Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenology and Neural Correlates.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review and mechanistic theoretical synthesis without systematic review methodology
PubMed 28401522 · doi:10.1007/7854_2017_474
What was done
Narrative review synthesizing historical literature, psychometric measurement tools, controlled double-blind laboratory studies, and neuroimaging research on classic hallucinogens (primarily psilocybin) and mystical-type experiences in healthy volunteers and clinical populations.
What was found
No numerical data or statistical results are reported in the abstract. The review reports that psilocybin dose-dependently occasions complete mystical experiences under double-blind conditions, which correlate with enduring positive changes in mood, attitude, and behavior, as well as therapeutic improvements in substance use disorders and cancer-related anxiety and depression. It also describes a proposed functional neural model linking mystical experiences to changes in the default mode network shared with meditative practices.
Why it matters
It summarizes evidence indicating that psychedelic-induced mystical experiences can be psychometrically measured, correlate with long-term clinical benefits, and map onto default mode network modulation.
Limits
As a narrative review, it provides no original data or quantitative meta-analysis. The abstract provides no sample sizes, effect sizes, adverse event data, or evaluation of blinding integrity across the cited trials.
Cited by
- supports Electrical stimulation or epileptic seizures in the posterior cingulate cortex can induce dissociative states and altered sense of self, and activity in this region is reduced during meditation and psilocybin administration.