Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiences
IntroductionDream-like and psychedelic experiences often display internally illogical structures. Recent theories propose that these experiences function as “spontaneous offline simulations” related to specific brain processes. This study investigates whether such perceived illogicality reflects a d...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1498677/full |
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| author | Andreas Huber Anette Kjellgren Torsten Passie Torsten Passie |
| author_facet | Andreas Huber Anette Kjellgren Torsten Passie Torsten Passie |
| author_sort | Andreas Huber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDream-like and psychedelic experiences often display internally illogical structures. Recent theories propose that these experiences function as “spontaneous offline simulations” related to specific brain processes. This study investigates whether such perceived illogicality reflects a distinct, premodern mode of cognition—commonly referred to as “mythic” cognition—rather than a cognitive deficit.MethodsThirty-one participants underwent four 90-minute flotation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) sessions designed to induce altered, dream-like states. After each session, participants completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) and additional questions targeting features associated with mythic cognition.ResultsParticipants showed significant phenomenological shifts toward experiences characteristic of mythic cognition. Specifically, their altered states during flotation exhibited ontological parallels with mythic conceptions of space, time, and substance.DiscussionThe findings support the hypothesis that the perceived illogicality in altered states arises from a distinct cognitive framework rather than from deficits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8d74c55bfc3b40dc900b0fdd565fc04b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8d74c55bfc3b40dc900b0fdd565fc04b2025-08-20T02:28:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-05-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.14986771498677Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiencesAndreas Huber0Anette Kjellgren1Torsten Passie2Torsten Passie3Schwerelos Sensory Deprivation Laboratory, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Psychology, Karlstad University, Karlstad, SwedenHannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanySenckenberg Institute for History and Ethics in Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, GermanyIntroductionDream-like and psychedelic experiences often display internally illogical structures. Recent theories propose that these experiences function as “spontaneous offline simulations” related to specific brain processes. This study investigates whether such perceived illogicality reflects a distinct, premodern mode of cognition—commonly referred to as “mythic” cognition—rather than a cognitive deficit.MethodsThirty-one participants underwent four 90-minute flotation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) sessions designed to induce altered, dream-like states. After each session, participants completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) and additional questions targeting features associated with mythic cognition.ResultsParticipants showed significant phenomenological shifts toward experiences characteristic of mythic cognition. Specifically, their altered states during flotation exhibited ontological parallels with mythic conceptions of space, time, and substance.DiscussionThe findings support the hypothesis that the perceived illogicality in altered states arises from a distinct cognitive framework rather than from deficits.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1498677/fulldreamingdream-like experiencehypnagogiapsychedelicssensory deprivationflotation-REST |
| spellingShingle | Andreas Huber Anette Kjellgren Torsten Passie Torsten Passie Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiences Frontiers in Psychology dreaming dream-like experience hypnagogia psychedelics sensory deprivation flotation-REST |
| title | Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiences |
| title_full | Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiences |
| title_fullStr | Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiences |
| title_short | Hypnagogia, psychedelics, and sensory deprivation: the mythic structure of dream-like experiences |
| title_sort | hypnagogia psychedelics and sensory deprivation the mythic structure of dream like experiences |
| topic | dreaming dream-like experience hypnagogia psychedelics sensory deprivation flotation-REST |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1498677/full |
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