for Clinical Practice

Palhano-Fontes, F., Gorman, I., Nielson, E. M. et al. · Frontiers in Psychology (2021)

Neural and subjective effects of inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine in natural settings

Pallavicini, C., Cavanna, F., Zamberlan, F. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2021)

Pivotal Mental States

Brouwer, A., Carhart-Harris, R. L. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2020)

Psychedelic drugs: neurobiology and potential for treatment of psychiatric disorders

Vollenweider, F. X., Preller, K. H. · Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2020)

Integrating psychotherapy and psychopharmacology: psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and other combined treatments

Greenway, K. T., Garel, N., Jerome, L. et al. · Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology (2020)

Me, myself, bye: regional alterations in glutamate and the experience of ego dissolution with psilocybin

Mason, N. L., Kuypers, K. P. C., Reckweg, J. et al. · Neuropsychopharmacology (2020)

Dissolving the self: Active inference, psychedelics, and ego-dissolution

Deane, G. · Philosophy and the Mind Sciences (2020)

Neuropharmacological modulation of the aberrant bodily self through psychedelics

Ho, J. T., Preller, K. H., Lenggenhager, B. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2020)

REBUS and the Anarchic Brain: Toward a Unified Model of the Brain Action of Psychedelics

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Friston, K. J. · Pharmacological Reviews (2019)

Neurochemical models of near-death experiences: A large-scale study based on the semantic similarity of written reports

Martial, C., Cassol, H., Charland-Verville, V, Erowid, E. et al. · Consciousness and Cognition (2019)

Your Personal Research Library

Go Pro to save papers, add notes, rate studies, and organize your research into custom shelves.