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Pivotal Mental States: Difference between revisions

Pivotal Mental States: Difference between revisions

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Whilst unproven scientifically, (it would be very difficult due to the subjective nature) spiritual experiences in some cases have been able to shift modes of general thought patterns. Pharmacologically the human brain has been found to produce psychedelic compounds, the thought is that certain technique may be  helpful in unleashing its endogenous effect:
Whilst unproven scientifically, (it would be very difficult due to the subjective nature) spiritual experiences in some cases have been able to shift modes of general thought patterns. Pharmacologically the human brain has been found to produce psychedelic compounds, the thought is that certain technique may be  helpful in unleashing its endogenous effect:
*'''Holotropic breathing techniques'''<ref>https://maps.org/news-letters/v23n1/v23n1_24-27.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353/full</ref>- 30 minutes breathing in a controlled, three-beat pattern — one sharp breath into my belly, one sharp breath into my lungs, and a sigh-like exhale to release.
*'''Holotropic breathing techniques'''<ref>https://maps.org/news-letters/v23n1/v23n1_24-27.pdf</ref><ref>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353/full</ref>- 30 minutes breathing in a controlled, three-beat pattern — one sharp breath into my belly, one sharp breath into my lungs, and a sigh-like exhale to release.
===Stroboscopics===
A total of 24 participants were recruited to take part in the small study, each of whom was first screened for indications of photosensitive epilepsy before beginning the trial. Once cleared, volunteers were placed in a dark room and instructed to close their eyes while a stroboscopic light flickered on and off for a period of 20 minutes.


In order to compare the effects of this method with those of pharmacological psychedelics, the researchers employed a series of scientifically validated questionnaires that are typically used to measure altered states of consciousness in studies involving drugs. In doing so, they found that flickering lights generate a degree of “vigilance reduction” – which refers to the experience of “clouded consciousness” – that is comparable to a low dose of ketamine.
== Very Weak Evidence ==
There is a lot of mumbo jumbo on the web which is trying to sell people who are scared of the psychedelic experience other shit. There is little to no evidence for this, however it has been put here to dispel myths.


Furthermore, participants reported seeing “elemental imagery” hallucinations, consisting of “colorful, dynamically changing fractal structures,” that were similar in strength to those typically produced by an average recreational dose of LSD.  
===Stroboscopics===
 
Flicker light stimulation are capable of inducing visual effects with an intensity rated to be similar in strength to effects induced by psychedelic substances<ref>Altered states phenomena induced by visual flicker light stimulation. Marie Therese Bartossek,Johanna Kemmerer,Timo Torsten Schmidt. Published: July 1, 2021. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253779</nowiki></ref>. Whilst some visual aspects of the psychedelic experience can be replicated there is no evidence to suggest any other neurological effect occurs, [[Setting|click this link to see a range of psychedelic toys]] the strongest of which is a [https://strobe.cool/ stroboscopic].
Summing up this finding, the study authors state that “our results demonstrate that the visual effects of flickering light stimulation, in some aspects, are rated to be similarly strong as the effects induced by certain psychedelic substances.” However, they go on to explain that “the induced spectrum of phenomena is rather limited to visual effects, while other aspects of alterations in consciousness are less robustly induced.”
 
For example, the use of flickering lights did not precipitate any of the “ego dissolution or mystical-type experiences” that are commonly reported by users of psychedelics, while complex hallucinatory visions featuring “meaningful objects” were also lacking.
 
Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that psychedelic drugs have the capacity to enhance users’ creative thinking abilities, although participants in this study demonstrated no such increases in creativity after being exposed to flickering lights.
 
Nonetheless, the study authors conclude that “flicker light stimulation is capable of inducing visual effects with an intensity rated to be similar in strength to effects induced by psychedelic substances and thereby support the investigation of potentially shared underlying neuronal mechanisms.”


'''References'''
'''References'''
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Revision as of 00:51, 21 June 2022

Pivotal mental states (PiMs) are states of mind created by an experience which can permanently shift modes of general thought patterns. PiMs serve an important evolutionary function, that is, to aid psychological transformation when actual or perceived environmental pressures demand this[1]. In nature PiMs are primed by chronic stress and neurotic traits, whereas acute stress can be a trigger. PiMs can also be induced by certain medicines and experiences, evidence for which is presented below.

Strong evidence

Psychedelics

With the correct priming and setting, psychedelics administered with guidance can shift normal thought patterns[2] by causing the function to be less constrained than usual by the presence or absence of an underlying anatomical connection[3]. There is some evidence to suggest the experience increases nature relatedness[4], by shifting egoism to ecoism and may decrease authoritarian political views[5].

Strong evidence

Blue Marble

Leland Melvin was saying “we need to send everyone to space so they can experience this overview effect” and it was frustrating, because as great an idea as that is, it’s extremely unrealistic in the short term. Yuri Gagarin, upon his return as the first human in space marveled at the planet from orbit in 1961. “People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty — not destroy it,” . A half-century later, ex-NASA astronaut José Hernández said that the view aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 2009 turned him into “an instant treehugger.” On Christmas Eve 1968, the NASA astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders were aboard Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the Moon. They had spent most of the day photographing the Moon’s surface, when Borman turned the spaceship around, and Earth came into view. ‘Oh my God, look at that picture over there. Here’s the Earth coming up,’ shouted Anders. Like the astronauts themselves, the world was awestruck by the first images of the whole Earth from space, which are today widely credited with triggering the birth of the modern environmental movement.

Astronauts looking down on Earth from above for the first time see that only a fine blue line of atmosphere shelters our planet from the hostile vacuum of space — and often, they suddenly get an overwhelming responsibility to protect it. National borders disappear; the scene evokes a feeling of cosmic connection. This so-called “overview effect” has been turning astronauts into environmental advocates ever since the first person in space,

Electroconvulsive Therapy

When people think of ECT they think of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, however this was a dramatisation, the process is far from what was depicted. Since its introduction in the 1930's, various changes to pulse width, dosing and duration, electrode placement and anesthesia have made the treatment almost unrecognisable. Research has shown that 64% to 87% of patients with severe MDD respond to ECT, with response rates as high as 95% for patients with MDD with psychotic features[6]. Furthemore, in otherwise healthy patients with intellectual disability a retrospective chart review performed at Cambridge university has shown that 79% showed a positive outcome following ECT[7].

Weak Evidence

Spiritual experiences

Whilst unproven scientifically, (it would be very difficult due to the subjective nature) spiritual experiences in some cases have been able to shift modes of general thought patterns. Pharmacologically the human brain has been found to produce psychedelic compounds, the thought is that certain technique may be helpful in unleashing its endogenous effect:

  • Holotropic breathing techniques[8][9]- 30 minutes breathing in a controlled, three-beat pattern — one sharp breath into my belly, one sharp breath into my lungs, and a sigh-like exhale to release.

Very Weak Evidence

There is a lot of mumbo jumbo on the web which is trying to sell people who are scared of the psychedelic experience other shit. There is little to no evidence for this, however it has been put here to dispel myths.

Stroboscopics

Flicker light stimulation are capable of inducing visual effects with an intensity rated to be similar in strength to effects induced by psychedelic substances[10]. Whilst some visual aspects of the psychedelic experience can be replicated there is no evidence to suggest any other neurological effect occurs, click this link to see a range of psychedelic toys the strongest of which is a stroboscopic.

References

  1. ↑ Brouwer A, Carhart-Harris RL. Pivotal mental states. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2021;35(4):319-352. doi:10.1177/0269881120959637
  2. ↑ Kettner H, Gandy S, Haijen ECHM, Carhart-Harris RL. From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 16;16(24):5147. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16245147. PMID: 31888300; PMCID: PMC6949937.
  3. ↑ Andrea I. Luppi, Robin L. Carhart-Harris, Leor Roseman, Ioannis Pappas, David K. Menon, Emmanuel A. Stamatakis, LSD alters dynamic integration and segregation in the human brain, NeuroImage, Volume 227, 2021, 117653, ISSN 1053-8119, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117653. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920311381)
  4. ↑ Kettner, H.; Gandy, S.; Haijen, E.C.H.M.; Carhart-Harris, R.L. From Egoism to Ecoism: Psychedelics Increase Nature Relatedness in a State-Mediated and Context-Dependent Manner. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 5147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16245147
  5. ↑ Lyons T, Carhart-Harris RL. Increased nature relatedness and decreased authoritarian political views after psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2018;32(7):811-819. doi:10.1177/0269881117748902
  6. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4193538/
  7. ↑ https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-psychiatrist/article/use-of-ect-in-patients-with-an-intellectual-disability-review/B2CD9151E5A2B9462BD80175E63A9CB0
  8. ↑ https://maps.org/news-letters/v23n1/v23n1_24-27.pdf
  9. ↑ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353/full
  10. ↑ Altered states phenomena induced by visual flicker light stimulation. Marie Therese Bartossek,Johanna Kemmerer,Timo Torsten Schmidt. Published: July 1, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253779
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