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Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

nature.com

41–50 of 206 posts

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#41
post #16

V-Sauce did an episode of Mindfield on the Ayahuasca experience. I was really surprised he went through the whole thing and documented it quite thoroughly (except I suppose the embarrassing bits) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3lWVLuc6CE&vl=en It clearly frightened him to some extent, but in the end he did learn something of himself that hadn't occurred to him before.

Watching this now, thanks for the link!

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#42
post #30

> The present study’s findings significantly advance our understanding of the brain basis of one of the most unusual and intense altered states of consciousness known – previously likened to dreaming... This study does not "find that DMT produces a dream-like state"; that was already well established. This study identifies the subtle brain activity that differentiates the hallucinations from dreaming. > This experien…

Contrary to popular opinion I haven't found DMT to be that much different than any other psychedelic drug when comparing equivalent doses. Sure it's true that while high on the drug it creates experiences that feel real, but that's true of dreaming too, isn't it? It's not obvious that it wasn't real until it's over. And similarly I have had the same feeling from high doses of "plain old" psychedelics.

Did you get to the "break through" level?

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#43

> Decreased alpha power is a particularly consistent finding in neuroimaging research with psychedelics7,8,11. Alpha is the most prominent rhythm of the resting-brain, particularly in humans, and particularly in adulthood30. Alpha has been linked with high-level psychological functioning31,32, top-down predictive processing18,33 and related feedback connectivity34 - all of which have been found to be disrupted under…

Interesting! When you say executive functions, could ADHD be linked in a way to this? When I "zone out" it feels like REM dreaming while awake.

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#44
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“My brain is only a receiver, in the Universe there is a core from which we obtain knowledge, strength and inspiration. I have not penetrated into the secrets of this core, but I know that it exists.” -Nikola Tesla

Brilliant man, but he also believed in the luminiferous aether.

Yeah, he also didn't think nuclear power was achievable,which just proves no one is perfect..

But I can't think of anyone more genius than Tesla or Da Vinci.. and knowing their thoughts on these things is interesting =)

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it true that multiple people tripping on it at the same time, in different rooms, see the same things, events and even people in their trip? I've never tried any psychedelics, but if there were any truth to what I have heard, it would be a fascinating topic to study while monitoring brainwave activity.

If you're asking whether DMT facilitates some kind of metaphysical communication, the answer is no. However, it's possible that a common environment or shared experience before or during the trip could seed similar or related experiences.

The reason I ask is that Graham Hancock in an interview on Joe Rogan was saying that specifically Ayahuasca would allow people to see the same thing, exact same events, whereas DMT would not. Perhaps I misunderstood what he meant. He seemed to imply there was something intrinsically different about the way that was prepared and used traditionally and how it affected people. He seemed to imply it connected people.

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#46

> The present study’s findings significantly advance our understanding of the brain basis of one of the most unusual and intense altered states of consciousness known – previously likened to dreaming... This study does not "find that DMT produces a dream-like state"; that was already well established. This study identifies the subtle brain activity that differentiates the hallucinations from dreaming. > This experien…

I've tried explaining this to people who've never tried psychedelics. It is unlike any other substance I've ever tried (a lot of them, FWIW) in that it leaves you with lasting impressions. Some things I gleaned tripping have stuck with me to this day. It has changed me for the better.

> It has changed me for the better.

Is that the old you saying that, or the new you?

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#47
post #30

> The present study’s findings significantly advance our understanding of the brain basis of one of the most unusual and intense altered states of consciousness known – previously likened to dreaming... This study does not "find that DMT produces a dream-like state"; that was already well established. This study identifies the subtle brain activity that differentiates the hallucinations from dreaming. > This experien…

Contrary to popular opinion I haven't found DMT to be that much different than any other psychedelic drug when comparing equivalent doses. Sure it's true that while high on the drug it creates experiences that feel real, but that's true of dreaming too, isn't it? It's not obvious that it wasn't real until it's over. And similarly I have had the same feeling from high doses of "plain old" psychedelics.

Same. In my experience there is one basic "psychedelic state" accessible via all the well-known compounds, which have different characteristics (especially in terms of duration) but aren't qualitatively different in any meaningful way. I suspect that a lot of the differences in reported effects between the major psychedelic compounds comes down to set and setting (i.e., ayahuasca is associated with traditional cultures whereas LSD is not).

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#48
post #34
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Contrary to popular opinion I haven't found DMT to be that much different than any other psychedelic drug when comparing equivalent doses. Sure it's true that while high on the drug it creates experiences that feel real, but that's true of dreaming too, isn't it? It's not obvious that it wasn't real until it's over. And similarly I have had the same feeling from high doses of "plain old" psychedelics.

The difference is rarely do people wake from a dream and feel they ought to change their life in major ways as a result. Curious what "high" doses of "plain old psychedelics" might be? I've never gone further than 200ug LSD.

Highest I've ever gone was 500ug LSD, and still, it was a more intense experience of the same "quality", not something completely different.

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#49

> Decreased alpha power is a particularly consistent finding in neuroimaging research with psychedelics7,8,11. Alpha is the most prominent rhythm of the resting-brain, particularly in humans, and particularly in adulthood30. Alpha has been linked with high-level psychological functioning31,32, top-down predictive processing18,33 and related feedback connectivity34 - all of which have been found to be disrupted under…

One of the worst side effects of cannabis :[ I miss dreaming and REM sleep. feelsbadman

Re: Neural correlates of the DMT experience assessed with multivariate EEG

#50
I've had my own dreams while awake, the key is to stay aware while you are going to sleep..

Everyone knows the state between sleeping and awake, its great.

But to go to sleep while still conscious, is like advanced meditation. I've had similar experiences during meditation.

The world around you merges into a dream-like state, but it all seems to feel more real than the world we usually experience while awake.

Dreams are more of a direct experience than reality, the feelings and emotions are always much more powerful for me than real life.

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