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PsychedelicInformationTheory
ShamanismintheAgeofReason

Copyright2010byJamesL.Kent

PITPress/Supermassive,LLC/HTMLEdition

Includesimagesandbibliographicalreferences
ISBN10:1453760172
ISBN13:9781453760178
Keywords:psychedelics,hallucinogens,perception,shamanism,chaostheory

http://psychedelicinformationtheory.com

Preface
PsychedelicInformationTheory(PIT)isaformaldeconstructionofpsychedelichallucination,expanded
consciousness,andshamanism,andassuchitattemptstomovetopicswhichhavetraditionallybeenclassifiedas
metaphysicsintofieldsofphysicsandmathematics.ThegoalofPITistounifyallexistingpsychedelicresearch
intoaformalmodelwhichaccuratelydescribesthecomplexdynamicsgeneratedwhenapsychedelicdrugis
introducedintohumanneuralandsocialnetworks.PITisageneralmodelwhichlinkspsychedelicpharmacology
directlytothenonlineardynamicsofexpandedconsciousness,neuroplasticity,shamanictechnique,andtribal
organization.Thisbookshouldbeequallyenlighteningforshamen,physicians,scientists,mathematicians,
mystics,andanyoneseekingtomodelorunderstandthefunctionallimitsofexpandedconsciousness.
PITispresentedasanintroductorytextbookforpeoplewithbroadinterestsinconsciousness,perception,
psychedelics,hallucination,shamanism,dreaming,pharmacology,neuroplasticity,chaostheory,andrelated
fields.BecausePITismeanttobeanoverviewofageneraltheorywhichencompassesmanydiversefields,it
onlyscratchesthesurfaceofwhatcouldbeafarlargerandmoredetailedtext.Studentsinterestedinfurther
explorationonthesetopicsshouldconsultthebibliographyandreferencesformoreavenuesofresearchand
discovery.Forreaderswhoarelessscientificallyinclined,orwhoseekaquickoverviewoftheconceptscovered
inthistext,aninformaldiscussionoftopicshasbeenincludedintheappendixes.Thisdiscussionprovidesabrief
summaryofPITandanswerssomeofthemostcommonquestionsraisedinreactiontothetext.
Sincerely,

JamesL.Kent

Figure1.Fractalsgeneratedbycomputerprogramsandnatureareexamplesofdeterministicchaosinnonlinear
systems,andsharemanyformalsimilaritieswithpsychedelichallucinations.WikiMediaCommons.

TableofContents

PartI:PsychedelicInformationTheory
01.WhatisPsychedelicInformationTheory?
02.TheValueofPsychedelicInformation
03.PsychedelicInformationTheory
04.WhatisConsciousness?
05.LimitsofHumanPerception
06.TheControlInterruptModelofPsychedelicAction
07.PsychedelicPharmacology
08.5HT2AAgonismandMultisensoryBinding
09.WhatisNonlinearHallucination?
10.EntopicHallucination
11.EideticHallucination

12.ErraticHallucination
13.PsychedelicNeuroplasticity
PartII:ShamanismintheAgeofReason
14.WhatisShamanism?
15.AnOverviewofPhysicalShamanism
16.PhysicalShamanismandShamanicTherapy
17.HypnoticEntrainmentandInducedTranceStates
18.PsychicBondingandPsi
19.GroupMindandFluidTribalDynamics
20.ShamanicSorcery
21.SpiritsandSpiritualCommunion
22.InformationGenesisandComplexity
Appendixes
01.ConclusionsandDiscussion
02.InformalDiscussionofTopics
03.AboutthisText
04.BibliographyandReferences
05.AbouttheAuthor

Figure2.Imagesofinternallygeneratedsensationsoflight(phosphenes)withgeometricshapesandnomemory
basedcontent,foundinethnographicreportsandprehistoricrockartstudies.FromNicholsonandFirnhaber.

PartI:PsychedelicInformationTheory

Chapter01:WhatisPsychedelicInformationTheory?
PsychedelicInformationTheory(PIT)isthestudyofinformationcreationinthehumanimagination,particularly
instatesofdreaming,psychosis,andhallucination.PITseekstomodelthefunctionaloutputofhumanperception
inordertoextrapolatethelimitsandcomplexityofinformationarisinginhumanalteredstatesofconsciousness.
ThefoundationofPITliesinnoveltytheory,thestudyofincreasingcomplexityofinformationovertime.Novelty
theoryencompassesalargetimescale,butPITisspecificallyfocusedonthespontaneousproductionofcomplex
informationinthehumanorganism,whichisalsoknownascreativitytheoryorgenerativetheory.Modelingthe
creationofinformationinthehumanbrainrequiresformaldefinitionsforperception,consciousness,and
information,andassuchPITisalsoaworkofsystemstheory,whichpositsthatthepotentialoutputofanysystem
canbefullydescribedbythefunctionallimitationsofitscomponents.PITalsodrawsoncontroltheory,which
modelsthestabilityandcomplexityofsignalprocessingindynamicalsystems.Byapplyingcontroltheoryand
systemstheorytoalteredstatesofconsciousness,PITisananalysisofthenonlineardynamicsofhallucination
andexpandedstatesofconsciousness.AndfinallyPITdrawsuponthefieldsofwavemechanics,neural
oscillators,neuroplasticity,andthefundamentalsofpharmacology,cognitivetheory,andneuralsignalingasthey
applytoperception,memory,andconsciousnessthisalsomakesPITatextonmultidisciplinaryneuroscience.
WhyPsychedelicInformationTheory?

Thebulkofhumanconsciousnessexistsinalinearrangewhichgoesfromhighlyfocusedandalerttodeepasleep
anddreaming.Moststatesofconsciousnessareexperienceduniformlyandindependentlyofeachotheralongthis
linearspectrum.Forinstance,whenyouareasleepyouarenotawakewhenyouarefocusedyouarenot
daydreamingwhenyouareanxiousyouarenotrelaxed.Thefactthatconsciousnessexistsinonlyonestateat
onetimeisanindicationthatthesystemislinearandstable.Whentwodistinctperceptionsorstatesof
consciousnessoverlapatthesametimethisisanindicationthatthesystemisunstable,andinmostcaseswhere
divergentstatesofconsciousnessoverlaptheoutputisviewedasapathology.1Statedivergentpathologiesare
typicallytreatedwithdrugstargetedtoamplifythepositivetraitsand/ordampenthenegativetraits.
Thetermpsychedelicmeansmindmanifesting,whichimpliesthatallpotentialstatesofmindmaybe
manifestedundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicdrugs.Ifnormalconsciousnessmovesinastraightlinealonga
spectrumofmanypossiblestates,psychedelicsrepresentauniqueandreversibledestabilizationofthislinear
spectrumwhereconsciousnesscanassumemultiplepointsofconsciousnesssimultaneously.Themostextreme
divergentstateofconsciousnessisdescribedasbeingwideawakewhilesimultaneouslydreaming,astate
clinicallyreferredtoaspsychosisorhallucination.Theemergenceofmultistateconsciousnessunderthe
influenceofpsychedelicsrepresentsasystemthathasdestabilizedfromlinearoutputandhasbecomenonlinear
andexponentiallycomplex.Thus,inpsychedelicperceptionthelinearfunctionsofconsciousnessdivergeintoa
complexnonlinearstatewheremultipleperspectivesandanalyticaloutputsmaybeexperiencedsimultaneously.2
AccordingtoPIT,thisdestabilizedstateofnonlinearcomplexityiswherenewinformationisgeneratedinthe
humanmind.Understandingthedynamicsofthisuniquenonlinearfunctionisessentialtounderstandingthe
informationallimitsandpotentialcomplexityrangeofallhumanconsciousness.

Figure3.Theeightpointedstarisapopularsymbolofchaosmagic.Thearrowsrepresentenergy,or
information,scatteringathighvelocity.Thissymbolisisomorphicofanonlinearinformationsystem,likea
universe,whichstartsatasinglepointanderuptsoutwardinalldirections.
WhatisShamanismintheAgeofReason?
PITseekstodescribeamodelofpsychedelicactivationthatcanbeadaptedtoallpossiblepermutationsofhuman
consciousness,includinggroupmindstates,mysticalstates,andtranspersonalawareness.Theritualofusing
psychedelicstogeneratenewinformation,bondwithpeergroups,andprogramhumanbeliefistraditionally
calledshamanism,soPITisastudyofthepracticeofshamanism,whichcanalsobecalledappliedpsychedelic
science.Thepracticeofusingritualtechniquesofspiritualtranscendencetomanipulatebeliefsystemshasbeen
popularlydubbedchaosmagic,whichisanoccultblendofneoshamanism,cognitivetheory,andsocialtheory
(Fig.3).Chaosandcomplexityarealsopopulartermsappliedtothestudyofnonlinearsystems,suchasfractals
andcellularautomata,makingchaosmagicandshamanismspirituoscientificexplorationsofthegenerative
functionofnonlinearsystems.
WhilePITfocusesonphysiologyovermythology,itisclearthatthereisafundamentalhumandesiretoachieve
statesofconsciousnesssubjectivelydescribedasGnosticorspirituallyenlightening.ItistheconjectureofPIT
thatallmysticalstates,includinghealingandregenerativestates,haveuniqueformalnonlinearqualitiesthatcan
bedescribedinphysicaltermscloseenoughtomakegoodapproximations.ThismeansthatPITisalsoaworkof
technicalshamanism,neurotheology,orspiritualneuroscience,andcanbereferencedintheclinicalapplication
ofpsychedelicdrugsinshamanicceremony,mysticalritual,orpsychedelictherapy.
GenericApplication,Neutrality,MarginofError
PITdoesnotattempttoprovideprecisedefinitionsofconsciousness,perception,orthepsychedelicstate.Instead
PITattemptstomodelanapproximationofpsychedelicconsciousnessbasedontheknownfunctionsandlimitsof

humanperceptionandcognition.AccordingtoPIT,ifafunctionalreproductionofconsciousnessexistedthenit
toocouldbemadetohaveapsychedelicexperience.ThisalsomakesPITatextonartificialintelligencewhich
canbetestedinmechanicalsystemsofperception.Whilethistextmaycontainsomeassumptionsandconjecture
onhumanbrainfunction,thefundamentalsofPITaregenericenoughtoapplytoanysystemofconsciousness
whichreliesonrealtimeframeperceptionforinteractingwithreality.Althoughthebulkofthetextfocuseson
statesofhallucinogenesisaffordedmostreadilybythetryptaminesLSD,psilocybin(magicmushrooms),and
DMT(foundintheSouthAmericanbrewayahuasca),andtheiractionatthe5HT2Areceptorsubtype,PIT
strivestobegenericandsubstanceneutral,meaningthatthefundamentalsofPITshouldapplytoalldrugsand
techniqueswhichproducehallucination,eventhoughtheymaytargetdifferentreceptorsand/ordestabilize
consciousnessinawhollyuniqueway.
NotesandReferences
1.Someexamplesofpathologicallydivergentstatesofconsciousness:Asleepandactiveissleepwalkingexcited
anddrowsyisnarcolepsyawakeandrigidisParkinsonsDiseaseawakeanddreamingispsychosisrelaxedand
nervousisanxietydisorderfulfilledandsadisdepressivedisorderandsoon.
2.Whenalinearfunctiondivergesorbifurcatesandbeginsplottingarangeofmultipleoutputsforthesameinput,
thiscanbecalledunstable,dynamic,nonlinear,complex,higherdimensional,undefined,andsoon.Itdependson
howyoumodelyoursystem.

Chapter02:TheValueofPsychedelicInformation
AtextcalledPsychedelicInformationTheoryraisesthequestion,WhatisPsychedelicInformation,andwhy
shouldwecare?Generally,psychedelicinformationisanyinformationcreatedinthemindofthesubjectduring
apsychedelicexperience.Psychedelicinformationisgeneratedspontaneouslyinreactiontothepsychedelic
catalysttypicallythesubjecthaslittleornocontrolovertheinformationgeneratedinapsychedelicexperience.
Psychedelicinformationisalmostalwayspreviouslyunknowntothesubjectandmayappeartooriginatefroman
externalsourceormaterializeoutofthinair.Psychedelicinformationtypicallytakestheformofvisual,audio,
andsensoryhallucination,butcanalsobeabstractorgestaltlikeanemotionalepiphany.Finally,psychedelic
informationappliestoanyartorconceptthatoriginatesfromorevokespsychedelicexperience.
Thistextfocusesprimarilyonthephysiologicalprocessunderlyingthespontaneousgenerationofpsychedelic
information,andhowthatinformationinfluencesbothpersonalandculturalidentity.Thefactthatpsychedelic
informationmakesitswayintopopularcultureisproofthathumansfindpsychedelicinformationvaluable,butit
isstillambiguousifpsychedelicsaddanyrealvaluetoculture.Researchhasshownthatspidersareaffectedby
psychedelics,1asarerats,2cats,3monkeys,4andsoon.However,thereislittleevidencethatinformationother
thannoiseisgeneratedduringpsychedelicepisodesinanimalstheexperiencedoesnotmeananythingbeyonda
specificderangementofthesenses.Incontrast,thehumanadaptationtotranslatesubjectiveexperienceinto
meaningfulnarrativeisuniquelyexploitedbypsychedelics.Psychedelicstargetperception,memory,andthe
complexemotionsattachedtosymbolsandconceptsthecorefunctionshumansrelyontoformulatebelief.
Becauseofthisexploit,theresultofthepsychedeliccatalystinhumansisthespontaneousgenerationof
meaningfulinformationwhichisimprintedintomemory.
Anyperceptualsystemcanhaveapsychedelicexperience,5butittakesabstractthinkingandtheinterconnection
betweensymbols,concepts,andemotionstomakepsychedelicinformationmeaningful.Thus,thepsychedelic
experiencedoesnotcreateinformationinallsystemsofconsciousnessthepsychedelicexperienceonly
generatesmeaningfulinformationinsystemsofconsciousnesswiththecapacityforabstractreasoningvia
symboliclogicandemotionalattachment.Presumablyanyconscioussystemwhichemulatesthefunctionsof
humanabstractreasoningwillalsosimilarlygeneratemeaningfulinformationduringapsychedelicexperience.
TheValueofInformation
Withinthesetofinformationvaluabletohumanstherearedomainsofdescendingimportance.Firstthereis
informationvaluabletoallorganisms(biologicalinformation),thenthereisinformationvaluabletoallhumans
(speciesinformation),thenthereisinformationvaluableonlytoaspecificlocalgroupofhumans(cultural

information),andthenthereisinformationvaluableonlytoasinglehuman(personalinformation).Allbiological
informationandthemostimportantbitsofspeciesinformationaregeneticandarepreservedthroughnatural
selection.Withinthedomainofhumanspeciesimportancethereisalsotechnologicalinformation(suchasfire,
tools,language,music,agriculture,science,etc.)whichareculturallyagnosticandservetheneedsoftheentire
speciesequally.Technologicalinformationofspecieslevelimportanceisequatedwithhighvalueandwillbe
adoptedbyallculturesoverashortperiod.Specieslevelinformationhashighdurabilityandchangesveryslowly
overtime.
Culturalinformationfallsinthecategoryoflanguagebasedmemesandregionalortribaltraditions.Cultural
informationmaybesharedacrossculturesormayberestrictedtoaspecificregionorsubculture.Cultural
informationisconsideredtobeofmediumvalue,lowdurability,andchangesrapidlyovertimeasthememesand
traditionsofculturechange.Religionandartworkareexamplesofculturalinformationthattypicallyonlyhave
valuetotheircultureoforigin,butoccasionallyascendtospecieslevelimportance.Finallythereispersonal
information,whichisvaluableonlytoasingleindividual.Personalinformationchangesrapidly,issubjectto
experienceandwhim,andisonlyusefuloverthelifetimeoftheorganism.Personalinformationhasverylow
durabilityandlowoverallvalue.
TheValueofPsychedelicInformation
Psychedelicinformationisgeneratedwithinthedomainofthepersonalyetmanypeoplewhotakepsychedelics
perceivetheinformationashavingspecieslevelimportance.Thereareafewreasonsforthisphenomena.The
first,andeasiest,isthatpsychedelicscreatestatesofmaniaanddelusionsofgrandeurinwhichthesubjectfeels
thatheorsheisthemostbrilliantpersonontheplanet,orthattheyarereceivingsupernaturalprophecy.
Secondly,thesubjectmayexperiencearchetypalvisionsorsensationsoftranscendencethatareperceivedtobe
ofhighreligiousormysticalimportance.Thirdly,thesubjectmayexperienceadeconstructionofconsciousness
associatedwithanimalconsciousness,reptilianconsciousness,plantconsciousness,theGaianmind,genetic
levelintelligence,ordeepspeciesmemoryinformationperceivedtobeofvaluetoallhumansorallliving
creatures.Becausepsychedelicsproducealloftheseexperiencestheyareroutinelyperceivedashavingspecies
levelimportance.
Psychedelicsareobviouslyusefulinthedomainofthepersonalshamanismandpsychedelictherapyrelyonthe
informationfunctionofpsychedelicstodiagnoseandheal.Intheculturaldomainpsychedelicscanbeemployed
inritualtobuildstrongreligiousortribalgroupstheycanbeusedinhealingorsorceryortheycanbeacatalyst
forinnovationandcreativeexpression.Beyondthistheirvalueisambiguous.Therearesomedebatestobemade
inthisarea,suchaspointingoutthatFrancisCrickenvisionedthespiralstructureofDNAafterheingested
LSD,6orthatLSDhelpedKaryMullisthinkupthePCRprocessthatearnedhimaNobelPrizeingenetics.7,8To
counterthesearguments,bothCrickandMullishadbeenstudyingmolecularbiologyforyearstryingtocrack
thoseveryproblemsLSDcannottakecreditforanythingmorethanhelpingCrickandMullisorganizetheir
thoughtsinanewway.Wecanpointtogreatdiscoveriesasexamplesofpsychedelicinformation,butonlyatiny
fractionofallpsychedelicinformationcanclaimthislevelofimportance.Worsethanthis,erroneouspsychedelic
informationclaimingspecieslevelimportancehasnegativeculturalvalueanddilutestheoverallinformation
marketplace,makingpsychedelicinformationalmoststatisticallyworthless.9
Probabilitydictatesthatmostpsychedelicinformationwillhavelittleormoderatevalue,andthattherarepieceof
psychedelicinformationwillhaveextremenegativeorpositivevalue.Italsofollowsthatthemoretimesasubject
takespsychedelicsthemorelikelyitistheywillgenerateinformationofhighpositiveornegativevalue.
Similarly,themoreoftenasubjecttakespsychedelicsthemorelikelytheyaretolatchontoandsubsequently
reinforceinformationofhighperceivedvalue,eitherpositiveornegative.Inthiscasethepsychedelicbecomesan
informationimprintingtool.Inpsychedelicimprintingtheinformationisalwayssubjectivelyperceivedtobeof
highvalue,evenifitisofloworevennegativeculturalvalue.10
NegativeandPositiveInformationValue
Itiseasytodemonstratethatpsychedelicinformationhasvalueculturesthatusepsychedelicsassacraments
placehighvalueontheinformationtheyreceivepeoplewilltradehardearnedcashforapsychedelic
experience.Butbecausethequalityofpsychedelicinformationhassuchawiderangeitiseasytoperceive
psychedelicsashavingnovalueor,intheargumentofprohibition,negativevalue.Psychedelicinformationwith

negativevaluecanbedescribedasthatwhichisdelusional,paranoid,false,orsubvertsthehealthofthe
individualorculture.Negativepsychedelicexperiences,orbummers,areacommonlyreportedelementof
psychedelicexperimentation,butthisdoesnotnecessarilymakebummersnegative.Someusersclaimthat
negativeexperienceshavevaluebecausetheyprovideemotionalinsightothersreportthatnegativepsychedelic
experiencescausepermanentpsychologicaldamage,whichisextremelynegative.Inrarecasespeopleactout
andharmthemselvesorcommitsuicideonpsychedelics.Obviouslytheseareextremeexamplesofnegative
value,andtheseextremeexamplesareusuallylinkedtomixingdrugs,drugbinging,oroverdosing.Thereisan
optimaldoserangeforanypsychedelicsubstancereportsofnegativeeffectsincreaseoncetheoptimaldose
rangeissurpassed.11
Conversely,thereisarangeofpsychedelicexperiencethatisjustasextremebutpositiveinvaluethespiritualor
therapeuticorentheogenicexperiencethataddsvaluetotheuserandtheirculture.Havinganextremelypositive
psychedelicexperiencedoesnothappenbyaccidentthereisnuanceinvolvedinselectingtheproperdose,
findingtherightsetting,andsoon.Bycontrast,havinganegativepsychedelicexperienceisalmostalwaysan
accidentduetoimproperdoseorsetting.Therefore,thepositivevalueofapsychedelicexperiencecanbe
predictedandcontrolleduptoacertaindoserange,butbeyondthatthepotentialpositivevaluedropsandpotential
negativevalueincreases.
Shamanism,whichforthepurposesofthistextisdefinedasthepracticeofusingpsychedelicsinritual,employs
specializedtechniquestoguidepsychedelicinformationalongdesiredpathways.Influencingandimprinting
psychedelicinformationalongpositivepathwaysisperceivedasspiritual,enlightening,andtherapeutic
influencingorimprintingpsychedelicinformationalongnegativepathwaysisperceivedasmindcontrol,black
magic,orsorcery.Althoughthevalueofpsychedelicinformationgeneratedinanysingleepisodeisambiguous,
thepracticeofshamanismisadurabletechnologywithspecieswideapplication.Thus,shamanismisa
technologicalsubsetofpsychedelicinformationwithhighvaluetotheentirespecies,eventhoughthepracticeof
shamanismcanbeemployedtobothpositiveornegativeeffect.
NotesandReferences
1.ChristiansenA,BaumR,WittP,ChangesInSpiderWebsBroughtAboutByMescaline,PsilocybinAndAn
IncreaseInBodyWeight.JPETApril1962vol.136no.13137.
2.Butters,Nelson,TheeffectofLSD25onspatialandstimulusperseverativetendenciesinrats.
Psychopharmacology,Volume8,Number6/November,1966
3.TrulsonM,HowellG,Ontogenyofthebehavioraleffectsoflysergicaciddiethylamideincats.
DevelopmentalPsychobiologyVolume17Issue4,Pages329346
4.JarvikM,ChoroverS,Impairmentbylysergicaciddiethylamideofaccuracyinperformanceofadelayed
alternationtestinmonkeys.Psychopharmacology,Volume1,Number3/May,1960.
5.SeeChapter04,"WhatisConsciousness?".
6.Rees,Alun,NobelPrizegeniusCrickwashighonLSDwhenhediscoveredthesecretoflife.Mailon
Sunday,8August2004.
7.Mullis,Kary,DancingNakedintheMindField.Vintage,NY,2000.
8.Rabinow,Paul,MakingPCR:astoryofbiotechnology.UniversityofChicagoPress,1996.
9.Thepsychedeliccommunityproducesanewgurueverydecadeorso,andtheculturalcontributionsofthese
gurustrendsfrompseudoscientifictooutrightfantastical.Itisoftendifficulttotellifthecontributionsof
psychedeliccelebritiesoutweighthemorenonsensicalmemestheypropagate.
10.Psychedelicimprintingcantakemanyforms,andinsomecasesnegativeinformationcanbeimprintedinto
identity.Brainwashingistheactofimprintinganotherpersonagainsttheirwill,whichisviewedasnegative.
Selfbrainwashingistheactofimprintingyourselfwithnegativeinformationeitherbychoiceorerror.Inself
brainwashingnegativeinformationtypicallyassumesexplicitparanoidormessianicthemes.Extremecasesof
psychedelicselfbrainwashingwillmimicelementsofpsychosisandpersistentdelusionaldisorder.SeeChapter
13,PsychedelicNeuroplasticity.

11.HaslerF,GrimbergU,BenzM,HuberT,VollenweiderF,Acutepsychologicalandphysiologicaleffectsof
psilocybininhealthyhumans:adoubleblind,placebocontrolleddoseeffectstudy.Psychopharmacology,
Volume172,Number2/March,2004.

Chapter03:PsychedelicInformationTheory
Likedreams,psychedelicsarecatalystsforgeneratinginformationinthehumanimagination.Therearemany
theoriesabouttheoriginofthisinformation:thesubconsciousrepressedemotionsthecollectiveunconscious
geneticmemoryspiritentitiesalientransmissionjunkdatafromneuralexcitationandsoon.Regardlessofthe
originitiswidelyacceptedthatpsychedelicsdogenerateinformation,andnotmerelyjunkdataofquestionable
value.Psychedelicsexcelatproducingsalientinformationwhichcanhaveaprofoundimpactonthebeliefsand
identityofthesubject.
Theinformationgeneratedbypsychedelicsisusuallypersonal,butitcanbecometranspersonalaspsychedelic
insightsaresharedwithfriendsandthepublic.Therateofpsychedelicinformationflowcanbemeasuredbythe
amountofexplicitinfluencepsychedelicshaveoveranygivenculture,andtherateofflowisdifferentforevery
culture.Someculturesrepressanythingresemblingpsychedelicinformationwhileothersmakeitcentraltotheir
spirituality.1Sincetheculturalrevolutionofthe1960s,psychedelicinformationflowhaseruptedintoWestern
cultureatanunprecedentedrate.Thisrateofmodernpsychedelicinformationflowhashaditsupsanddowns,but
overallhasremainedrelativelyconstanteveninthefaceofglobalprohibition.2
Thepathwayofpsychedelicinformationflowissimpleanduniversallythesame:1)ingestion2)internal
transmission3)internalintegration4)culturaltransmission5)culturalintegration.Mostpsychedelicresearch
focusessolelyoninternaltransmission,thesecondstageofthepsychedelicinformationprocesswhichis
commonlycalledthetrip.Whilethetripiscertainlyinterestingitisstillonlyonepartofthelargeroverallprocess
bywhichpsychedelicsinfluenceboththeindividualandculture.Eachpartofthisinformationprocesshasitsown
patternsandpredictablestages,anddifferentportionsofthistextwillattempttoilluminateoneormoreofthese
stagesintheserviceofprovidinganoverallunderstandingofhowpsychedelicsimpactculture.Belowisa
capsulesummaryofeachstageinthepsychedelicinformationprocess.
Ingestion
Whileitisdifficulttodefinewhypeoplechoosetotakepsychedelics,eachsocietyhasitsownruleswhich
dictatewhoisallowedtoingestapsychedelicdrugandinwhatcontext.Intraditionalsettingsingestionisa
spiritualexerciseusedtogainsupernaturalwisdom,anddosageiscontrolledrituallybytheshaman.Inmodern
Westernculturethetraditionalruleshavebrokendownandpsychedelicingestionhasbecomecomplexand
somewhathaphazard.Inamoderncontextmostpeopleareintroducedtopsychedelicsinmundanerecreational
circumstances,motivatedbyhedonism,curiosity,boredom,peerpressure,orrebellion.Sometimesaninnate
hungerforthemysteriousdrivesingestion.Typicallythepsychedelicuserisseekingsomething,howevervague
thatnotion.
InternalTransmission
Internaltransmissioniswherethepsychedelicinteractswiththeneuralnetworkandnewinformationis
generated.Informationinthepsychedelicstateisgeneratedspontaneouslywithinvisualandaudiohallucination
ideaswhichpopintothesubjectsimaginationnoveljuxtapositionsofpreviousconceptsandremoved
perspectivesthatallowfornewholisticanalysis.Thisinformationcanbeliteralorfigurativeitcanbeabstractit
cancomeinwordsorphrasesitcanbespokenorsungitcanbevisualitcanemergeasepiphaniesorbrilliant
ideasitcanbearecalledmemoryitcanbedeliveredbyspiritentitiesinstrangelanguagesandsoon.The
informationdensityinapsychedelicsessionislayered,saturated,andcolorfullydetailed.Muchofthe
informationinapsychedelichallucinationmaybeaccuratelydescribedaskaleidoscopicnoise,butwithinthis
noisecomesawealthofsalientcontent.4
Inphysicaltermspsychedelicscreatenewinformationviaspontaneousactivationandorganizationofsensoryand
perceptualnetworks.Psychedelicinformationisexperiencedviadirectneuralfiringandistransferredtomemory
viathecreationandstrengtheningofsynapticconnectionsintheneuralnetwork.5Psychedelicinformation

generationtakesenergy,andtheinformationprocessingcapacitiesofthehumanbrainarefinite,andthusthereis
anupperlimittotheamountofinformationthatcanbegeneratedwithinasinglepsychedelicsessionbeforethe
brainbeginstodownregulateinanattempttoreturntobaseline.6
InternalIntegration
Formanyreasonsthereislossoffidelityinthetransmissionofhallucinatoryinformationfromimaginationinto
memory.Likeadream,memoriesofthepsychedelicsessionmustbecompressedintomanageablesnippetsthat
standoutwithinthelargerwashofinformation.Althoughpsychedelichallucinationsfadequicklytheycanhave
lastingemotionalimpact.Howeachpersondealswiththecontentofeachexperienceisuniquetotheirworld
view.Somepeoplemaychoosetoignorecontentderivedfromthepsychedelicexperienceothersmaycherish
anythingtheycanrememberandwillscrutinizeeachvisioninpursuitofhighermetaphysicaltruth.Duringthis
processtheinformationgeneratedduringthepsychedelictripisencodedintopersonalmemorybyforgingand
testingnewsynapticpathways.
Duringpostpsychedelicintegrationthesubjectmaybegintoreassessandmodifypersonalbeliefsandbehaviors.
Crypticandintensevisionsmayberecalledoverandover,orthesubjectmaydwellobsessivelyonnovelfeelings
experiencedduringtheirtrip.Thesubjectwilltypicallyreviewtheirpsychedelictripandcreatealasting
narrativeofthejourney,includingwhattheyexperiencedandwhattheylearned.Integrationiswherethesubject
decideswhathappenedintheexperience.Thecontentofthehallucinationisnotasimportantastheprocessby
whichthesubjecttakesthatcontentandshapesitintolastingmemories,beliefs,andbehaviorsthisistheprocess
ofencodingpsychedelicinformationintosynapticnetworks.Contentgenerationwithoutbehavioralintegrationis
essentiallymeaningless,sothetruetestamentofpsychedelicpowerisnottheabilitytoproducevisions,butthe
abilitytoimprintnewinformationandtransformbelief.
CulturalTransmission
Psychedelicvisionsdonotstayintheheadiftheydidtherewouldbenopsychedelicart,nopsychedelicmusic,
nopsychedelicspirituality,andnopsychedelicrevolution.Psychedelicsactivateaprocessinwhichtherealmof
thepsychologicalspillsoutintotherealmofthephysical.Itisclearfrom20thcenturyhistorythatpsychedelics
canfuelartisticexpression,socialexperimentation,religiousmovements,andpoliticalactivism.Thereisnoother
classofdrugswhichcanclaimtohavesuchpowerfulculturalsway.7Ifpsychedelicsonlyproduced
hallucinationstherewouldstillbelegitimatecauseforfascination,butpsychedelicsalsoinfluencecultural
movements,whichmakesthemaglobalreligiousandpoliticalforcetobereckonedwith.
Theritualbondingofsocialgroupsthoughculturaltransmissionofpsychedelicinformationisasubjectthathas
beenoverlookedinalmostallpsychedelicresearch.Notonlydopsychedelicsproducechangeattheindividual
level,theyalsoproducechangesatthegrouportriballevel,andthustheyinfluencechangeinthesocial
structuresandgoalsofhumanculture.Thespreadofpsychedelicinformationcanbesubtleorexplicit,starting
withthecreationofartinfluencedbythepsychedelicexperienceandculminatingintheindoctrinationofothers
intothepsychedelictribethroughritualsharingofthesacrament.Onceasubjecthasbeenindoctrinatedtheytoo
willspontaneouslygeneratepsychedelicinformationandbeginsharingthatinformationwithothers.This
informationprocesscascadesfrompersontopersonuntiltheculturaltransmissionofpsychedelicmemesreaches
atippingpointandbecomesopenlyadoptedandevencelebratedbytheculturalmainstream.
CulturalIntegration
Byconservativeestimatesperhaps1015%ofthepopulationhasevertriedahallucinogen.8Despitesuchlow
levelsofexposurethearchetypesofpsychedelicexperiencearewellintegratedintomodernculture.Psychedelic
subcultures(urbantribes)areactiveineverycityontheplanet.Annualpsychedelicfestivals,raves,and
massivesdrawtensofthousandsofpeopletogetherfromallcontinents.9Psychedelicinfluencesappear
constantlyinmodernfashion,music,visualarts,film,television,consumerproducts,marketing,packaging,
advertising,videogames,andsoon.Despiteyearsofprohibitionthepromiseofpsychedelicspiritualityand
psychedelictherapyisstillfreshinthepublicimagination.10Theglobalculturalintegrationofpsychedelic
informationmaynotbecomplete,butitismeasurablyonitsway.
Ithasonlybeen50yearssincetheculturalrevolutionofthe1960s,andthespeedwithwhichpsychedelicshave
influencedglobalcultureisimpressive.Overthedecadestheuseofpsychedelicshasjumpedgenerations,and

eachnewgenerationrediscoversandrepurposesthepsychedelicritualforitsownneeds.Therearereligiousand
politicalforcesactivelyseekingtocontrolorstoptheuseofpsychedelics,butifcurrenttrendscontinuethe
completeculturalintegrationofpsychedelicinformationseemsinevitable.Theremaysooncomeatimewhenthe
globalmajorityisinthepsychedelictribe,withtheuninitiatedminorityselfexcludedfromtheritual.When
psychedelicindoctrinationreachesamajorityofanypopulationthenthatculturecanbedescribedasbeing
saturatedwithpsychedelicinformation.Aculturethathasbecomesaturatedwithpsychedelicinformationwill
naturallyrecognizepsychedelicritualasalegitimateriteofpassageorspiritualpractice.11
PsychedelicInformationProcess
Thepsychedelicinformationprocessisanobservablephenomenonthathasinfluencedculturesthroughouthistory
andisnowaffectingmodernglobalculture.Atthecenterofthisinformationprocessisthepharmacological
actionofasmallnumberofmoleculeshittingatinysubsetofneuralreceptorsforarelativelyshortdurationof
time.Theongoinginformationprocessgeneratedbythissmallpharmacologicalinteractiongoesfarbeyondthe
normalrangeofwhatweexpectdrugstoaccomplish.Becausepsychedelicsdefypharmacologicalrationality
theyaremisunderstood,feared,andreveredasspiritualinorigin.Thismisunderstandingdrivesthepsychedelic
informationprocessintodivergentstreamsoftheoryandmythology,creatingthetapestryofpsychedelic
propaganda,confusion,anddisinformationwehavetoday.
Thedivergenceofpsychedelicinformationandexistenceofcompetingschoolsofpsychedelicideology
demonstratesthereisnooneobjectiveandtruepsychedelicideologyanyideologycanbeinfluencedand
amplifiedbythepsychedelicinformationprocess.Thepsychedelicinformationprocessisneutralandideology
nonspecificitappliesequallytolearning,creativity,mindcontrol,brainwashing,mysticism,sorcery,and
healing.Thepsychedelicprocessandpsychedelicarchetypescanbecooptedbyanyreligiousorpoliticalgroup
forpersonalpowergain,andpsychedelicscanbeusedasweaponsaseasilyastheycanbeusedasmedicinesor
sacraments.12Theonlyconstantbetweenalldivergentschoolsofpsychedelicideologyisthephysicalprocess
thatstimulatestheflowofnovelinformationthroughhumanneuralnetworks.Thestudyofthisinformation
processisknownasPsychedelicInformationTheory.
NotesandReferences
1.Psychedelicinformationflowwithinanycultureisafunctionofreligionandpolitics.Traditionalshamanic
culturesvaluepsychedelicinformationasaritualformofbonding,healing,anddiscovery,andencourage
psychedelicinformationflow.Industrializedcultureswithcentralizedbeliefsviewpsychedelicinformationas
subversiveandantiauthoritarian,andrepresspsychedelicexperimentationoutoffearoflosingcentralized
control.
2.Aclosescrutinyoflate20thcenturyhistoryindicatesthattherewasasmalldeclineinpsychedelicinterestin
thelate1970sand1980s,followedbyaglobalresurgenceofundergroundpsychedelicinterestinthe1990s,anda
completereturntopsychedelicresearchattheturnofthe21stcentury.Prohibitionmayslowtheflowof
psychedelicinformation,butitdoesnotstopit.
4.Thecontentofpsychedelichallucinationshasbeendescribedvividlyinmanyplaces.SeeTrippingby
CharlesHayes,ortheErowid.orgExperienceVaultsforhundredsoffascinatingfirstpersonaccounts.
5.SeeChapter13,PsychedelicNeuroplasticity.
6.GreschPJ,SmithRL,BarrettRJ,SandersBushE.,Behavioraltolerancetolysergicaciddiethylamideis
associatedwithreducedserotonin2Areceptorsignalinginratcortex.Neuropsychopharmacology.2005
Sep30(9):1693702.
7.Sincepsychoactivedrugsshapepoliticsandwarfarearoundtheworld,theclaimthatpsychedelicsaremore
influentialoncultureandculturalmovementsthanotherdrugscanbeeasilydisputed.However,psychedelicsare
uniqueintheirabilitytoquicklycatalyzetribalsubculturesbentonspontaneousaltruism,populistactivism,and
freeradicalism.
8.HHS/SAMHSA,OfficeofAppliedStudies,Ecstasy,OtherClubDrugs,&OtherHallucinogens.Internet
Reference,2008.
9.ModernpsychedelicfestivalscanbetracedtotheBeinsandAcidTestsofSanFranciscointhelate

1960s,madefamousbyTomWolfe'sTheElectricKoolAidAcidTest.Thesefestivalsevolvedinto
Woodstock,theGratefulDeadcircuit,theRainbowFamily,Raveculture,BurningMan,theBoomFestival,the
LoveParade,andothergatheringsaroundtheworlddedicatedtopsychedelicmusic,art,andculture.Attendance
atthelargestoftheseannualfestivalsisregularlyinthetenstohundredsofthousandsofpeople.
10.The2006psilocybinandmysticismstudybyRolandGriffithsbroughtnewenthusiasmtomixingpsychedelic
spiritualitywithclinicaltherapy.
11.Itiseasytoclaimthattraditionaltribalsocietiesaresaturatedwithpsychedelicinformation,butmodern
societyisnotfarbehind.Westernmediaisfilledwithpsychedelicimageryandfascinatedbyalteredstates.In
theUnitedStates,ayahuascaandpeyotearealreadyrecognizedaslegitimatereligioussacramentswithin
specificchurches,andpsychedelicdrugexperimentationisacommonriteofpassageamonguniversitystudents.
12.GroupslinkedtotheweaponizeduseofpsychedelicsincludetheMansonFamily,theSLA,AumShinrikyo,
theCIA,andtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofDefense.

Figure4.Feedbackcircuitsinvisualperceptionpathways.Sensorysignalinhumanconsciousnessprojectsup
andaroundthebrainlikeawaveasconsciousnessarisesindistinctstages.Sensationbeginswiththesensory
organsandfeedsintothethalamus(throughtheLGNforvisualpathways),whichfiltersandroutessensationinto
higherareasofthecortex.Recognitionhappensquicklyandinstinctivelyinthethalamusandmedialtemporal
lobe,focusingattentiononsalientinformation.Memoryidentifiesincomingsignalmovingupwardinthecortex,
passingdatathroughparallellayersofspatialandobjectrecognitionalongdorsalandventralpathways.
Multisensoryperceptionfinallyconvergesintheprefrontalcortexasaparsedreconstructionofrealityis
presentedforinformingrealtimebehaviors.

Chapter04:WhatisConsciousness?
Sincethistextisaboutthemanipulationofconsciousnessitisbeneficialtohaveworkingdefinitionforthisterm.
Consciousnessisdefinedhereasadynamicalinformationprocessingsystemwithspecificfunctionsand
emergentoperatingproperties,allofwhicharenecessarytomaintainsystemstability.1Theminimumspecific
functionsforanyconscioussystemare:1)perception2)recognition3)memory4)recall,and5)behavior.The
minimumspecificoperatingpropertiesforanyconscioussystemare:1)modularcoherence2)linearstability3)
feedbackcontrol4)adaptability,and5)selfawareness.Whenallofthesefunctionsandoperatingpropertiesare
workingintandemyougetsomethingresemblinghumanconsciousness.2Whenoneormoreofthefiveessential
functionsisdegradedthenconsciousnessslidesintosemiconscious,subconscious,orunconsciousmodes.When

oneormoreofthefiveoperatingpropertiesisdegradedthenconsciousnessbecomesunstableandlosesfidelity.
Adescriptionofthefunctionsandoperatingpropertiesofconsciousnessfollows.
FiveBasicFunctionsofConsciousness
Allconscioussystemsrelyonfivebasicfunctionstointeractwiththeenvironmentinrealtime.
Perception
Aconscioussystemmustreceiveinput,thisinputiscalledperception.Forhumans,perceptualinputisreceived
assensedatamovingtowardsthebrainfromtheperipheralnervoussystem.Sensationdoesnotbecomeactual
perceptionuntilitisroutedupthroughthethalamusandintohighercorticalareasforprocessing.Humansalso
perceiveinternalthoughtsandfeelings,theirownexternalbehaviors,andsmallpiecesoftheirdreams.
Perceptionislinear,itfeedsbackonitselfthroughbehaviorandrecall,anditsprimaryfunctionistoobserve
changesinenvironmentovertime.Errorsinhumanperceptionaresometimescalledhallucination.
Recognition
Datafromperceptionisparsedandmatchedagainstknownsalientpatternsthisprocessiscalledrecognition.
Humanrecognitionisdrivenbyhormonalreactiontosalientpatternspatternswhichhavehighemotional
resonance.Humanrecognitionutilizesfastnonlinearanalysisoverslowsemanticanalysis.Fastrecognitionhas
highutilitybutlowfidelity,meaningitworksquicklybutmustbedoublecheckedbylinearmemoryforaccuracy.
Recognitioniscontextual,multisensory,associative,anditsfunctionistofindsalientdatainincomingperception.
Nonlinearrecognitionerrorsincludefalseidentification,misrepresentation,anddjvu.
Memory
Allsalientpatternsarestoredinmemory.Patternsstoredinmemoryarematchedagainstincomingdatafor
recognitiontheyarealsomatchedagainstpossiblesolutionsforrecall.Inhumansmemoryisimprintedby
emotionalresonance,reinforcedthroughlinearrepetition,andpotentiatedthoughnonlinearcontextualassociation.
Humanmemoryhasmanylayerssemantic,eidetic,associative,andpotentiallyholographic.Multilayered
humanmemoryinvolveslongtermpotentiationandlossycompression,butthiscompressionalsoincludes
indexingredundancytoservefastrecallandrecognitionofsalientdata.
Recall
Recallusesassociativepatternsstoredinmemorytomakeinformeddecisionsbasedonlogic.Unlikerecognition,
whichisspontaneousandintuitive,recallusesnegativefeedbacktoinhibitdetrimentalsolutionsandpositive
feedbacktostimulateadvantageoussolutions.Recalliscyclicalandassociative,meaningitcanusebothnegative
andpositivefeedbacktocyclethroughandevaluatemanyhypotheticalscenariosbeforerestingonafinal
decision.3Themainfunctionofrecallistoanalyzepatternsstoredinmemorytoinformintelligentdecisionsand
behaviorsinrealtime.
Behavior
Aconscioussystemperformsbehaviorsbasedoninput.Humanbehaviortakestheformofbothinternaland
externalactions.Internalbehaviors,suchasthinkingthoughtsandfeelingemotions,transformmemoryandrecall
intologicaldecisionsexternalbehaviorstranslateinternaldecisionsintooutwardactions.Humanbehavioris
linearandserialbehaviorsareperformedinsequenceoneatatime,typicallywiththoughtsandemotions
precedingandinformingtheintentofaction.Bothinternalandexternalbehaviorsfeedbackintoperception,
closingtheloopontheperceptualfeedbackprocess.
OperatingPropertiesofConsciousness
Whenallofthefunctionsofconsciousnessareupandrunningthesystembeginstotakeoncertainfamiliar
operatingproperties.Thesebasicpropertiesarewhatwewouldexpectfromanyconscioussystem,andany
conscioussystemthatlosesthesepropertieswillalsobecomeunstableandlosefidelityofperceptionand
memory.
ModularCoherence
Inordertoperformlikeaseamless,integratedsystem,consciousnessmusthavesomemeansofsynchronizing

performancebetweenmodularsubfunctions.Functionalcooperationbetweendifferentareasofthebrainis
measuredintermsofcoupledneuraloscillators,neuralspikesynchrony,andcoherenceofnetworkoscillations.4
Wakingconsciousnessoscillateswithinthealphaandbetarangeshighfrequencygammacoherenceis
associatedwiththefastbindingofcorticalnetworksnecessaryforperceptionandconsciousness.5Modular
coherenceisthefirstoperatingpropertyofaconscioussystemprecisetimingbetweenallareasisnecessaryfor
multisensoryintegration.Withoutcoherencethemodularsubfunctionsofconsciousnessloseinteroperabilityand
destabilize.
LinearStability
Consciousnesscanperformmanydifferentfunctions,butitonlyperformsonefunctionatatime.Thefunctional
rangeofconsciousnessislinearandmovespredictablyfromstatetostatewiththepassageoftime.
Consciousnesstransitionsseamlesslyfromonebehaviortothenext.Consciousnessretainsstatedataandreacts
logicallytoenvironmentalchange.Inconscioussystemstheperceptionofthepassageoftimeremainsconstant.
Theabilitytoremainfocusedontheenvironmentandperformsequenced,goalorientedbehaviorsinrealtimeis
anoperationalbaselineforallconscioussystems.
FeedbackControl
Conscioussystemsmustbeabletomonitorandcontroltheirownstabilityandperformbehaviorstomodulate
systeminputandoutput.Allconscioussystemsmusthavesomeformoffeedbackcontroltoretainobjectfocus,
retainstatedata,refinebehaviors,performstatetransitions,andmaintainlinearstability.Withoutfeedback
control,adynamicalinformationprocessingsystemispronetooutputexuberance,memoryoverload,anderror.6
Adaptability
Aconscioussystemmustbeabletostorepatterns,predictoutcomes,learnnewbehaviors,andreacttoexternal
variablechange.Adaptabilityandtheabilitytolearnfromexperienceisanepiphenomenaorspontaneous
operatingpropertyofafunctionallystableconsciousness.Intelligentsystemsthatdonotexhibitadaptabilityonly
mimicsomeofthefunctionsandpropertiesofconsciousnesswithoutactuallyachievingfullconsciousness.
SelfAwareness
Aconscioussystemmustbeawareofitselfandbeabletorecognizeotherconscioussystems.Selfawarenessis
anepiphenomenaofthefunctionsandpropertiesofconsciousnessmaintaininglinearstabilitythroughtime.Self
awarenessandtheabilitytorecognizeandinteractwithotherconscioussystemsmaybethetruestandmost
objectivetestofanystableconsciousness.
ModularConsciousness
Themostdramaticwaytodemonstratethefragilityofconsciousnessistoloseit.Wesleepeverynight,and
sleepingisaverylimitedformofconsciousnesswheremostofthefunctionsandpropertiesdisappear.Whenwe
sleepwecannotholdstateinformationfromonemomenttothenext,thuswelosecontextualdataandself
awareness.Indreamswehaveperceptionsandperformbehaviors,buttheyarenotlinearnordowehavemuch
controloverthem.Indeepsleepallfunctionsofconsciousnessgoofflineandalmostentirelyshutdown.When
wewakeupthesefunctionsslowlyreturnandthenrestabilizeintoanalertwakingmode.Consciousnessturns
itselfoffconsciousnessturnsitselfbackon.
Sleepinganddreamingdemonstratethatthebasicfunctionsofconsciousnessaremodularandinterdependent
theycanoperateindividuallyaswellasinspecializedgroupings.Themodularfunctionsofconsciousnesscanbe
switchedoffandoninanyorderwithoutaffectingthelongtermstabilityofthefullyoperationalsystem.The
modularityofconsciousnessbecomesevidentincasesofbraintraumaormentalillnesseswherethesubjectloses
somefunctionsofconsciousnessbutretainsothers.7Whenconsciousnessisstablewecannottellitismodularit
runsasaseamlesswholeoranintegratedsystem.Whenconsciousnessdestabilizesthemodularunitsuncouple
andrevealthemselvestobesubpersonalpiecesofalargeridentityprocess.Thelossofmultisensoryperception
andthesplinteringofconsciousnessintomultipleindependentprocessescanaccuratelybedescribedasan
alteredstateofconsciousness.
PsychedelicConsciousness

Ifconsciousnessismodularandthemodularfunctionscaninteroperateinmultipleconfigurations,itisreasonable
toassumetherearemultipleconfigurationsofsubandmetaconsciousnessthatarerarelyexplored.Thelinear
statesofconsciousnessweexperiencedailyarecontrolledbyatopdownhomeostaticregulator,8butwhenwe
shortcircuitthisregulatorwefindthatmodularsubfunctionsofconsciousnesscanbedestabilized,uncoupled,
andaccessedinnovelways.Allformsofmysticismrelyonradicaldestabilizationofhomeostasis.9EEGstudies
ofsubjectswithhallucinogenpersistingperceptiondisorder(HPPD)haveshownthatwhenthevisualcortexloses
coherencewithotherareasofthebrainandcoherenceamonglocalvisualnetworksincreases,spontaneous
hallucinationsareproduced.10Sensorydeprivationforaslittleasfifteenminutesisallthatisnecessaryto
uncouplethevisualcortexandhaveitstartproducingcoherentselfsustaininghallucinations.11Thiscanbe
describedassleeponsetvisualization,similartodaydreamingorluciddreaming,andissometimescalledthe
prisonerscinemabecauseextendedperiodsofsolitaryconfinementalsoproducethiseffect,asdoesmacular
degenerationoftheretina.Thisdemonstratesthatwhenmodularfunctionsofthebrainareuncoupledfromtop
downcoherencetheydonotalwaysdisappear,theymayalsospontaneouslyorganizeintomorelocallycoherent
configurations.Thisuncoupledandlocallycoherentactivitycanproducewanderingornonlinearsensationin
lowerbrainareaswhichfloatsuptoconsciousawarenessaslinearperception.Thisisaneatformaldefinitionfor
statesofdreaming,creativevisualization,andhallucination.
PsychedelicInformationTheorypositsthattheuncoupledsubfunctionsofmodularconsciousness,actingeither
aloneorinnovelpeergroupings,areresponsibleforthesubjectivealteredstatesclassifiedashallucinogenic,
dissociative,andpsychedelic.Allhallucinogensmustfirstdestabilizetopdowncoherenceofconsciousnessto
producenovelstatesofspontaneousorganizationbetweenthemodularsubunitsthisishowallhallucination
begins.Dissociativesdisrupttopdowncoherencebyblockingtheexcitatorypathwaysthatallowthemodular
unitstocommunicate.Psychedelicshaveamoresubtleeffectontopdowncoherencetheyperiodicallyinterrupt
orexcitethemodulatoryfrequencyofmultisensoryframebinding,causingperceptiontodestabilizeintoenergetic
nonlinearconfigurations.12Bydestabilizingthetopdowncontrolofconsciousness,psychedelicsallowthe
modularsubfunctionstowanderand/orinteractwithcoupledpeersindedicatedsubsystemssimilartothe
dedicatedcircuitcreatedbetweenperceptionandmemorywhendreaming.
Destabilizingorsplinteringconsciousnessintonovelconfigurationsistheessenceofpsychedelicexploration.
Whenconsciousnessbifurcatesorsplits,subjectiveperceptioninstantlybecomesmorechaoticandcomplex.
Splinteredconsciousnessmayactuallyappeartobeintwoplacesatonce,stuckinasuperpositionbetween
wakinganddreaming,findingstabilityintwosimultaneousperceptualstates,alsoknowasmultistabilityamulti
stablestate.Novelconfigurationsofsplinteredormultistableconsciousnesscanbedescribedasnonlinear,
complex,meta,transpersonal,depersonalized,faceted,holistic,higherdimensional,expanded,mystical,
subconscious,semiconsciousness,andsoon.Splintering,reconfiguring,andrebuildingthemodularsubunitsof
identityaretechniquesthatmaybeappliedinbrainwashingormetaprogramming,13butalsofallundertherubric
ofmysticismandshamanism.Bysubvertingandreorganizingthemodularfunctionsoflinearconsciousness,
psychedelicsexpandthefunctionalrangeofconsciousnesstoincludemanynovelstatesofmultistable
complexity.Thesecomplexperceptualstates,alsoknownasexpandedstatesofconsciousness,aretheoriginof
hallucinationandthesourceofallthepsychedelicinformationthathasinfluencedhumanmythology,religion,art,
science,andculture.
NotesandReferences
1.Thereisapopularschoolofthoughtwhichpositsthatconsciousnessprecedesphysicality,andthatforthereto
beatomsandmoleculesandgalaxiestheremustfirstbeconsciousness.Thisisaverybroaddefinitionof
consciousnesswhichshouldbesavedformoremetaphysicaldiscussions.
2.Thefunctionsandoperatingpropertiesofconsciousnessdescribedhereareasimplificationofthefunctionsof
thehumanbrain,buttheyareanampleenoughdescriptionformodelinghumanconsciousnessinanyenvironment.
3.Thisdefinitionofdeliberativerecallissimplifiedandbasedonprinciplesofdeductiveandinductivereasoning.
Thisdefinitioncompressesamuchlargerdiscussiononthevarioustypesofneurallogicanddoesnotaccountfor
humanemotionalirrationality,butitistheminimumdefinitionneededtomodeltheoutputofhumanreasoning.
4.Thesocalledbindingproblemofmultisensoryperceptionisapproachedfromavarietyofdirections,but
currenttheoriesrelyonmeasuringthestrength,frequency,synchrony,andresonanceofspikewavespropagating

throughneuralassemblies.Therearemanywaystoestimatetherelativecooperationbetweenseparatedbrain
areasbasedontheirwaveproperties.Coherenceisatermusedtoindicatestrongsignalcooperationbetween
separatedareas.Areasthatarehighincoherencemayactlikecoupledoscillatorsinafeedbackcircuit,orthey
maytaketheformofparallelcircuitsengagedinasynchronizedbutdistributedprocessingtask.
5.MeadorKJ,etal.,Gammacoherenceandconsciousperception.Neurology200259:847854.
6.WikiPedia.org,ControlTheory.InternetReference,2010.
7.ThemostcompellingexamplesofmentalillnesseswhichdestabilizeconsciousnessareAlzheimer'sdisease,
whichaffectsmemory,andschizophrenia,whichaffectscoherenceandlinearstability.Thesetwoexamples
compressamuchlargerdiscussionofhowthedegradationorlossofspecificfunctionsandoperatingproperties
ofconsciousnessleadtospecificpathologies.
8.Topdownmodulationofwakingconsciousnessisafunctionofaminergicmodulationintheforebrain
serotoninanddopaminefocusingandmaintainingattentionbuttotalhomeostaticregulationofbrainandbodyis
generallyconsideredtobeafunctionofthehypothalamus.FromWikiPedia:Thehypothalamuscoordinates
manyhormonalandbehavioralcircadianrhythms,complexpatternsofneuroendocrineoutputs,complex
homeostaticmechanisms,andmanyimportantbehaviors.
9.Fasting,chanting,meditation,trancedancing,isolationtanks,mindmachines,andothernondrugvisionary
practicesareritualsdesignedtodestabilizehomeostasisthroughdeprivationandhypnoticrepetition.Psychedelic
drugsachievemoredramaticresultsbydirectlyinterruptingneuromodulatorypathwaysatthereceptorsite.
10.AbrahamHD,DuffyFH,EEGcoherenceinpostLSDvisualhallucinations.PsychiatryRes.2001Oct
1107(3):15163.
11.MasonOJ,BradyF,Thepsychotomimeticeffectsofshorttermsensorydeprivation.JNervMentDis.2009
Oct197(10):7835.
12.SeeChapter06,ControlInterruptModelofPsychedelicAction.
13.MetaprogrammingisthetermJohnLillychoseinthetext,ProgrammingandMetaprogramminginthe
HumanBiocomputer.Splinteringisatermusedinbrainwashingtodescribetheprocessofbreakingthesubjects
identityintomultiplepiecesthroughstressexercises,makingthemvulnerabletoimprintingandmanipulation.

Chapter05:LimitsofHumanPerception
Anydiscussionofpsychedelichallucinationisadiscussionofthespontaneousemergenceofinformationin
humanperception.Humanperceptionislimitedbythecapacityofsenseorgansthespeedandarchitectureofthe
neuralnetworkandthenumberofdistinctperceptionsthebraincananalyzeatanyonetime.Despitefunctional
limitations,humanconsciousnessisseamless,meaningthateachperceptionandbehaviorflowssmoothlyfrom
onetothenext.Whenconsciousnessisstable,perceptionandbehaviorisseamlesslyintegratedwhen
consciousnessdestabilizes,perceptionandbehaviorlosecohesionuntilwearenolongerincontrolofour
thoughtsandactions.Destabilizationofconsciousnesscanhappenallatonce,inthecaseofbeingknocked
unconscious,butmoreoftenithappensincrementally,asingoingtosleep.
Psychedelicsareuniqueinthattheycanbothenhanceanddegradeperceptuallimitationsbyordersofdegrees
psychedelicscanobscureanddistortperceptualdata,ortheycanenhanceresolutionandgenerateexpanded
statesofconsciousness.Thesecontrastingresultsmaybedosedependent,butitisalsopossiblethatpsychedelics
simultaneouslyproduceperceptualdegradationandenhancement.Psychedelichallucinationsareoftendescribed
asbeingbeyondthelimitsofhumanimagination,atraitwhichisofferedasdefactoevidenceofexpanded
consciousnessorsupernaturaldominion.Sincetheboundariesofthehumanimaginationcanbemodeledwith
someclosedegreeofaccuracy,anysubstantialdiscussionaboutthenatureofpsychedelichallucinationmust
thereforestartwithsomebasicassumptionsaboutthelimitationsofhumanperception,andthusthefunctional
limitationsofexpandedconsciousness.
TheVisualSpectrum

ThehumanvisualspectrumhasevolvedtoworkbestinasmallwindowofsunlightpenetratingtheEarths
atmosphere,comprisingthewhitelightbandseeninarainbowroughlythe400790THz(terahertz)energyrange
whichoscillatesontheorderofhundredsoftrillionsofcyclespersecond.Thesmallestwavelengthofvisible
lightisviolet,whichisonly380nm(nanometers)wideandtravelswiththehighestfrequency.Red,bycontrast,
is750nmlongontheotherendofthevisiblespectrum,andattwicethelengthittravelsathalfthefrequency.1
Unlikesomeorganisms,thehumaneyedoesnotseeintoultravioletorinfraredrages,nordoesitseemicrowaves,
radiowaves,xrays,gammarays,oranythingthatfallsoutofthevisualspectrum.Thisalsoappliestonight
visionanddarkadaptedvision.Thedarkadaptedeyeutilizestherodcellsasopposedtotheconecellsof
daylightvisionrodcellsaremorephotosensitiveandmorenumerous,buttheylackthecolorsensitivityanddetail
resolutionofdaylightrendering.2
Subjectsonpsychedelicsoftenreportincreasedluminosityandsaturationofcolors,aswellashalosoraurasof
lightsurroundingobjectsthisimpliesanincreaseincolorsaturationandphotosensitivitylikelyrelatedtodilated
pupilsassociatedwith5HT2Aagonism.Inclosedeyeorlowlightenvironmentssubjectsreportvividlysaturated
geometricmatricesrenderedinswirlingpalettesoffluorescentpurpleandneongreen.3Allofthesereportsfall
withintheexpectedrangeofanoverlysaturatedvisiblecolorspectrum,withthedarkadaptedeyefindingmore
sensitivityintheshorterwavelength,higherfrequency,violettogreenranges.
Thereisspeculationthatpsychedelichallucinationistheresultoftuningthebraintoreceivecosmicradiationata
widerbandwidththannormalbandsassociatedwithelectromagnetic,metaphysical,morphogenetic,Akashic,or
geomagneticfields.Thissocalledspectralargumentpositsthatinsteadofproducingconsciousness,thehuman
brainactsasaradioreceiverforconsciousness,andpsychedelicsallowtheusertotunethebraintonew
perceptualfrequencies,possiblyhigherdimensionalinnature.Thismetaphormaymakeintuitivesense,butno
researchexiststoconfirmanyspectraladvantagetopsychedelicsotherthanincreasedphotosensitivityandsome
visualacuityatlowdoses.4,5,6Subjectivereportsindicatethatpsychedelicsmayincreaseauditoryorsynesthetic
sensitivitytoelectromagneticbackgroundnoise,andtheperceptionofenergyfieldsoraurasemanatingfrom
livingorganismsisreportedoftenenoughtowarrantfurtherscientificscrutiny,buttheseclaimshavenotbeen
testedrigorouslyenoughtobeconclusive.7Thespectralargumentisfurtherweakenedbytheobservationthatif
thehumaneyecanbetunedtoseeanovelfrequencyrange,amechanicalspectrumanalyzershouldalsobeable
topickupinformationonthatsamefrequency.Todatenohiddenpsychedelicspiritualenergyfieldshavebeen
detectedbyeventhemostsensitivespectralscanningdevices.

Figure5.Troxlersfadingillusiondemonstratestemporaldecayofperipheralfilling.Stareatthedotincenterof

imageandholdeyesperfectlystillforacountof20.Theborderaroundthedotwillbeingtofade.Blinkingor
movingtheeyeswillbringthefadingareasback.FromWikiPedia.
VisualFrameAliasing
Seamlessperceptionreliesonrapidframeupdatingtorenderexternalchangesinrealtime.Humanscanrender
changesinrealityatroughly1315framespersecond(fps,orHz),whichmeansthathumanrealityfully
refreshesroughlyonceevery77milliseconds(ms),andopeneyesaturationofperipheralfillingfullyfadesat
around1020seconds(Fig.5).Humanframeperceptionisexploitedbyanimationandfilm,whichupdatesat24
fps,andtelevision,whichupdatesnear30fps.Computermonitorsandhighdefinitiontelevisionsrefreshat60Hz
orhigher,andatthisratehumanperceptionofmotionisentirelyseamless.8Therateofhumanframeperception
correspondsroughlytothealertbetarangeofwakinghumanconsciousness(1230Hz)seeninEEGreadings.9
Anyeventwhichhappensfasterthan1/60thofasecond(16.6ms)fallsbetweenperceptualframesandis
consideredtobesubliminalorimperceptibletohumanconsciousness.10Seamlessframerenderingisalsocalled
temporalaliasing,andcanbesubvertedbyavarietyofcommonphenomena,includingstroboscopiclightswhich
breakmotionsintojerkysnapshots,andwagonwheelillusionswhererotatingspokesappeartostoporspin
backwards.11,12,13
Inadditiontoretainingvisualinformation,perceptualframesholdthetotalityofmultisensoryrendering.Smooth
framealiasingpreservessemanticstateinformationfromonemomenttothenext,andretainsfidelityof
informationheldinworkingmemory.Thereisevidencethatthebraincantrackmultipleobjectlayersforeach
frame14possiblycorrespondingtothenumberofdistinctitemswecansustaininworkingmemory,whichis
aboutseven.15Framerenderingisadistributedcorticaltaskmodulatedbytheaminergicsystem.Highaminergic
modulationofthefrontallobeisagoodindicatorofexternalframealertness.Anydrugwhichinterruptsthe
precisetimingoftheaminergicmodulatorysystemwillalsodisrupttheseamlessnatureoftemporalframe
aliasinginthesamewaythatastrobelightdisruptsthemotionofaspinningwheel.Temporalaliasing
hallucinationsincludeframestacking,framedelay,framefreezing,framereverse,frameecho,andinfiniteframe
regressionallofwhichareconsideredtobeuniquelypsychedelic.16Thesensationofhallucinogenicframe
stackingindicatesthatpsychedelicsmaycreateatemporaryframedecaybufferthatallowsforsimultaneous
multiframeanalysisandincreasedcomplexityofvisualcomprehension.Subvertingorenhancingthelimitsof
visualframealiasingisanindicationofexpandedconsciousness.

Figure6.Theperipheraldriftillusion(PDI)iseasilyseenwhenthisimageisinthevisualperiphery.Research
suggeststheillusionisbasedontemporaldifferencesintrackingluminancealongfourdegreesofgradation.The
fourstepgradientprocessingproducesatemporallymismatchedcontrastsignalthatfoolstheperipheralmotion
system.WikiPedia,Faubert&Herbert,1998.
VisualFrameResolution
Humanvisualresolutionislimitedbyanumberoffactors.Thefirstlimitationisthedensityanddistributionof
retinaintheeye130millionphotoreceptorsfeedinginto1.2millionopticprojections,withaspatialcompression
ratioofroughly100to1.Photoreceptorsintheeyearedistributedinringswithcolorsensitiveconesclustering

towardsthecenterandcontrastsensitiverodsfillingtheperiphery.17Despitethelargenumberofphotoreceptors
thefieldofvisionisincomplete.Includingtheblindspotwheretheretinaattachestotheopticnerve,asmuchas
20%ofperipheralvisioncontainsgapsthatmustbefilledwithprogressiverendering.Incomingringsofvisual
datamustbesmoothedintolinesandshadesinthevisualcortexaprocessthatcanproduceartifactsofthe
spatialnetworkwhendestabilized.18Thesmoothedvisualimageisthenpassedforwardintwodivergent
projectionsforspatialandobjectanalysis,andthefinishedimagereachesmultimodalconvergenceinthePFC
(Fig.4).19Thisisafairbitofsignaljugglingforanyprocessortohandleat15framespersecond.
Eventhoughhumanvisionemployselaboratecompressionandreconstructiontechniques,thehumaneyecan
detectvisualdetailatresolutionsintothemicrometerrange.Fromametersdistancethehumaneyecannotdetect
detailunder100micrometersinlength,makingprintresolutionsof300dotsperinch(DPI)entirelyseamless.
Someestimatesputthedetailofhumanvisualresolutionat14millionpixelspertheentirevisualfieldorbythe
3Dtopographicalfieldrenderinglimitof10billiontrianglespersecond,or760milliontrianglesperframe.8
Humandetailresolutionisonlyreliablenearthecenterofvisionmanyopticalillusionsexploitperceptualfilling
functionsoftheperiphery(Figs.5&6).20,21,22Giventhemechanicalshortcomingsofperipheralrendering,
theseestimatesshouldbetakenasvisualsaturationpointsasopposedtofunctionalcapacities.
Therenderingofvisualinformationmaybethemostcomplexandenergyintensivetaskofthehumanbrain.
Seamlessvisualperceptionrequirespreciseneuralfiring.Whenperceptiondestabilizesthevisualfieldfalls
apartthemostcommonlyreportedformofvisualdestabilizationisdiplopiaordoublevision.Sincevisual
renderingissorichandcomplex,itispotentiallytheeasiestpartofthebraintodestabilize.Inotherwords,visual
renderingissoelaborateandtimedependentitcanbeeasilyfooledbyhallucinationandillusion.
Dreaming,Imagination,Psychosis,Hallucination
Whiletheinformationresolutionofimaginationanddreamsisdifficulttomeasure,itiswidelyagreedthatdream
perceptionislessresolvedindetailthanwakingperception.Dreamsareincompletecontextualstatedataisnot
retainedfromframetoframeandthusthedurabilityofdreamdatafallsapartunderclosescrutiny.Sometimes
dreamscanbevividtothepointofbeingindistinguishablefromreality,containingpeopleandplacesand
narrativesthatretainstateinformationovermanydifferentsequences,butmoreoftendreamsarefleetingand
halfremembered,lastingonlyafewsecondsbeforefading.
Visualrenderingofhumanimaginationismoredurablethandreams,butisalsoverylowinresolution.Humans
canimagineobjects,people,andplacesintheirminds,buthumanvisualimaginationisnottypically
photorealistic.Humanmemoryismoresemanticthaneidetic,meaningthatwakingthoughtsaremostlyverbal,
emotional,andonlyminimallyvisual.Mosthumanscanimaginebasicshapes,outlines,andsensualconceptsa
smallerpercentagecanimaginetopographicalmapsandrotate3Dobjectsintheirmind.Visualizingasimple
objectlikeacubeorapyramidisacognitivetaskthatrequiresfullconcentrationandevenatpeakvisualization
theinternalizedformrarelyrisesbeyondablurrysilhouette.Theexceptiontothislimitationisdreamingor
daydreaming,wheneideticorphotographicsnapshotsbubbleupintoconsciousnessalmostfullyformed.The
emergenceofdreamlikeeideticinformationintowakingconsciousnessisusuallyaspontaneousreflexfew
peoplehavefullcontroloverphotorealisticrenderingofimaginationandmemory.23,24
Havingfullyformedvisionsspontaneouslyeruptingintoconsciousnessissometimescalledoveractive
imagination,daydreaming,vividmemoryrecall,eideticmemory,photographicmemory,emergentideation,
hallucination,orpsychosis.Eachofthesemodesofinternalvisualizationischaracterizedbyadifferentintensity
anddurationofimaginarydetailthemoreintenseanddurablethephantomdetail,thelessitlookslike
imaginationandthemoreitbeginstolooklikepsychosis.Mediatingtransitionsbetweenexternalalertnessand
internalvisualizationisabaselineforperceptualstabilityconfusingthetwowouldbeproblematic.Thefunction
ofinternalvisualizationisactivatedbythemedialtemporallobeandmodulatedbyneurotransmitteracetylcholine
psychedelicspresumablyactivatethisfunctionspontaneouslybyinterruptingaminergicalertnessofthe
forebrain.25Ifpsychedelichallucinationscapitalizeonthebrainscapacitytoproducevividdreamlikeimages,
wewouldexpectthedetailofapsychedelicframetomatchtheinformationprofileofadreamframelow
informationresolution,fleetinganderraticstatedata,lowformaldurabilityfromframetoframe.Thismeansthat
contextualinformationsuchasidentity,location,andpurposewouldalsomorphandtransitionmanytimesover
theperiodofafewseconds.

Ifthequalityofahallucinogenicframematchestheformalqualityofadreamframe,onecouldexpect
psychedelicvisionstobeoflowerresolutionthannormalvisionbutsubjectivereportsindicatethatmultiple
layersofdreamingandwakingconsciousnesscanoverlapinasingleframe,creatingacomplexoverlayofboth
realandimaginedperceptions.Beingunabletoseparateimaginationfromrealityistheclinicaldefinitionof
psychosis,butalsoimpliesanincreaseinpotentialframeinformationdensity,whichimpliesexpanded
consciousness.

Figure7.Mandalasandcalendarsrepresentinguniversalharmonyandknowledge.Toprow:aKalachakratime
wheelmandalaaMesoamericancalendar.Bottomrow:amandalaoftheenlightenedBuddhaamandalaofthe
WheelofLife(Bhavacakra,orsamsara).Nonlinearartembedsholographicinformationsuchasanentire
cosmologyintoasingleimage.
TheLimitsofExpandedConsciousness
Ifthehumanimaginationisinfinite,andifpsychedelicscanexpandthecapacityofhumanimagination,then
psychedelicscanparadoxicallymaketheinfiniteevenmoreinfinite.Thismakessenseifyouacceptthatinfinity
isalinearconceptwhichstartsatzeroandgoesinonedirectionforeverbutifinfinityisbentintoaseriesof
repeatingloopsandspiralsthenitbeginstolookmorelikeafractalthanaline,andthusmorepsychedelic.
Humanperceptionislinear,buthumansliveinanonlinearsystem.Oneofthebasiclimitationsofhuman
consciousnessintheinabilitytothinkexponentiallyevenwithmathematicstoassistus,envisioningand
predictingexponentiallycomplexsystemsisavastconceptualhurdle.Psychedelicsdestabilizelinearperceptions
ofspaceandtimetoproducefractalstatesofframelayering,bifurcation,andinfiniteframerecursion.This
allowsperceptiontobecomeexponential,toexistinmultiplestatesatonce,muchlikeaquantumcomputerthat
processesmultiplesimultaneousprobabilities.Ifnormalhumanimaginationisboundwithinthelimitsoflinear
infinity,psychedelicperceptionisexpandedtothelimitsofexponentialorfractalinfinity.Psychedelicperception
presentsaprogressivenonlinearbifurcationofrecursiveselfsimilarinformationcorrespondingtobothinternal
andexternalperceptualspace.Thepsychedeliclayering,bifurcating,andregressionofinternalandexternal
perceptionscreatesatimeless,transpersonalperspectiveofafractalrenderingoftimeandspace.26
Theperceptionofseeingalltimeandspaceunfoldingasasingleunifiedfunctionisathemethathasbeen

reproducedinEasternmandalasandMesoamericancalendarsforthousandsofyears,whereacentralfiguresits
inthecenterofconcentricinterlockingringsofreality(Fig.7).InSanskritthisgreatwheeloftimeiscalled
Kalachakra(timewheel),andKalachakrayogaemphasizestheinterlockingselfsimilarityofbodycyclesand
celestialcycles.27ThedescriptionofKalachakraoverlapswithMesoamericancyclicalcalendarsandspiritual
themes,expressedbyMariaSabina,theOaxacanhealerwhofirstsharedthemagicmushroomknownas
TeonanacatlwithR.GordonWasson.Sabinasaid,ThemoreyougoinsidetheworldofTeonanacatlyousee
ourpastandourfuture,whicharetheretogetherasathingalreadyachieved,alreadyhappenedIknewand
sawGod:animmenseclockthatticks,thespheresthatgoslowlyaround,andinsidethestars,theearth,the
entireuniverse,theday,thenightHewhoknowstotheendthesecretofTeonanacatlcanevenseethatinfinite
clockwork. 28ThisisundoubtedlyareferencetoKalachakra,thegreatwheeloftime.
WitnessingthetimelessinfinityofKalachakracanbecomparedtoWesternmodelsofGnosticismand
Hermeticism(AsAbove,SoBelow)wherethepinnacleofmysticalachievementischannelingtheinfinite
wisdomoftheuniversalspirit29orearlyDeistnotionsofaGodasagreatClockmakerwhosettheuniversein
motionandletitrunwithoutintervention.30AccordingtoMariaSabinasreport,thesubjectiveexperienceofthe
infiniteclockworkisanendsecretofpsychedelicvisionthisiswhereyouarriveifyoufollowtheprocessof
fractalinformationregressiontothebeginningandendofalltime.ThethoughtofexperiencingKalachakraas
expressedbyMariaSabinastretchestheboundariesofbelievability,butthesubjectivereportsofatimeless,
infinitepsychedelicspacewherethesizeoftheuniverseisrevealedandeverythinginthepastandthefuturehas
alreadyoccurrediscommonenoughtoconcludethatthisexperienceisnotonlypossible,butthatitmightbethe
endpointofexpandedhumanconsciousness.31
NotesandReferences
1.WikiPedia.org,Visiblespectrum.InternetReference,2010.
2.MillerREII,Col(RET),TheEyeandNightVision.USAFSpecialReport,NightVisionManualforthe
FlightSurgeon,1992.
3.Accountsofcolorsseenintryptaminehallucinationsfromsubjectivereports.
4.HillRM,FischerR,Interpretationofvisualspaceunderdruginducedergotropicandtrophotropicarousal.
AgentsActions,1971Nov2(3):12230.
5.FischerR,etal.,Psilocybininducedcontractionofnearbyvisualspace.AgentsActions,1970Aug1(4):190
7.
6.FischerR,Effectsofpsychodyslepticdrugpsilocybinonvisualperception.Changesinbrightness
preference.Experientia,1969Feb1525(2):1669.
7.Accountsofseeingaurastakenfromsubjectivereports.Casualteststoconfirmspectralclaimshavebeen
inconclusive.
8.MichaelF.Deering,LimitsofHumanVision.SunMicrosystems,1998.
9.WikiPedia.org,Electroencephalography.InternetReference,2010.
10.WikiPedia.org,Subliminalstimuli.InternetReference,2010.
11.VanRullenR,etal.,TheContinuousWagonWheelIllusionandtheWhenPathwayoftheRightParietal
Lobe:ARepetitiveTranscranialMagneticStimulationStudy.PLoSONE3(8):August6,2008.
12.WikiPedia.org,Wagonwheeleffect.InternetReference,2010.
13.BachM,Wagonwheeleffect.FromMichaelsOpticalIllusions&VisualPhenomena.InternetReference,
2010.
14.VanRullen,Rufin,ThecontinuousWagonWheelIllusionisobjectbased.VisionResearchVolume46,
Issue24,November2006,Pages40914095.
15.WikiPedia.org,Workingmemory.InternetReference,2010.
16.SeeChapter12,ErraticHallucination.

17.WikiPedia.org,Retina.InternetReference,2010.
18.Gutkin,Pinto,Ermentrout,MathematicalNeuroscience:FromNeuronstoCircuitstoSystems.Journalof
PhysiologyParis97(2003)209219.
19.LeDoux,Joseph,SynapticSelf.VikingPenguin,NY,2002.
20.WikiPedia.org,Peripheraldriftillusion.InternetReference,2008.
21.WikiPedia.org,Gridillusion.InternetReference,2010.
22.Pinna,Baingio,PinnaIllusion.Scholarpedia,4(2):6656,2009.
23.Thelowrenderingofhumanvisualimaginationistakenfromasurveyofsubjectivereports.Thequalityof
internalvisualizationisenhancedbyclosingtheeyesandfallingintoastatelikemeditatingordaydreaming.
24.Hobson,J.Allan,TheDreamDrugstore:ChemicallyAlteredStatesofConsciousness.MITPress,2001.
25.HobsonJA,etal.,TheneuropsychologyofREMsleepdreaming.NeuroReport9:3,pR1R14,16February
1998.
26.Afractalisanonlinearalgorithmsthatrepeatsabasicsetofinstructionstogeneratecomplex,selfsimilar,
recurrentpatternsfrommicroscopictomacroscopictocosmicscales.
27.WikiPedia.org,Kalachakra.InternetReference,2010.
28.SchultesRE,HofmannA,PlantsoftheGods.HealingArtsPress,Vermont,1992.
29.WikiPedia.org,Hermeticism.InternetReference,2010.
30.WikiPedia.org,Watchmakeranalogy.InternetReference,2010.
31.ExploringthemysticalimplicationsofKalachakra,thegreatfractaltimewheel,hasfilledmanyvolumesand
fueledmanyprophecies.ThereisasolidcasetobemadethatKalachakraisthepinnacleofallmystical
achievementtheendofpsychedelicexplorationandtheendpointofhumanconsciousness.Sincethepsychedelic
Godheadisatranscendentstateoftimeless,infinite,omniscientconsciousness,itisdoubtfulthatanythingmore
complexorexpansivecaneverbeexperiencedbythehumanmind,markingthefunctionalendpointofexpanded
consciousness.

Figure8.StabilizedandDestabilizedPerception.

Stableperceptionrefreshesat15framespersecond,allowingseamlessupdateofconsciousnessinthebetarange
of1230Hz,indicatedbythewave.Atthisrefreshrateobjectsandtexturescanberenderedwithhighprecision.

Whenthepreciseframerefreshrateofperceptionisinterrupted,consciousnessdestabilizesandbeginstotrack
overlappinginformationfrommultiplerecedingframes.Destabilization,feedback,andlatencyofframerefresh
createssensoryechoandcomplexframeinterferencepatterns.

Chapter06:TheControlInterruptModelofPsychedelicAction
Thebrainisaninformationprocessingorganthatusestopdownsignalmodulationtocontroltheflowofbottom
upsensoryinput.Feedbackmodulationofincomingsignalisanexampleofselfstabilizingcontrolinan
informationprocessingsystem.Usingthetenetsofcognitionandcontroltheoryitispossibletodescribeamodel
inwhichhallucinogensperiodicallyinterruptthetopdownmodulatorycontrolofperceptiontocreatesensory
interferencepatterns,multisensoryframedestabilization,andalteredstatesofconsciousness.
BottomupPerception,TopDownControl
Whatweperceiveaswakingconsciousnessisasynthesisofbottomupsensationmodifiedbytopdown
expectationandanalysis.1Incomingsensationisgatedbythetopdownfocusofsubjectiveattention.Inhibitory
feedbacksubtractsbackgroundnoisewhileexcitatoryfeedbackresolvesandamplifiessalientdata.This
configurationdescribesasignalfilteramplifierwithaninhibitoryexcitatoryfeedbacklooptocontrolsignalfocus
andcontentdiscrimination.Thetopdownfilteringandfocusingofsensorysignalisanautonomicreflexandis
perceptuallyseamlessthebrainblocksbackgroundnoise,transitionsfocus,andrecognizesobjectswithout
disruptingsubjectiveframecontinuity.Withouttheabilitytocontrolincomingsensorysignalwithfeedback,
perceptionwouldbecomeunderconstrained,distracted,overloaded,exuberant,anderrorprone.Under
constrainedinternalsensorynoiseenteringintomultisensoryawarenesswouldbeperceivedashallucination.
Constraint,Control,andFeedbackInhibition
Feedbackexcitationisappliedinsensorycircuitstoamplifysalientinput,butthemajorityofthebrainsfeedback
circuitsareinhibitory,meaningthathumanconsciousnessismoreconstrainedthanunconstrained.Indynamical
informationprocessingsystems,signalconstraintanderrorcorrectionisappliedthroughnegativefeedbackto
subtractorcancelperturbationandnoiseenteringthesignalcircuitthisisknownascontroltheory.Insensory
networks,suchasthelayersofthecortexortheretina,fastinhibitionisappliedlaterallytoboostcontrast
discriminationinlinedetailthisiscalledlateralinhibition.Fastinhibitioninthecortexcanalsobeappliedfrom
thebottomupaswellaslaterally,thisiscalledthesynaptictriadoffastinhibition.Inhibitioncanalsobeapplied
fromthetopdown,allowingthelogicalcortextofilterorignorenoisyinputfromthethalamusthisiscalledtop
downfeedbackinhibition,anditistypicallytonic,meaningtopdownfeedbackisinhibitoryovermany
consecutivespiketrainstocontrolextendedperiodsofchanneledfocus.Whenthebrainisalertandfocused,this
meansitishighlyconstrainedbyinhibitoryfeedback.
Whenpeopleexpresstheirfearsaboutpsychedelics,themostcommonlyvoicedconcernisthefearoflosing

control.Commonentheogenicwisdomstatesthatyoumustrelinquishcontrolandsubmittotheexperiencetoget
themostoutofpsychedelics.Holdingontocontrolcausesnegativeexperiencesandamplifiesanxiety.Metaphors
forcontrolandsubmissionareappliedtopsychedelicsbecausehallucinogenssubvertvariousformsoffeedback
control,allowingperceptionandbehaviortobecomeunconstrainedandunpredictable.Extremestatesofunder
constrainedperceptionwouldincludesensorysaturation,sensoryecho,synesthesia,hallucination,disorientation,
andconfusion.Extremestatesofunderconstrainedbehaviorwouldincludemania,hysteria,paranoia,euphoria,
andasthesystembecomestotallyoverloaded,catatonia.
Lossoffeedbackrestraintinadynamicalinformationprocessingsystemcausesoutputtobecomeexuberantand
unpredictablethisiscalleddeterministicchaos,orchaosindeterministicsystems.Inorderforaperceptual
systemtotransitionfromalineartoachaoticornonlinearstate,negativefeedbackcontrolmustberemovedor
subvertedbyaperiodicdrivingforce.Ifcontrolisentirelyremovedthenperceptionbecomestotally
unconstrained,leavingasystemthatisquicklyoverloadedwithtoomuchinformation.Ifcontrolisplacedina
partiallyremovedstate,orinatoggledsuperpositionwhereitisalternatelyincontrolandnotincontroloverthe
periodofarapidoscillation,thentheconstraintsoflinearsensorythroughputwillbifurcateintoanonlinear
spectrumofmultistableoutputwithsignalcomplexitycorrelatingtothemethodofcontrolinterruption.
TheControlInterruptModelofPsychedelicAction
Beforethemindcanstarthallucinating,thetopdownmodulatorycontrolofconsciousnessmustfirstbe
interrupted.Interruptingtopdowncontrolofconsciousnessallowsthemindtodestabilizeintonovelinformation
processingconfigurations.Whentopdowncontrolofwakingconsciousnessisdestabilized,neuraloscillatorsin
thebrainwillspontaneouslyorganizeintocoherencewiththemostenergeticlocaldrivers.Thisprocesscanbe
describedintermsofoscillatorentrainmentandresonancewhenthemodulatorydrivermaintainingglobal
oscillatorcoherenceisinterrupted,uncoupledoscillatorswillnaturallyfallintosynchronywithmostenergetic
periodicdriversintheenvironment.2Inthisstate,thenormallyinflexibleconfigurationsofconsciousnessand
perceptionbecomeextensibleandopentotheinfluenceofenvironmentalfeedback.Thisexplainswhy
psychedelicscreatesynesthesiaorcrosssensoryrepresentationsofenergeticsensorydrivers,andwhysetand
settinghaveaprofoundinfluenceonthetoneandcontentofapsychedelicexperience.
Whentopdownmodulatorycontrolofconsciousnessisinterrupted,theseamlessnatureofmultisensory
perceptiondegradesandthesubjectbeginstoexperiencehallucinations(Fig.8).Earlyindicatorsofmodulatory
interruptionincludeperiodichighfrequencydistortionornoiseinsensorynetworks.Intactilenetworksthis
periodicinterruptionmaybefeltasparasthesia,orphantomtinglingandpulsatinginvisualnetworksitmaybe
perceivedasphosphenes,orstrobingorflickeringoflightintensity,possiblyfastenoughtoproducegeometric
hallucinationsinaudionetworksitmaybeperceivedastinnitus,ringing,humming,buzzing,ortonesthatcycle
upanddowninpitch.Thesearealldescriptionsoffieldbasedhallucinationsgeneratedinresponsetoperiodic
interruptionsalongmultisensorysignalpathways.Thespeedandintensityofthecontrolinterrupt,andthusthe
speedandintensityofthehallucinations,areadirectresultofthehallucinogenspharmacodynamicsandmethod
ofingestion.

Figure9.UsinganAttackDecaySustainRelease(ADSR)envelopewecanmodeltheintensityof
hallucinogenicinterruptforanydrug.FromWikiPedia.
ControlInterruptEnvelopes

Usingcontrolinterruptionasthesourceofhallucinogenesis,wecanmodelhallucinogenicframedistortionof
multisensoryperceptionthesamewaywemodelsoundwavesproducedbysynthesizersbyplottingtheattack,
decay,sustain,andrelease(ADSRenvelope)oftheinterruptionasiteffectsconsciousness(Fig.9).3,4For
example,nitrousoxide(N20)inhalationaltersconsciousnessinsuchawaythatallperceptualframesariseand
fallwithapredictablewahwahwahtimesignature.ThethrobbingwahwhawahoftheN20experienceisa
stablestandingwaveformationthatbeginswhenthemoleculehitstheneuralnetworkandendswhenitis
metabolized,butforthedurationofN20actionthewahwahwahcompletelypenetratesallmodesofsensory
awarenesswithastrobelikeintensity.TheN20sensationisoftendescribedasasofttingling,throbbing,or
buzzingthatgrowstoconsumeallsensation.

Figure10.ModelingtheinterruptenvelopeforN2OandSalviawecanseeN2Ohasahardbutroundedattack
anddecay.IncontrastSalviahasaslightlyfasterandmoreintenseADSRprofile,describingaslightlymore
bitinganddisorientingeffectonmultisensoryperception.
TakingintoaccountthesubjectivereportsofN20action,theperiodicinterruptofN20swahwahwahcanbe
modeledasaperceptualwaveambiguitythattogglesbackandforthbetweensaturatedconsciousnessandsemi
consciousnessatroughly8to11framespersecond,or@811Hz(hertz).5Consciousnessrisesatthepeakof
eachwahanddiminishesinthevalleysinbetween,growinginsustainedintensitywitheachcycleuntilthe
subjectpassesout.Onsubanestheticdoses,N20createsaloopingeffectwhereframecontentoverlapsintothe
followingframe,causingaperceptualcascadesimilartofractalregression.Wecanthusmodeltheinterrupt
envelopeofN20ashavingaroundedattack,fastdecay,lowsustain,mediumrelease,withaninterruptfrequency
of@811Hz.Anypsychoactivesubstancewithasimilarfrequencyandshapeofinterruptenvelopewillproduce
resultsthatfeelsimilartotheN20experience(Fig.10).Forinstance,SmokedSalviadivinorum(vaporized
SalvinorinA&B,orSalvia)hasaninterruptenvelopesimilartoN20,exceptSalviahasaslightlyfasterinterrupt
frequency(@1215Hz),aharderattack,aslightlylongerdecay,amoreintensesustain,andaslightlylonger
release.6TheseslightchangesinthefrequencyandshapeofinterruptenvelopecauseSalviatofeelmore
physicallyintense,morehallucinatory,andmoredisorientingthanN20,eventhoughtheyshareasimilar
throbbingortinglingsensationalongthesamepathwaysandfrequencyrange.
UsinginterruptenvelopeswecancontrastsmokedSalviaorinhaledN20withvaporizedDMT(N,N
dimethyltryptamine),whichwhensmokedhassimilaronsetanddurationtobothsubstancesbutverydifferent
hallucinogeniceffects.UnliketheslowthrobbingperiodicityofN20orSalvia,vaporizedDMTproducesan
interruptfrequencyassociatedwithahighpitchedcarrierwaveandhighspeedframeflicker(2430+Hz).The
frequencyofDMTsinterruptissorapidtheentirebodyrampsupinpanickedresponsetothenewdriver.The

rateofDMTsvisualframeflickerisfastenoughtoinstantlyproducegeometrichallucinationsandfullyrealized
animations.7TakingthesesubjectiveeffectsintoaccountwecanmodelDMTsinterruptenvelopeashavinga
moderateattack,longdecay,mediumsustain,longrelease,andhighfrequency(2430+Hz).Themoderateattack
meansDMTsperceptualframeinterferenceislessofaphysicalthrobbingthanN20,butbecauseofahigher
frequencyandlongerframereleasetherenderingofDMThallucinationismorefluid,detailed,seamlessly
aliased,andfadeslongeroverahighernumberofframes.
Theinterruptenvelopesmodeledhereareapproximateandbasedonreportedsubjectiveeffects,butmayalso
givesomeinsightintothepharmacodynamicsofeachsubstance.8FollowingthelogicoftheControlInterrupt
Model,itcanbeassumedthateachhallucinogenhasauniqueinterruptenvelopebasedonreceptoraffinity,
receptordensity,rateofmetabolism,andsoon,andeachuniqueinterruptenvelopecreatesadistincttypeof
interferencepatterninmultisensoryperception.Theinterruptenvelopeforanysubstancewillalsochangeifthe
substanceisingestedorallyasopposedtovaporizedorinjectedthespeedofabsorptionintothebloodstreamwill
naturallyaffecttheintensityofADSRvalues.Thisiswhyeachpsychedeliccanproduceuniquesensationsand
hallucinations,andwhyeachpsychedeliccanproducesubtlevariationsinthespeedandintensityofhallucination
dependingonmethodofingestion.9
Bymodelingtheinterruptenvelopeofapsychoactivesubstanceitispossibletoaccuratelypredictitssubjective
resultsonmultisensoryperception.Nondrugsourcesofhallucination,suchasthosecausedbypsychosis,
deprivation,fever,orschizophrenia,mayalsohaveuniqueandquantifiablecontrolinterruptenvelopesrelatedto
erraticmultisensoryframemodulation.
ControlInterruptandShamanism
Ifconsciousnessmusthaveatopdowncontrolfrequencytoremainstable,andpsychedelicsproduceaperiodic
interruptionofthiscontrolfrequency,thentheinteractionbetweentheperceptualcontrolfrequencyandthe
periodicinterruptioncanbedescribedasawaveinterferencepatterninglobaloscillatorcoherence.Subjectson
moderatedosesofpsychedelicscanoverridethehallucinogenicinterruptandretainglobalcoherencevia
energeticphysicalmovementorrepetitivebehaviorslikechantingordancing.Conversely,ifthesubjectlies
motionless,thentheinterruptionfullydestabilizesalertconsciousnessintoadepersonalizeddreamliketrance.10
Thesereportsindicatethateventhoughpsychedelicsdestabilizetopdownmodulatorycontrolofconsciousness,
feedbackcontrolandlinearsystemstabilitycanbeentrainedbackintocoherenceviaexternalperiodicdrivers,
includingrhythmicmotoractivity,drumming,singing,chanting,rockingbackandforth,dancing,andsoon.Itis
noaccidentthatthesearealsothebasicformalelementsofshamanicritual.
Inphysicalterms,theshamanistheprimaryenergeticdriver,orresonator,stabilizingattractorswithinthe
chaotichallucinogenicinterferencepatterncreatedintheconsciousnessofthesubject.Inthemathematicsof
nonlineardynamics,thisphaselockingactionissimilartodeterministicchaosseenwhenentraininglimitcycles
inaforcedVanderPoloscillator.11Byprescribingapsychedelicsubstance,theshamanintroducesthecontrol
frequencyinterrupt,andthroughritualcraftandshowmanshiptheshamanappliesharmonicinterferenceto
navigateandinfluencethetoneandtextureofthetrip.Bymixingthehallucinogeniccontrolinterruptwitha
harmonicperiodicdrivertheshamancanentrainexpandedstatesofconsciousnessandmanipulatethesubjects
mindwithhighprecision.Theprecisionwavebasedmanipulationofneuraloscillatorswithinthepsychedelic
statecanbecalledappliedpsychedelicscience,physicalshamanism,orShamanismintheAgeofReason.
NotesandReferences
1.CorlettPR,FrithCD,FletcherPC,Fromdrugstodeprivation:aBayesianframeworkforunderstanding
modelsofpsychosis.Psychopharmacology(Berl).2009November206(4):515530.
2.WikiPedia.org,Entrainment(Physics).InternetReference,2009.
3.ADSRenvelopeswerechosenasthebestavailableshorthandforapproximatingdifferencesinthetoneand
textureofeachhallucinogenasitinterruptsconsciousness.Arguablyamoreprecisemodelcouldbeemployed,
butusingADSRcompressesalongerdiscussiononhowtopreciselymodelintensityandonsetofsubjective
hallucinogeniceffects.
4.WikiPedia.org,ADSRenvelope.InternetReference,2009.

5.N20interruptenvelopeisanapproximationbasedonsubjectivereports.
6.Salviainterruptenvelopeisanapproximationbasedonsubjectivereports.
7.DMTinterruptenvelopeisanapproximationbasedonsubjectivereports.
8.Mostreceptorinteractionsoccurontheorderofmicroseconds,soattemptingtomodelpharmacodynamics
basedonrateofsubjectiveframeinterruptionmaybeimpossible,orrequirecomplexstatisticalinterpretations.
9.ADSRenvelopeswillchangeslightlyforanysubstancedependingondoseandspeedofabsorptionintothe
bloodstream,butbeyondthattheymayalsochangedependingonthepurityofhallucinogen.Forinstance,ifan
LSDexperienceisdescribedasclean,thismeansthehallucinogenicinterruptissosubtlethatitisalmost
invisiblethisalsoimpliespurityoftheLSD.Incontrast,whenanLSDexperienceisdescribedasdirtyor
jagged,thismeanstheinterruptinducestransitionsinconsciousnessthatareabruptandunpleasantthisalso
impliestheLSDisadulteratedorhasnotbeensufficientlypurified.ItiswidelyacceptedthatifonebatchofLSD
inducesasoftinterruptenvelopewithawigglyandsensualattack,thatsameLSDshouldproducesimilarresult
foreveryone.ThesamewouldbetrueforLSDthatproducesajaggedandabruptattack.Ifapuresampleset
couldbeacquiredandtested,itmaybepossibletomodelpreciseinterruptfrequenciesandADSRenvelopesfor
everyknownpsychoactivesubstance.
10.Reportstakenfromsubjectiveaccountsandcorroboratedovermultiplesubjectsandexperiences.
11.Kanamaru,T.,VanderPoloscillator,Scholarpedia,2(1),2202,(2007).

Chapter07:PsychedelicPharmacology

Figure11.GlutamateadGABA,theneuralmessengersforgoandstop.Glutamateexcitesneuronsandpromotes
spiking,GABAinhibitsspiketrains.
Sensorysignaltravelingthroughthebrainismediatedbyglutamate,anexcitatorychemicalmessenger.Sensory
signalisfilteredbyGABA,aninhibitorymessengerGABA(Fig.11).Theprecisespiketimingofthese
messengersistunedbyneuromodulators,whichsynchronizespikingacrosstheentirebrain.Mosthallucinogens
arestructurallysimilartothemodulatorswhichtuneglobalspiketiming,suchasserotonin(5HT),
norepinephrine(noradrenaline),anddopamine(DA)(Fig.12).Allofthesechemicalsareclassifiedasamines,
meaningthattheyhaveanitrogen(N+ )containingaminogrouphangingoffarootcarbonring.Thisnitrogen
structureisthekeyelementinanyaminoacid,carryingtheenergyneededformetabolicprocesseswhichdo
work.Sincethesetransmitterchemicalshaveonlyonenitrogengrouptheyarecalledmonoamines,andtheyare
theessentialmessengersoftheaminergicneuromodulatorysystem.
Monoaminesenteringthebloodstreamarenormallykeptoutofthebrainbythebloodbrainbarrier,but
psychedelicmoleculeshaveaneutralchargesotheyareabletopass.Whentheseaminecrystalspassthroughthe
bloodbrainbarriertheybrushagainstneuralreceptorsitesifthereceptorsareagoodfitthenthecrystalsget
stuckforashortperiodoftime.Thebondingofamineligandstoserotoninanddopaminereceptorsiswhere
psychedelicactionbegins.1,2

Figure12:Psychedelicamineslookverymuchliketheendogenousneurotransmittersserotonin,norepinephrine,
anddopamine.Ontheleftaretheadrenalpromotingcatecholamines,amphetamines,andphenethylaminesonthe
rightaretheindoleamines,alsocalledtryptamines,andtheirhallucinogeniccounterparts.LSD,asynthesized
molecule,isalsoanindoleamine,butismorestructurallyengineeredthanitsorganiccounterparts.
SerotoninandtheTryptamines
BecauseofdepressivemooddisordersandpharmaceuticalslikeProzac,themostwellknownneuromodulatoris
serotonin,or5HT(5hydroxytryptamine).5HTisessentialtomanybasicbrainfunctions,linkedtomood,
depression,contentment,learning,anxiety,sleep,appetite,andtheregulationofinvoluntarysmoothmusclesthat
controlbloodpressureanddigestion.Serotoninisanindoleamineandavariantoftryptamine,whichisthemost
basicofalltheindoleaminesandthestructuralstartingpointforDMT(N,Ndimethyltryptamine),5MeODMT,
psilocin,psilocybin,DPT,AMT,andmostpsychedelicdrugswithacronymsendinginT(whichstandsfor
Tryptamine).LSDisalsoanindoleamine,butitislargerandmorecomplexthanorganicindoleamines,andisin
manywaysstructurallyunique.
DopamineandthePhenethylamines
Workinginconcertwithserotoninistheneuromodulatordopamine(3hydroxytyramine).Dopamineissynthesized
fromLDOPAandisinstrumentalinmodulatingsalientattention,motivationalresponse,andfinemotorcontrol.
Dopamineiscentraltotherewardsystem,anddopaminereleaseisstimulatedbyrecreationaldrugs,food,
gambling,sex,andphysicalrisktaking.DopamineimbalancesarelinkedParkinsonsdisease,ADD,compulsive
riskbehavior,andpsychosis.Theroleofdopamineinterruptionisrelevanttopsychedelicactivityinmany
aspectspsychedelicsmayaffectsensualityandmotorcontrol,andmayfacilitatepsychosis,mania,and
compulsivebehaviors.

Amphetaminesandthephenethylaminegroupofpsychedelics(mescaline,2CB,MDA,MDMA,andsoon)are
morestructurallysimilartodopamine,epinephrine,andnorepinephrine,whicharealsomonoaminesbut
sometimesreferredtoascatecholaminessincetheyarebasedonthesinglecatecholringstructure.Epinephrine
andnorepinephrinearereferredtoasstresshormonesbecausetheyprimethebodysadrenalproductionand
energyresponsetostressanddanger.Thephenethylaminesandcatecholaminesallhavethesixcarbonbenzene
ringbackbone,simplerthanthedualringtryptaminestructure,withatleastoneaminegroup.Thesimplestform
ofthismoleculeiscalledphenethylamine,andissimilartoamphetamine.
Inverygeneralterms,thephenethylaminepsychedelicsaresaidtobemoreenergetic,sensual,empathogenic,or
entactogenic,whiletryptaminepsychedelicsarethoughttobemorehallucinogenic,disorienting,andsomatically
heavy.Thesedescriptionsareverybroad,butthisisthepopulardistinctionmadebetweenthetwomajorclasses
ofpsychedelics.
NeuromodulatorsandGlobalBrainStates
Serotonin,dopamine,andtheothermonoaminesdontcauseneuronstofire,theyinsteadtunethespikingrateof
neurons,whichmeanstheyadjustglobalnetworkpolarityovertimetomakeneuralassembliesmoreorless
responsivetostimulus.Serotoninanddopamineareprojectedintohigherareasofthebrainfromnucleiinthe
brainstemandmiddlebrain,meaningtheyareprimalsignalingmechanismsformodulatingmanyareasofthe
brainsimultaneously.Theaxonsfromtheseaminergicclustersreachupwardtomanyareasofthecortex,
affectingthethalamus(sensoryfilter),amygdala(fearandsurvival),hypothalamus(homeostaticregulator),
hippocampus(memoryandlearning),andneocortex(sensoryandlogicprocessing).Neuromodulatorssynchronize
theneuralresponsetoincomingstimulusandkeeplocalcompetingbraincircuitsfunctioningsmoothlyandin
unison.Theseneuromodulatorsproduceaonewaybottomupeffect,whichmeanstheyareswitchedonandoff
reflexivelyandunconsciouslybyglandsinthebrainstemandbasalforebrainindirectresponsetointernal
conditionsorexternalstimulus.Withneuromodulatorsthebrainstemcanexertglobalhomeostaticcontrolover
organismmoodandbehavior.Theeffectoftheaminergicmodulatorsprojectedupwardbythebrainstemare
tonic,whichmeanstheirsignalingeffectsarestickyandpersistoverthedurationofmanyincomingspiketrains.
Generallyserotoninisthoughttohaveapolarizingeffectonneurons,makingthemlesslikelytofireandthus
havinganoverallrelaxingeffectonthebrain.Thisiswhymanydepressionandanxietyremediesfocuson
increasingthesupplyofserotonintodecreaseanxietyandincreasesatisfaction.Ifweassumepsychedelicsare
mimicsforneurotransmittersandapplythisanalogytoDMT,wewouldexpectDMTtohaveacalmingeffecton
thebrainbecauseitlookssimilartoserotonin.ButafloodofDMTdoesnotcalmthebrain,itmakesit
hallucinate.SinceDMTbindstothesamereceptorsitesasserotoninbutdoesnotproducearelaxingeffect,it
wouldbelogicaltoassumethatDMTisa5HTantagonist,meaningitblocksserotoninanddepolarizesneurons,
makingthemmoreexcitable.Thisisnotthecase.Therearemanydifferenttypesof5HTreceptors,someinhibit
neuralactivityandsomepromoteneuralactivity.Likemosthallucinogens,DMTisclassifiedasaselective5
HT2Apartialorfullagonistalsoactiveatother5HTsubtypes,atDAreceptors,atadrenalreceptors,atSigma
1receptors,andattertiaryaminereceptors.ThismeansthatDMTisactiveatmanyreceptorsitesandcanmimic
theagonisticfunctionsofserotoninwithvaryingaffinityandefficacy.
5HT2Apartialagonismcanbedescribedasasubtleformofaminergicmodulatorysignalinterference.Inthe
mostgeneralcaseitcanbeassumedthatpsychedelicactivityisduetointerferenceat5HTreceptorsubtypes.In
morespecificcaseswecanassumethatvisualhallucinogeniceffectisassociatedwith5HT2Aand5HT2C
receptorinteraction.Somaticheavinessanddreaminessisassociatedwithbroaderaminergicinteractionand
moresensual,entactogenic,orcompulsiveeffectsareassociatedwithdopamineandadrenergicreceptor
interaction.Psychedelicscanhaveawideaffinityandinteractaspartialorfullagonistsatmultiplereceptor
subtypestoproduceawiderangeofeffects.
Becausepsychedelicsarefullorpartialagonistsactingonthesamemodulatorypathwaysas5HT,the
synergisticinteractionbetweenthesecompetingagonistscanbedescribedintermsofamodulatorywave
interferencepattern.Agonisticinterferenceat5HTsubtypespromotesdisinhibitionandcrossexcitability
betweenfeedbackcoupledassembliesinthebrain.Excitationandlossoffeedbackinhibitioninthecircuits
responsibleforprocessingsensationandperceptionleadtospontaneousselfsustainingfeedbackhallucinations.
Prolongedstatesoffeedbackexcitationbetweenthecircuitswhichprocessperceptionandmemoryleadsto
infiniteworkingmemoryregressionandexpandedstatesofpsychedelicconsciousness.

MolecularShape,ReceptorAffinity,MAOMetabolism
Thestrengthanddurationofthebondaligandformswithareceptorisreferredtoasreceptoraffinityorpotency,
andisdescribedintermsofpharmacodynamics.Thehighertheaffinity,thestrongerandlongertheligandbonds
withareceptor,thusinfluencingneuralactivity.Researchhasshownthat5HT2Areceptoraffinityisan
accuratemeasureofthepotencyofanypsychedeliccompoundthehighertheaffinitythehigherthepotencyand
psychedeliceffect.4,5Anotherthingweknowisthattheconformationalshapeoftheaminedetermineshowlong
themoleculetakestometabolizeandhowstickyitwillbeat5HTreceptortypes.6Forinstance,theaminetailof
LSDisdifferentfromothertryptaminesitislong,complex,andconnectsbacktothebenzenering,keepingit
rigidinsteadofflexiblelikemostaminogroupsorsubstitutions.Designeramineswithasimilarlyrigidmolecular
structurehavealsoshownamarkedincreaseinpsychedelicpotency.7
UsingthisinformationitcanbeassumedthattheuniquestructureofLSDiswhatmakesitsopotentgivingita
highaffinityacrossawiderrangeofreceptortypesmakingitmoredifficulttometabolizeandgivingitabroader
rangeofeffectoveralongerduration.DMTalsobindstoawidevarietyof5HTreceptortypes,butitissmaller
andmetabolizesveryquickly.WhenDMTistakenwithamonoamineoxidaseinhibitor(MAOi)inanayahuasca
mixture,theenzymeswhichmetabolizeDMTareblocked,makingthehallucinogeniceffectsofDMTorally
activeandlongerlasting.AddinganMAOitoanytryptaminepsychedelicwillmakeitnearlytwiceas
hallucinogenic.8Thesefewpiecesofpharmacologytellusthattheefficacyofmodulatoryinterruption,or
psychedelicpotency,canbesomewhatpredictedbymolecularshape,therigidityofthemolecularstructure,and
speedofmetabolicpathways.Ifmetabolicpathwaysaredegradedbysynergisticdosing,asinanayahuasca
mixture,thenthepotencyofthedrugincreasesoverthedurationofeffectindirectproportiontothelatencyof
metabolism.

Table1:Popularpsychedelicdrugaffinitiesacrossaminergicreceptortargetslistedinorderof5HT2Areceptor
affinity,withdopamine(D1)andadrenalreceptorsontheright.Avalueof4.00indicateshighaffinityatthat
targetanyvalueunder2.00shouldbeconsideredimperceptible.Threenonpsychedeliccontrolmoleculesare
listedatthebottomforcomparison.FromRay,2010.3
BreadthofPsychedelicReceptorBinding
Table1liststhebindingstrengthofpopularpsychedelicdrugsatmany5HTreceptorsites,listedinorderof5
HT2Aaffinity.3Thistableshouldbeanaccuraterepresentationofhallucinogenicpotencyofvarious
psychedelicsindescendingorder.Fromsubjectivereportsallsubstancesatthetopofthislistarevery
hallucinogenic,butDMT,whichisoftenconsideredtobethemosthallucinogenic,actuallyfallssomewherein
themiddle.Ifwealsolookat5HT2Caffinity,whichisimplicatedinhallucination,wecanseethatall
substancesatthetopofthelistalsohavehigh5HT2Caffinity,withDMTandDOIhavingslightlyhigheraffinity

thantherest.5HT7receptoraffinity,whichstimulatescAMPactivityandtherewardsystem,alsoseemstobe
implicatedinoveralltranscendentpsychedelicaction,withthemysticallypopularDMT,5MeODMT,andLSD
toppingtheaffinitylistforthesereceptors.
Incontrast,therearefournonvisualpsychedelicsatthebottomofthelist,5MeODMT,DiPT,Mescaline,and
MDMA.Thesesubstanceshaveverypoor5HT2A,2Caffinity,butallhaveahigh5HT2Bandadrenalaffinity
thisindicatestheyareeffectiveatstimulatingserotoninproduction,cardiovascularactivity,andacutesensuality.
5HT2BaffinityisquitehighforallsamplesinthislistwiththeexceptionofDMTand5MeODMT,making5
HT2Baffinityagoodindicatorforpurelysensualorentactogeniceffect.ItisinterestingtonotethatDiPT,
Mescaline,and5MeODMTallhaveahigh5HT1Aaffinity,whichisgenerallythoughttoworkincontrastto
5HT2Aagonismtopromotewellbeingandsatisfaction.DiPTisunusualbecauseitproducesdistinctaudio
hallucinationsandlittleornovisualhallucinations,andpredictablydoesnotbondwith5HT2A,2Creceptors
implicatedinvisualhallucination.Byanalyzingthisaffinitytableitseemspossibletopredicttherelativepotency
andeffectofanyhallucinogenbasedsolelyonbindingprofiles,thoughthethreecontrolmoleculesatthebottom
ofthelist(6FDMT,Lisuride,4CT2)arereportedlynonhallucinogenicdespitehigh5HTreceptor
promiscuitythisislikelybecausetheyarenotactiveasagonists,theyareantagonists,ortheirbindingprofiles
arenotsynergisticandsomehowcanceleachotherout.
Dissociatives,Anticholinergics,OtherHallucinogens
Psychedelictryptaminesandphenethylaminesarenottheonlyhallucinogens,butallhallucinogensworkby
interruptingsensoryprocessingpathways.Hallucinogenicdissociativeslikeketamine(specialK),phencyclidine
(PCP),anddextromethorphan(DXM)blockNMDAglutamatesensorysignalingpathwaysthesepathways
mediatefastsensorysignalprojectionthroughthebrain.Anticholinergicdeliriantslikescopolamineandatropine
interruptcholinergicmodulationofmemory,recall,anddreamingthesepathwaysmediatethesmoothinputand
outputofmemoryfromthehippocampus.SalviadivinoruminterruptskappaOpioidtactilesensorypathways
thesepathwaysmediatepain,gravityawareness,andsensationfordeterminingphysicalorientationinspace.
DepressantslikeGHBandalcoholactivateinhibitoryGABApathways,pathwayswhichdampenandslow
smoothsensorythroughput.NitrousOxide(N20)isthesimplestandperhapsthemostpromiscuousofall
hallucinogens,wormingitswayinbetweenanumberofrudimentarysignalingpathwaystoproduceanesthetic
tingling,dissociation,andoutofbodyemergence.Althoughthepharmacologicaltargetsofhallucinogensmay
differ,inallcasesperceptualdistortionislinkeddirectlytointerruptionofseamlessmultisensorysignalingand
representationacrossthecortex.Anydrugwhichinterruptspathwaysofmultisensorysignalingorbindingwillbe
consideredpsychedelicorhallucinogenicathighenoughdoses,whichiswhysomanydifferenttypesofplants
andchemicalscanbeuniquelyhallucinogenicacrossmanydifferentreceptortargets.
NotesandReferences
1.SnyderS,DrugsandTheBrain.ScientificAmericanBooks,1986.
2.CooperJR,etal.,TheBiochemicalBasisofNeuropharmacology.OxfordUniversityPress,NY,7thed.,
1996.
3.RayTS,PsychedelicsandtheHumanReceptorome.PLoSOne.20105(2):e9019.
4.GlennonRA,etal.,Evidencefor5HT2involvementinthemechanismofactionofhallucinogenicagents.
LifeSci.1984Dec1735(25):250511.
5.SadzotB,etal.,Hallucinogenicdruginteractionsathumanbrain5HT2receptors:implicationsfortreating
LSDinducedhallucinogenesis.Psychopharmacology(Berl).198998(4):4959.
6.McLeanTH,ParrishJC,BradenMR,MaronaLewickaD,GallardoGodoyA,NicholsDE,1
Aminomethylbenzocycloalkanes:conformationallyrestrictedhallucinogenicphen
e thylamineanaloguesas
functionallyselective5HT2Areceptoragonists.JMedChem.2006Sep2149(19):5794803.
7.SattelkauT,AnInterviewwithDaveNichols.TripMagazine,V5,Spring2000,p42.
8.SubjectivereportsoftakinganMAOinhibitorwithpsychedelictryptaminessuchasDMT,psilocybin,LSD,
and5MeODMTconfirmthattheadditionofanMAOiincreasespotencyandhallucinationbyanorderof
magnitude.MAOipotentiationcancomefromplantsources,suchastheharmalaalkaloidsfoundinPeganum

harmalaseedsandBandisteriopsiscaapivine,butisparticularlyintensewithapharmaceuticalsourcelike
moclobemide.

Figure13.Layersoftheneocortex.Sensorysignalrisesfromthethalamusthroughintermediarycorticallayersto
thedendriticarborsatthetoplayer,theveryoutermembraneofthecortex,wherethehighestdensityof5HT2A
receptorsareexpressed.ThedendritearborsinlayerIconnectbackdowntothelargelayerVpyramidalcells,
whichbindmultisensorydatavialateralprojections,recurrentascendingprojections,andreciprocal
thalamocorticalfeedbackloops.FromGreysAnatomy,modified.

Chapter08:5HT2AAgonismandMultisensoryBinding
Mostvisualhallucinogensareactiveasfullorpartialagonistsatthe5HT2Areceptorsubtype,andallproduce
similarvisualhallucinationsthatareimmediatelyrecognizableaspsychedelic.1Althoughthe5HT2Areceptor
subtypeisnottheonlyreceptorimplicatedinhallucinogenesis,2itisoneofthemoststudiedhallucinogenic
targetsandofferssomeinsightsintothenatureofpsychedelicaction.5HT2Areceptorsareubiquitousthroughout
thenervoussystem,foundinthesensorycortex,thefrontalcortex,theolfactorycortex,thebasalganglia,the
cerebellum,thehippocampus,thalamicnuclei,brainstemnuclei,sensoryneurons,platelets,fibroblasts,intestines,
smoothmuscles,andcardiovascularsystems.3,4,5,6Byfollowingthepathwaysof5HT2Amodulatedsignal
transductionthroughthehumanorganismitispossibletoextrapolatethatpsychedelicexperienceisnotlimitedto

merehallucination,butisinsteadacomplexmultilayeredexperienceintegratedthroughoutallbiological
signalingsystems.
Thelayeringofcellularsignalingsystemsmediatedby5HTprovidesaframeworkforviewingthe5HT2A
pathwayasaprimarymodulatorforhomeostaticregulationofmultisensoryawareness,behavior,andlearning.7
5HT2Areceptoragonists,alsoknownashallucinogens,promotedisinhibitionandexcitabilityin5HTmediated
pathways,indicatingthatpsychedelicactionistheproductofspontaneousexcitationandselfsustainingfeedback
in5HTmediatedsignalingpathways.Themostobviouseffectsof5HT2Aagonismarerealtimeperceptual
distortions,orhallucination,butgiventhewidedistributionofthesereceptors,therearealsoboundtobemore
subtleholisticeffectsonrespiration,metabolism,cellularactivity,memory,learning,andlongtermbehavior.
5HT2Areceptormechanics
The5HT2AreceptorisaGproteincoupledreceptor(GPCR),whichmeansitdoesnotactivateionchannelsor
directlyaltercellpolarity,butinsteadsetsoffachainreactionofintracellularsignalingsystemsinvolving
phosphatidylinositol(PI)hydrolysis,theproductionofinositoltrisphosphate(IP3),thereleaseofcalcium(Ca 2+ ),
andtheactivationofproteinkinaseC(PKC)aswellasvariousmitogenactivatedproteinkinases
(MAPK).6,8,9,25PKCregulatesavarietyofcellularfunctionsatthemembrane,includingsignaltransduction,
receptordesensitization,andsynapticformationandstrengtheningresponsibleforlearningandmemory.10
MAPKregulatesfundamentalintracellularfunctionsinthecytoplasmandnucleussuchasgeneexpression,
proliferation,cellgrowth,andsurvival.26ItisinterestingtonotethatSalvinorinA,anotherpotenthallucinogen,
alsostimulatesPKCandMAPKsignalingpathwaysviakappaOpioidreceptors.28,29,30Thesereceptor
mediatedsecondarypathwaysundoubtedlyplayaroleinpsychedelicneuroplasticityandcellularregeneration,27
butthestimulationofsecondarymessengersisnotalwaysnecessaryforhallucinationandpsychedeliceffect.
LayerVpyramidalcellsandperceptualbinding
Inthehumanbrainthehighestdensityof5HT2AreceptorsareexpressedonthedendritesofcorticallayerV
pyramidalcells,3,4,5,6,8andthehighestdensityoflayerVdendritesprojectupwardintothedendritearborsof
corticallayerI,theveryoutwardsurfaceofthebrain(Fig.13).5HT2Areceptorsinthedendriticarborsof
pyramidcellsareprimarilyresponsibleformodulatingasynchronous(late)glutamatereleaseinthewakeof
strongincomingspiketrains,1,11,12presumablyforenhancedtopdownaliasing,latentreconstruction,and
memoryimprintingofsalientsensorydata.13Sensorysignalrisingtothedendritesofthecorticalsurfaceencodes
ahighlydetailedreconstructionofexternalperceptionforlatentrealtimeanalysisandprogressiveperceptual
filling.Multiplelayersoftheneocortexhavedescendingcolumnardendritesorascendingrecurrentaxon
collateralstoproviderealtimesensoryfeedbacktolatentapicalrenderinglayers,allowingaseamless
representationofperceptualmotiontobesynchronizedacrossthecortex.CorticallayerVneuronsreceivinginput
throughapicaldendritesareoneoftheprimaryconduitsforbindingcoherentsensoryperceptionacrosstheentire
corticalsurface.14
LayerVpyramidalcellsareuniqueinthattheymediatemultiplepathwaysofperceptualfeedbackanalysis.14,15
Forexample,inthevisualcortexlayerVpyramidalcellsareresponsibleforsynchronizingcorticothalamic
activitywiththethalamusviadescendingaxonstheymediatefeedbackdiscriminationincolumnarcircuitsvia
recurrentcollateralsascendingthroughLayersIIVtheymediatereciprocalinterarealconnectionsvialaterally
branchingarborealandbasilardendritesandtheymediateafferentcorticocorticalsignalflowtotheprefrontal
cortex(PFC)alongbothdorsalandventralprocessingstreams.Throughlateral,vertical,elliptical,andrecurrent
feedbackconnections,layerVpyramidalcellsbindmultisensoryframedataacrossthecortexwithafunctional
refreshrateofroughly15to30framespersecond(FPS),whichmeanstheseneuronsmustprocessandneutralize
incomingsensoryspiketrainsatroughlyevery3060milliseconds.16Lossofprecisesynchronyandcouplingin
thesecircuitswouldnecessarilyleadtolossoftemporalfidelityinmultisensoryframebinding.Agonism,
disinhibition,excitation,andnonlinearamplificationinlayerVrecurrentcircuitswouldnecessarilyleadtoglobal
multisensoryframealiasingerrors,feedbacksynesthesia,andeventualperceptualoverload.
Destabilizationinthalamocorticalfeedbackloops
Themostpotentpsychedelicsare5HT2Areceptoragoniststhehighestdensityof5HT2Areceptorsareinthe
dendritesoflayerVpyramidalcellslayerVpyramidalcellsbindinformationinfeedbackprojectionsthroughout
thebrain.Takingthesefactorsintoaccountitisreasonabletoassumethatpsychedelichallucinogenicactivityis

duetononlinearsignaldestabilizationandamplificationviadisinhibitionrecurrentlayerVfeedbackprojections.
PsychedelichallucinationisachievedbypartialorfullagonismalongrecurrentlayerVbindingjunctionsthe
introductionofacompetingagonistinthe5HT2Amodulatorysystemleadsdirectlytolossofinhibition,under
constrainedperception,andselfsustainingexcitationinautonomicsensoryprocessingcircuits.Destabilizationof
layerVprojectionsismostacutewheresignaltravelsinrecurrentloopsorfeedbackcircuitsthatresolveand
reacttoincomingsensorydatainrealtime.Theprimarycircuitsforbindingrealtimesensationincludethe
corticostriatothalamocortical(CSTC)loops,andthemoredistributedcorticothalamocorticalfeedbackloops
(orthalamocorticalloops)whichpassinformationfromthecortexeitherthroughthebasalgangliaordirectlyback
intothethalamusfordiscriminatingandgatingattentionofincomingsignalflow.Theseloopscanbedescribed
asattentioncontrolledfeedbackfilterswhichdriveandstabilizeexternalperceptionandbehavior.CSTCloops
providerealtimesensoryfeedbackforfinetuningeyemovements,motorreflexes,emotionalresponses,and
cognitivevalueplacedonstimulus.17Destabilizationinsignalcouplingalongthalamocorticalfeedbackpathways
willnecessarilyleadtoproblemswithsensorygating,multisensoryframeresolution,workingmemory,and
seamlesstemporalaliasing.
Therearespecificentopicperceptualeffectsonewouldexpecttoseeasaresultofinstabilityinthalamocortical
feedbackloopsbetweenthethalamustothevisualcortex,suchasasubtleflickeringorpulsingoflightintensity
geometricgridsandmatricestheperceptionofhalosoraurasaroundlightsourcesincreasedluminosityof
reflectiveobjectsthesofteningoflineandtextureresolutionandtheinabilitytoholdsharpfocalcontrast
betweenforegroundandbackgroundindepthperception.18Sensoryfillinginthevisualperipheryreliesonfast
temporalaliasingofsignalformotiondetection,andthistimedependenttemporalaliasingcanbesubvertedby
opticalillusionswhichcreateasenseofmovementintheperiphery(Figs.6,23).Acompeting5HT2Aagonist
wouldnecessarilydisruptthepreciseinhibitorytiminginthecorticalcolumnsneededforperipheraledge
detectionandsensoryfilling,leadingtoshiftinglineanddepthambiguitiesintheperipheryalongpredictable
pulsecycles.Iftherateofmultisensoryframesaturationorneutralizationwasslowedorinterruptedbyevena
fewmilliseconds,incomingsensationwouldbegintolayeroveritselfwithincreasinglevelsofsmoothing,
liquidity,andphantomframeechodecayinginthewakeofsensation.19
5HT2Areceptoragonistscandestabilizemultisensoryperceptioninanumberofways.Themostgeneral
explanationisthat5HT2Aagonistsintroduceacompetingexcitatoryimpulsethatdisruptstheprecisetimingof
sensorybindingintheapicaldendritesandrecurrentcircuitsofthethalamusandcortex.Evidenceindicatesthat
5HT2AagonistspromotealatereleaseofglutamatefromlayerVpyramidalcellsfollowingstrongincoming
spiketrains,resultinginthegenerationofasynchronousexcitatorypostsynapticcurrents(EPSCs).1,11,12
AsynchronousEPSCsinrecurrentsensorycircuitsarenormallyhelpfulforresolvingimportantperceptualdata,
butifthesubjectisunabletoinhibitevokedEPSCscausedbyexogenousmodulators(hallucinogens),thislate
signalingactioncanleadtoglutamatefloodingandtonicsensorysaturationinperceptualneuralassemblies,
whichisconsistentwithmanicselfsustainedstatesofhallucinogenesis.20
Thereisevidencethat5HT2Aagonistsleadtolateraldisinhibitioninthecortexbyblockingpresynapticuptake
of5HTatthelateralinhibitorysynapse,orbyoverridingtonicGABABinhibitorypostsynapticpotentials(IPSPs)
withasynchronousEPSCsatthelateralinhibitorysynapse.21,22Lossofinhibitionatthelateralsynapsesin
columnsofthevisualcortexwouldleaddirectlytoshiftingandwigglinginperipheralline,texture,andcontrast
resolution.Asthalamocorticalfeedbackcircuitsbecomeincreasinglydisinhibited,theymayfallintocoherent
selfsustainingstatesofunderconstrainedperception,23promotingphantomsensoryactivitysuchas
hallucinationandspontaneousdreamfillinginthecornersoftheeyes.Inthedisinhibitedorunderconstrained
psychedelicstate,mildstimulusmaynotprovokehallucinogenicresponse,butintensestimulationwoulddrive
suddenlocalizedfeedbackcoherence,signalamplification,andresultingframesaturationandlatencyerrors.The
suddenshiftfromstabilizedbrainfocustostatesofelicited,recurrentthalamocorticalfeedbackexcitationcanbe
describedintermsofanonlinear,nonequilibriumphasetransitioncausedbyenergeticsensorydrivers.15
5HT2Acrossagonismandorganismremodulation
Lookingbeyondthecortex,itisworthmentioningthat5HT2Areceptorsarealsofoundinthemidbrain,olfactory
systems,thebrainstem,intestines,andalloverthebodyinsmoothmusclesandcardiovascularsystems.Thereis
someevidencethat5HT2agonistshaveasecondaryeffectatthelocusceruleansinthebrainstem(LC),
promotingadrenalactivityinthepresenceofstrongsensorydrivers.1Sensorydrivingofadrenalreleasemay

promoteasynestheticburstofemotionalintensityaccompanyinganystrongmultisensoryexperience.Thereis
evidencethat5HTagonisthallucinogensinhibitsensorygatinginthethalamus,allowingmorerawsensationto
floodthecortex17thisisconsistentwithdecreasedgatingandnonlinearfeedbackamplificationin
thalamocorticalloops.Acommonearlysideeffectofhallucinogenuseisstomachtighteningandintestinal
crampingthisisundoubtedlydueto5HT2Aagonisminterferingwithmodulationofsmoothmusclecontraction
inthegut.5HT2Acrossagonismintheintestinescanleadtonauseaandpurgation,andreportsofintense
hallucinationstypicallyincreaseimmediatelyfollowingreleaseofintestinaldiscomfort.24Thisindicatesthat
radicalinterruptionandremodulationofall5HT2Apathways,fromtheintestinestothecortex,maybea
commonprecursortopeakpsychedelicexperiencesandstatesofintensebodilytranscendence.
Becauseofthemultiplesystemsaffectedby5HT2Areceptoragonism,itwouldbeoverlyreductivetopointtoa
singlepathwayasbeingresponsibleforfullpsychedelicactivation.Thesynergisticeffectofmultilayered5
HT2Aagonismisfeltsubjectivelyasathrobbingorpulsationofenergywhichsuffusestheentirebody,buildsin
strengthandcomplexity,andculminatesinacatharticmultisensoryreleaseofhighlychargedtransformative
content.Atthesensorylevel,glutamatefloodingsaturatesperception.Attheemotionallevel,adrenalresponse
drivessensualintensity.Attheframelevel,aminergicinterferenceleadstodisorientationandlossoftemporal
egocohesion.Atthecognitivelevel,aminergicdestabilizationdrivesirrationality,depersonalization,and
hallucinogenicdreamstates.Atthecirculatorylevel,5HT2Aagonismpromotesvasoconstrictionandincreases
bloodpressure.Atthesomaticlevel,aninterruptionofdigestivefunctioningdrivesmetabolicfunctionand
energeticintracellularsignaling.Attheorganismlevel,theholisticeffectsofprolonged5HT2Aagonismbecome
nonlinear,meaningtheyfeedbackonthemselvesandbegintogeneratecomplexenergeticoutputinresponseto
sensoryinputovertime.Thismultilayeredorganismactivationcanbeformallydescribedasarunaway
biologicalfeedbackprocess,oranonlinearcellularsignalingloop,whichdrivesincreasingcellularactivityand
complexityoverthefulldurationofsynergisticagonism.
NotesandReferences
1.AghajanianGK,MarekGJ,SerotoninandHallucinogens.Neuropsychopharmacology.1999Aug21(2
Suppl):16S23S.
2.RayTS,PsychedelicsandtheHumanReceptorome.PLoSOne.20105(2):e9019.
3.BurnetPW,etal.,Thedistributionof5HT1Aand5HT2AreceptormRNAinhumanbrain.BrainRes.
1995Apr3676(1):15768.
4.ForutanF,EstaljiS,BeuM,etal.,Distributionof5HT2Areceptorsinthehumanbrain:comparisonofdatain
vivoandpostmortem.Nuklearmedizin.200241(4):197201.
5.PompeianoM,PalaciosJM,MengodG.,Distributionoftheserotonin5HT2receptorfamilymRNAs:
comparisonbetween5HT2Aand5HT2Creceptors.BrainResMolBrainRes.1994Apr23(12):16378.
6.WikiPedia.org,5HT2AReceptor.InternetReference,2010.
7.AzmitiaEC,Serotoninandbrain:evolution,neuroplasticity,andhomeostasis.IntRevNeurobiol.200777:31
56.
8.NicholsDE,Hallucinogens.Pharmacology&TherapeuticsVolume101,Issue2,February2004,Pages131
181.
9.UrbanJD,etal.,Functionalselectivityandclassicalconceptsofquantitativepharmacology.JPharmacol
ExpTher.320(1):113.Epub2006Jun27.
10.WikiPedia.org,ProteinkinaseC.InternetReference,2010.
11.AghajanianGK,MarekGJ,Serotonin,via5HT2Areceptors,increasesEPSCsinlayerVpyramidalcells
ofprefrontalcortexbyanasynchronousmodeofglutamaterelease.BrainResearchV825,12,17April1999,
Pages161171.
12.AghajanianGK,MarekGJ,SerotoninInducesExcitatoryPostsynapticPotentialsinApicalDendritesof
NeocorticalPyramidalCells.NeuropharmacologyVolume36,Issues45,5April1997,Pages589599.

13.SpratlingMW,CorticalRegionInteractionsandtheFunctionalRoleofApicalDendrites.Behavioraland
Cog.NeuroscienceRev.,13(2002)219228.
14.JonesEG,Thalamiccircuitryandthalamocorticalsynchrony.PhilosTransRSocLondBBiolSci.2002
Dec29357(1428):165973.
15.LumerED,EdelmanGM,TononiG,Neuraldynamicsinamodelofthethalamocorticalsystem.II.Therole
ofneuralsynchronytestedthroughperturbationsofspiketiming.CerebCortex.1997AprMay7(3):22836.
16.SeeChapter05,LimitsofHumanPerception.
17.VollenweiderFX,GeyerMA,Asystemsmodelofalteredconsciousness:integratingnaturalanddrug
inducedpsychoses.BrainResBull.2001Nov1556(5):495507.
18.SeeChapter10,EntopicHallucination.
19.SeeChapter12,ErraticHallucination.
20.GeyerMA,VollenweiderFX,Serotoninresearch:contributionstounderstandingpsychoses.Trends
PharmacolSci.2008Sep29(9):44553.
21.KassL,HartlinePH,AdolphAR,PresynapticuptakeblockadehypothesisforLSDactionatthelateral
inhibitorysynapseinLimulus.TheJournalofGeneralPhysiology,Vol82,245267.
22.ShaoZ,BurkhalterA,RoleofGABABreceptormediatedinhibitioninreciprocalinterarealpathwaysofrat
visualcortex.JNeurophysiol.1999Mar81(3):101424.
23.BehrendtRP,Hallucinations:synchronisationofthalamocorticalgammaoscillationsunderconstrainedby
sensoryinput.ConsciousCogn.2003Sep12(3):41351.
24.Accountsofhallucinogenscausingstomachuneaseandintestinalcrampingtakenfromsurveysofsubjective
reports.
25.WattsSW,Activationofthemitogenactivatedproteinkinasepathwayviathe5HT2Areceptor.AnnNY
AcadSci.1998Dec15861:1628.
26.WikiPedia.org,Mitogenactivatedproteinkinase.InternetRef.,2010.
27.SeeChapter13,PsychedelicNeuroplasticity.
28.BelchevaMM,etal.,andOpioidReceptorsActivateERK/MAPKviaDifferentProteinKinaseC
IsoformsandSecondaryMessengersinAstrocytes.JBiolChem.2005July29280(30):2766227669.
29.BohnLM,MitogenicSignalingviaEndogenousOpioidReceptorsinC6GliomaCells:Evidenceforthe
InvolvementofProteinKinaseCandtheMitogenActivatedProteinKinaseSignalingCascade.JNeurochem.
2000February74(2):564573.
30.BruchasMR,etal.,KappaOpioidReceptorActivationofp38MAPKIsGRK3andArrestindependentin
NeuronsandAstrocytes.June30,2006TheJournalofBiologicalChemistry,281,1808118089.

Chapter09:WhatisNonlinearHallucination?
PsychedelicInformationTheoryinvokesnonlinearitytodescribetheperceptualeffectsofhallucination,butthe
termnonlinearhasavarietyofdefinitionswhicharesometimesconfusingorunclear.Toclarifythenonlinearity
ofpsychedelichallucination,thefollowingisadescriptionofformalnonlineardynamics,broaderdefinitionsof
nonlinearsystems,andhoweachofthesedefinitionsmayapplytopsychedelicperception.
NonlinearSystems
Nonlinearsystemscanbedefinedintermsofthecomplexityofoutputinproportiontoinput,alsodescribedin
termsofsensitivitytoinitialconditions.Theoutputofchangesinalinearsystemaresimpleandcanbemodeled
withalineonagraph.Incontrast,theoutputofanonlinearsystemfeedsbackonitselfandbecomeschaoticand
complexsimplesmallchangesininitialconditionswillresultinunpredictableandexponentiallydivergentdata

setsthatcannotbeeasilypredicted.Inmathematicalterms,theresultsofanonlinearsystembegintobifurcate,
diverge,orsplitintomultiplepossibledatapointsthefartheroutyouattempttoresolvethem.Theresultsofa
nonlinearsystemcannotbemodeledwithalinearfunctionbecauselinearfunctionsplotsequentialoradditive
complexitynonlinearfunctionsplotexponentialorgeometricallyexpandingcomplexity.Themathematicalstudy
ofnonlinearsystemshasresultedinchaostheory,complexitytheory,andtheanalysisofselfamplifyingrecursive
systemssuchasfractalsandcellularautomata.Renderingsofnonlinearsystemsoutputareconsideredtobeof
highintrinsicbeauty,(Fig.14)1andtherepeatingformsandpatternsareoftenperceivedasspiritualormystical
becausetheyareisomorphicofchaoticornonlinearsystemsinbiology,nature,andthecosmos.

Figure14.ElectricSheepfractalsselectedforanaestheticvotingexperiment.Imageschosenforintrinsic
naturalbeauty.FromTaylor,2008.1
NonlinearConsciousness
Thephysicalworldisacomplexnonlinearsystem,buthumanconsciousnessperceivesrealityasasinglelinear
sequentialnarrativethatmovespredictablyforwardintime.Thelinearityofperceptionisanindicationthat
consciousnessisproducingstable,predictableoutput.Ifperceptionsuddenlydivergesintomultipleunpredictable
outputsforthesamelinearinput,thisisanindicationthatconsciousnesshasdestabilizedandbecomenonlinear.
Avideofeedbackloopisangoodexampleofanonlinearperceptualsystemeachframecapturesitselfandthe
recedingpreviousframe,andthenitselfandtworecedingframes,andthenitselfandthreerecedingframes,and
thenitselfandfourrecedingframes,andsoon,feedingbackonitselfat30framesperseconduntilcomplexity
recedesintochaosandinfinity(Fig.15).Thisisthemathematicaldefinitionofnonlinearsystemgenerating
fractalcomplexity,orchaos,throughaniteratedmaporrecursiveframestackingfeedbackloop.

Figure15.Avideofeedbackloopcreatesanonlinearsystemisomorphicofafractal,wherefromrecedesinward
onitself,spiralingtowardsinfinitecomplexityinunderasecond.FromHofstadter,2007.2
Otherexamplesofnonlinearconsciousnessmaybelessclassicallynonlinear,meaningnotgeneratingexponential
complexity,butstilllackinginlinearformalism.Forinstance,consciousnessmayperceiveitselftobeinmultiple
placesatonceitmayperceivemultipledatasetsforthesameinputitmayseemultipledifferentperspectivesof
thesamesceneitmaymovesidewaysorbackwardsorcompletelyoutsideoflineartime.Thesewouldallbe
considerednonlinearperspectivesofconsciousness.Dreamingcanbeassociativelynonlinear,whichmeans
narrativecontentmovesunpredictablyfromstatetostatewhileretainingsometangentiallinearity.Psychedelics
arefamousforbeingprogressivelynonlinear,whichmeansincomingsensationsaturatesperceptionandbeginsto
stackoveritself,generatingincreasingcomplexityofsensualintensitythroughtime.
PhenomenologyofNonlinearPerspectives
Bydefinition,anonlinearsystemproducesresultswithincreasingcomplexityovertime.Inalinearperspectivea
humanwillparsealiteralanalysisofeachobjectandthenmoveontothenextobject.Inanonlinearperspective
thesubjectproducesincreasinglycomplexperceptualresultsforeachobjectheldinfocusforthedurationofthat
focus.Forinstance,asubjectstaringatarockinalinearstatemaynoticeinterestingshapes,textures,orcolors
inanonlinearstatethatsamerockmayprovokethoughtsandvisionsofthebirthoftheuniverseandtheoriginsof
sunsandplanetsandallsolidmatterleadinguptotheformationofthatveryrock.Thelinearperspectivesees
literal,formalattributesoftherockinthemomentthenonlinearperspectiveseestherockasatemporaryclump
ofenergyboundinacosmicinformationsystemrecedingforwardsandbackwardstothebeginningandendof
time.Themetaphorofseeingtheentireuniverseinarockcanalsobeappliedtoemotionalepiphanies,
autobiographicalinsights,passingfantasies,paranoiddelusions,andsoon.Whateverthefocusofnonlinear
perception,theobjectheldinfocuswillbeamplifiedwithincreasingsalientcomplexitythelongeritisheldin
focus.
Theendlesscomplexityofnonlinearperceptioncancausethesubjecttofallintoperceptualloopswhichspiral,
bifurcate,andrecurwiththeformalqualitiesofafractal(Figs.1,14).Frameinformationstackedinnonlinear
psychedelicperceptioniteratesontheorderof2to16timesasecond,dependingondruganddoserange,
allowingforincreasinglycomplexrenderingsofnonlinearinformationtothepointoftotalsensoryoverload.
Becauseofthequicklybifurcatingcomplexityofnonlinearobjectanalysis,theinformationproducedina
nonlinearstateemergesintoconsciousnessmuchfasterthaninformationproducedinalinearstate.The
productionoffast,nonlineardatainthepsychedelicstateisoftendescribedasadownloadaninconceivably
largeamountofinformationthatcompilesintomemoryalmostinstantly.Theonlywaythisamountofinformation
canbeprocessedthroughthebrainisvianonlinearanalysislinearattemptstoformalizepsychedelicnonlinear
informationintowordsorpicturestypicallyfallshortofcapturingtheholisticperspective.

NonlinearHallucination
Therearemanycolorfulexamplesofnonlinearhallucination.Seeinggeometricgrids,webs,andspiralsare
nonlinearartifactsofdestabilizationofcoupledoscillatorsinopticnetworks.Subjectivereportsindicatethat
DiPTproducesuniquenonlinearpitchtranspositioninaudionetworks,causingsubjectstohearsoundsmodulated
downanentireoctaveormoredependingonthepitchandvolumeofstimulus.Auditoryechoes,visualmotion
trails,andphantomtactilesensationsarerecursiveartifactsofperceptualframefeedback.Perceivingmultiple
perspectivesforthesameinputisanonlinearbifurcationofmultisensorycoherence.Perceivingdreamimages
superimposedoverexternalspaceisnonlineardestabilizationofvisualmemoryrecall.Seeingtheformal
boundariesofsolidobjectsbendandmeltintoeachotherisanonlineardestabilizationofcontrastandedge
detection.Hearingavoiceonthetelevisionorradiospeakingdirectlytoyouisanonlineardestabilizationof
semanticparsingandsequencing.Skippingtime,missingtime,ormovingsidewaysorbackwardsintimeisa
nonlineardestabilizationoftemporalframebuffering.Thebasictenetofpsychedelichallucinationisthat
hallucinationsmoveprogressivelyfromlineartononlinearcomplexitydependingondoserangeanddurationof
effectthehigherthedoseofthehallucinogen,themoredisproportionatelynonlinear,unpredictable,andcomplex
perceptionwillbecomeinresponsetostimulusovertime.
NotesandReferences
1.TaylorRP,SprottJC.,Biophilicfractalsandthevisualjourneyoforganicscreensavers.Nonlinear
DynamicsPsycholLifeSci.2008Jan12(1):11729.
2.HofstadterDR,IamaStrangeLoop.BasicBooks,March26,2007.

Figure16.Spatialrelationshipmappingbetweenretinalcellswithassociatedareasofthestriate(visual)cortex.

Imageshittingthefunnelandspiralringednetworksoftheeyemustbetranslatedtolinesandshadesinthecortex
forvisualrendering.Geometrichallucinations,phosphenes,andentopicformconstantsarisefromdestabilization
in(a)distanceand(b)orientationselectiveretinalcorticalcoupling.FromBressloff,2002,Gutkin2003.

Chapter10:EntopicHallucination

Figure17.Geometrichallucinations,orflickerphosphenes,appearinformconstantsarisingfromdestabilization
in(a)distanceand(b)orientationdependentretinocorticalsignalcoupling.FromBressloff,2002.,Gutkin2003.
Entopichallucinations,orphosphenes,areoneofthemostcommonlyreportedvisualeffectsofpsychedelics.
Phosphenesareasensationoflightcausedbyexcitationoftheretinabymechanicalorelectricalmeans.Pressure
phosphenescanbecreatedbyapplyingpressuretotheeyeballsthroughclosedeyelidsflickerphosphenesare
createdinresponsetostroboscopicpulsesoflightkineticphosphenesarecreatedinresponsetophysicalimpact
tothehead,sometimesreferredtoasseeingstars.Entopichallucinationsaredifferentiatedfromeideticor
photographichallucinationsinthattheyoriginatewithintheneuralconnectionsbetweentheeyeandcortex(Fig.
16),asopposedtoemergingwithinthecortexormidbrain.Thereisevidencethatentopicphosphenepatterns
haveinfluencedhumanculturalandreligiousarchetypessince10,000BCE(Fig.2).1,2,17
Entopichallucinationsfallintopredictablegeometricpatternsandcanbemeasuredbyformalpropertiessuchas
formconstant,flickerrate,rotation,drift,anddecay.Commonphospheneformsincludeweb,grid,checkerboard,
cloverleaf,honeycomb,spiral,funnel,ormoreamorphousfloatingblobsandstars(Fig.17).3Phosphenepatterns
maymatchrecurringpatternsinthenaturalworld,suchascells,stars,sanddunes,flowers,clouds,and
snakeskin.Evidencesuggeststhattheformconstantsofphosphenesaredirectlyrelatedtospatialrelationships
betweentheringlikestructureoftheretinalcellsandthegridlikeorcolumnarneuralstructuresofthevisual
cortex.Thespontaneousproductionofgeometrichallucinationsisduetoexcitationandlossofstabilityinthese
retinalcorticalfeedbackcouplingpathways.Thetransitionfromseamlessvisualaliasingtospontaneous
geometricpatternscanbedescribedasatranscriticalsensorybifurcationreflectingthespatialorganizationofthe
recurrentnetwork.4,5,6
Pulsesinthesamefrequencyrangeasbrainwaves(thetatogamma)aremosteffectiveinproducingflicker
phosphenes.3Flickerphosphenescreatedbystroboscopiclightsormindmachinestendtobemoreamorphousat
lowfrequencies(14hz),tendtofallintoweb,spiral,orcloverleafpatternsatmediumfrequencies(49hz),and
tendtolockintogrid,honeycomb,orcheckerboardpatternsathigherfrequencies(916hz+).Flickerphosphenes
willhaveslowlateraldriftatlowerfrequenciesarotationaldriftatmediumfrequenciesandwillmaintain
stabilityorproducefastlateraldriftathigherfrequencies.7Thesephaserelatedtransitionsinstandingwave
shapearealsoseeninChladnipatternscreatedinvibratingplates(Fig.31).Presumablyanytechnologywhich
usespulsatingfrequenciestoproducephosphenes,suchastranscranialmagneticstimulation(TMS),mustalso
usepulsescorrespondingtothefrequencyrangeofhumantemporalaliasingtoproducesubstantiallystabilized
phospheneforms.8
FlickerPhosphenesandHallucinogenicInterrupt

Takingwhatweknowabouttheproductionofgeometrichallucinationsinresponsetopulseactivitywithin
specificfrequencyranges,itispossibletoextrapolatethatthemultisensoryinterruptofanyhallucinogenmustfall
intothesamerangeof@540hz,whichisthegeneralfrequencyrangeofhumanconsciousness,toproduce
phosphenes.AccordingtotheControlInterruptModelofpsychedelicaction,anydrugwhichproducesa
multisensoryinterruptwithinthefrequencybandofwakingconsciousnesswillalsonecessarilyproduceflicker
phosphenesandbeconsideredhallucinogenic.Ifthemultisensoryinterruptistooslowortoofast,thedrugmay
stillbeconsideredpsychedelic,empathogenic,entactogenic,ordissociative,butitwillbelesslikelyproduce
significantlyrealizedgeometricflickerhallucinations.Thissameprinciplecanbeappliedtoaudioandtactile
sensorybindinganyperiodicinterruptwithinthefrequencybandofhumansensoryconsciousnesswill
necessarilyinducefieldlikehallucinationswithstableformconstantsandpropertiesrelateddirectlytothe
interruptfrequency.

Figure18.Examplesofprogrammaticcellularautomata.Repetitionofsimplealgorithmscreatecomplexpatterns
ofarchetypalbeauty.Levitated.net,2010.
Theevolutionofflickerphosphenescanbedescribedformallybythegeometricalselforganizingfeedback
patternsseeninfractals(Figs.1,14),cellularautomata(Fig.18),orpatternsarisingfromstandingwave
interference(Fig.31).Undertheinfluenceofpsychedelics,flickerphosphenesgrowinintensity,becomemore
elaborate,andbecomemorestructurallyresolvedovertime.3Itcanbeassumedthatthisisbecausethe
modulatoryinterruptofahallucinogenisbeingapplieddirectlytothesensorybindingpathwaysvia
pharmacologicalinteractionasopposedtobeingappliedtotheretinalorcorticalnetworksviaexternalpulse
stimulation.Becausethemodulatoryinterruptofpsychedelicsispharmacological,itismoredifficultforthe
subjecttofendofforignoretheinterrupttoretainmultisensorystabilitytheverypathwaysthatmaintainstability
arethepathwayswhicharebeinginterrupted.Inaveryphysicalway,themodulatoryinterruptofthe
hallucinogenishijackingthesensorysignalingpathwaysandoverridingthemwithitsownmodulatoryfrequency.
Becauseofthis,theinfluenceofthehallucinogenicflickerinterruptbecomesexplicitinsensoryrenderingthe
subjectmayliterallyseeorfeelthepulsatinggeometricfieldinterferenceasafullyembeddedaspectoftheir
perceptualreality.
Flickerphosphenesaretheproductofneurochemicalsaturationandhavesubstantialsignaldecay.Thereis
evidencethatelectricallystimulatedphosphenestakeaslongas1015secondstofullyfadeoncetheperiodic
stimulusisremoved.9Overlappingstereoscopicphospheneswillnaturallycreatedecayinginterferencepatterns
approachingfractalcomplexity.Itcanbeassumedthereisasaturationofsignalingmoleculesthatbuildsupatthe
siteofsynapticinterruptionthatpersistsforsomeperiodoftimefollowingeachinterrupt.Thepulseofeach
interruptcanbedescribedintermsofsaturationattackanddecaythefadeofeachinterruptcanbedescribedin
termsofsaturationsustainandrelease(orADSRenvelope).10Fullsaturationwouldmeanacompletewhiteout
ofsensoryinformationattheinterruptsitezerosaturationwouldmeantheinterruptsiteisclearedofsignaling
moleculesandispresentingadarkenedrestingstate.Saturationattheinterruptsiteincreasesanddecreasesin
intensityovertheperiodofeachinterruptthischangeinchemicalsaturationoverthedurationofeachinterruptis
perceivedasaflickerorpulseofsensoryintensity.
Becauseahallucinogenicinterruptpulsesatmanycyclespersecond,andbecauseeachpulsecanhavea
saturationdecayofmanyseconds,phospheneswillnaturallydriftlaterallyorradiallyacrossthevisualfieldas
theydecay,creatingoverlappingwebsofmanyarisingandfadinggeometricpatternsallvisiblewithinasingle
perceptualframe.Thiscreatestheformationofcomplexstandinginterferencepatterns.Theweblike
interferenceofmultiplearisinganddecayinggeometricgridscreatesa3Dmeshworkthatallowscomplexeidetic

shapestomaterializespontaneouslywithinthequicklymorphingwireframe(Fig.20).Visualsaturationismost
intenseattheintersticesofthewireframemesh,creatingtheperceptionofbrightdotsorscintillatingjewels
wherepatternedlinesoverlapandintersectintonodes.Thesesaturatedpixelgroupsmaycorrespondtoactual
hotspotsofneuralactivitysaturatingcolumnsofthevisualcortex.Thesehotspotsareproducedspontaneouslyin
thewakeofstimulus,creatingafloodofglutamatewherevershaftsofapicaldendritesintersectwithlateral
projectionsfromproximalneuralcolumns.18Glutamatefloodingatdendriticcolumnsofpyramidalneuronsis
presumablytheresultofasynchronousglutamatereleasefollowing5HT2Areceptoragonism.19

Figure19.Musclesoftheeye.Somesubjectsonpsychedelicsreportpulsesorrhythmictwitchinginoptic
musclesthatcontrolfocus,specificallythelateralrectusandinferioroblique.Thesepulsesmaygenerate
pressurephosphenesrelateddirectlytofrequencyofpulsation.FromGreysAnatomy.
Itiswidelyassumedthatgeometrichallucinationsandflickerphosphenesoriginatebetweentheoptictrackand
cortex,butsomesubjectivereportsofpsychedelicexperimentationalsodescribeafastpulsationorrhythmicjitter
feltinthemusclesaroundtheeyes.Thissensationismostacuteintheoutsidecornerofthevisualperiphery,
specificallyalongthelateralrectusandthejunctionwheretheinferiorobliquepassesovertheinferiorrectus
(Fig.19).Thisopticalpulsemaybedifficulttodiscerninearlypartsofapsychedelicsession,butbecomesmore
acuteandeasiertosenseasthesessionwearson.Thisrapidpulsationmayberelatedtomodulatoryinterruptand
saturationatthecorticalcolumnsthatcontrolopticmuscles,generatingachainreactioninneuraltransduction
feltasamuscletwitchorthrob.Periodicallyinterruptingtheeyesfinelytimedsaccadeswithamuscletwitchor
pulsationmaybeenoughtoproducephosphenes.
Increasingordecreasingopticpressurenaturallyproducesphosphenes5HT2Aagonismdecreasesocular
pressure.Inhisexperimentswithphosphenesinthemid1800s,JohannesPurkinjeappliedanaqueousextractof
belladonna(scopolamine,atropine)directlytohiseyetoproducephosphenes.Becausetheeffectwaslocalized,
Purkinjeproposedthatphosphenesmayberelatedtocycloplegia,orpartialparalysisoftheeyemuscles.20Given
thesereports,itisreasonabletoassumethatanyinterruptionofvisualmotorcontrol,interruptionofopticsignal
transduction,orchangeinopticpressurewillproducephosphenes.Phosphenesgeneratedbychangesinocular
pressureormuscletwitchwouldbeconsideredsynestheticrepresentationsofpressurewavesripplingfrom
intraocularfluidintoreceptivenervejuncti0ns.
Entopicvs.EideticHallucination
Geometrichallucinations,orphosphenes,areconsideredtobeentopic,meaningtheyareaproductofexcitation
anddestabilizationinspatialcouplingbetweenneuralassembliesintheretinaandvisualcortex,andproduce
geometricpatternssimilartowaveinterferencepatterns.Entopichallucinationscanbecontrastedwitheidetic
hallucinations,whicharemorefullyformedimagesthatappearfromvisualmemoryorimagination.Psychedelic
eidetichallucinationsareoftenmoreexplicitlypersonalthantheabstractgeometricformsassociatedwithflicker
phosphenes.Overthecourseofapsychedelicsession,hallucinationswillstartwithflickerphosphenesandthen
increaseincomplexityfromentopictoeideticcontent,oftencontainingaseamlessmixtureofthetwo.Itcanbe

assumedthateidetichallucinationsonlybeginonceserotonergicmodulationofthePFChasbeensufficiently
interruptedtoallowcholinergicmodulationofinternalizedmidbrainvisualizationtocometothefore.11The
transitionfromentopictoeidetichallucinationisalsoassociatedwithatransitionfromthehighfrequencybetaor
gammastatetoalowerfrequencyalphaorthetastate.
Meditationandautohypnoticexercisesaretargetedtoproducestatesofhypnagogiaassociatedwiththetawaves
andentopichallucination.Drugswhichnaturallydrivethetawavesinthebrainarecalledhypnotics.Some
psychedelicsarenaturallyhypnotic,othersarehypnoticonlyinsensorydeprivationorundertheinfluenceofa
thetabandperiodicdriver.12Thehallucinogenicteaayahuascaisamixtureofahighfrequencyinterrupt
psychedelic(DMT)andalowfrequencyhypnoticdiver(thebetacarbolinesharmineandharmaline,among
others).Thissynergisticblendofhighbetainterruptandslowthetaattenuatorsmeansthatayahuascashould
promotebothfastbetageometricflickerphosphenesaswellassloweideticthetadreamsnippets.Thisprediction
canresolveparadoxicalEEGanalysisofsubjectsundertheinfluenceofayahuasca,whichsometimesindicates
increasedpowerinhighfrequencybetaandgammacoherence,13,14butinthecontextofshamanicritualshows
increasedpowerinslowwavethetaactivity.15
Eidetichallucinationisconsideredtoberenderedphotographicallyorpresentedasa3Dvirtualmodel.In
psychedelicintoxication,astrangeconversionofeideticandentopicphenomenacanoccurwhenaneideticimage
orsymbolreproducesintoamarchinggridorkaleidoscopicnetworkofrepeatingsymbolswithajuxtaposed
eideticimageemergingwithintherepeatingsuperstructure.Forexample,asubjectmayhallucinateageometric
gridofquicklyspinningcoloredtriangles,andasthosetrianglesflickeracrossthevisualfieldtheysuddenly
cohereintoa3Dwireframemeshofamorefullyrealizedeideticsnapshotofahumanbodyorface.Inaddition
totriangles,theoverlayinggridmaybecomposedofdots,circles,honeycomb,spiders,insects,centipedes,
worms,snakes,reptiles,lizards,questionmarks,swastikas,teeth,pianokeys,skulls,flowers,leaves,stars,eyes,
billiardballs,dice,playingcards,humanfaces,alienfaces,dancingelves,skeletons,clowns,jesters,writhing
bodies,branchingtrees,cells,bacteria,paisleys,DNA,Japanesekanji,Byzantinetilepatterns,Mesoamerican
brickpatterns,NativeAmericantotempatterns,Polynesiantikipatterns,andsimilarrepeatingarchetypal
forms.16Thefastflickerrateandembeddedkaleidoscopicnatureofthistypeofcompoundhallucinationoften
defiesformaldescriptionortheabilitytoaccuratelycaptureinartormemory.Thehallucinogenicperceptionofa
complexembeddedsymbolicgridorkineticfractalsuperstructureisuniquetothepsychedelicexperienceitmay
bethevisualessenceofwhatmakesanexperienceauthenticallypsychedelic.
NotesandReferences
1.WilliamsJD,DowsonTA,etal.,TheSignsofAllTimes:EntopticPhenomenainUpperPalaeolithicArt.
CurrentAnthropology,Vol.29,No.2(Apr.,1988),pp.201245.
2.PettiforE,AlteredStates:TheOriginofArtinEntopticPhenomena.InternetReference,1996.
3.KnollM,KuglerbJ,etal.,EffectsofChemicalStimulationofElectricallyInducedPhosphenesontheir
Bandwidth,Shape,NumberandIntensity.SterotacticandFunctionalNeurosurgery,Vol.23,No.3,1963.
4.BressloffPC,etal.,WhatGeometricVisualHallucinationsTellUsabouttheVisualCortex.Neural
Computation14(2002)473491.
5.GutkinB,Pinto,ErmentroutB,MathematicalNeuroscience:FromNeuronstoCircuitstoSystems.Journal
ofPhysiology,Paris97(2003)209219.
6.ErmentroutB,CowenJ,Amathematicaltheoryofvisualhallucinationpatterns.BiologicalCybernetics,343
(1979)137150.
7.Observationsonthecorrelationbetweenflickerrateandtheformconstantsandpropertiesofphosphenesare
basedonsubjectivereportsofstroboscopiclightpulsemachines.
8.BokkonI,KirbyM,DAngiulliA,TMS,phosphenesandvisualmentalimagery:Aminireviewanda
theoreticalframework.SymposiumonTranscranialMagneticStimulationandNeuroimaginginCognitionand
BehaviourConference,Montreal,Quebec,Canada,25September2008.
9.DobelleWH,MladejovskyHG,Phosphenesproducedbyelectricalstimulationofhumanoccipitalcortex,and
theirapplicationtothedevelopmentofaprosthesisfortheblind.JPhysiol.1974December243(2):553576.1.

10.SeeChapter06,TheControlInterruptModelofPsychedelicAction.
11.Hobson,J.Allan,TheDreamDrugstore:ChemicallyAlteredStatesofConsciousness.MITPress,2001.
12.Subjectivereportsshowthatsometryptamines,suchathepsilocybinandpsilocinfoundinmagicmushrooms,
naturallycausedrowsinesseveninloudsensoryenvironments.Othertryptamines,likeLSD,canhave
paradoxicallytrancelikeorstimulantlikequalitiesdependingontheenvironmentaldriversofsetandsetting.
13.RibaJ,AndererP,etal.,TopographicpharmacoEEGmappingoftheeffectsoftheSouthAmerican
psychoactivebeverageayahuascainhealthyvolunteers.BrJClinPharmacol.2002June53(6):613628.
14.StuckeyDE,LawsonR,LunaLE,EEGgammacoherenceandothercorrelatesofsubjectivereportsduring
ayahuascaexperiences.JPsychoactiveDrugs.2005Jun37(2):16378.
15.Hoffmann,E,EffectsofaPsychedelic,TropicalTea,Ayahuasca,ontheElectroencephalographic(EEG)
ActivityoftheHumanBrainduringaShamanisticRitual.MAPSSpring(2001)2530.
16.Accountsofgeometricmeshworkormarchingrowsofrepeatingarchetypalformsaretakenfromsubjective
reportsofpsychedelicintoxication.
17.NicholsonPT,FirnhaberRP,AutohypnoticInductionofSleepRhythmsGeneratesVisionsofLightwith
FormconstantPatterns.WhitePaper.
18.NicholsDE,Hallucinogens.Pharmacology&TherapeuticsVolume101,Issue2,February2004,Pages
131181.
19.AghajanianGK,MarekGJ,SerotoninInducesExcitatoryPostsynapticPotentialsinApicalDendritesof
NeocorticalPyramidalCells.NeuropharmacologyVolume36,Issues45,5April1997,Pages589599.
20.MelechiA,SeeingStars:TheShiftingGeometryofPhosphenes.TripMagazine,issue10,2627,2004.
21.Levitated.net,ArtifactsofComputation.InternetReference,2010.

Chapter11:EideticHallucination
Psychedelicscanproducemanytypesofhallucination,includinggeometricwebsandgrids1distortionsofspace
andtime2andphotographicimagesofobjects,people,orscenery.Hallucinationswithaphotographic,animated,
orfilmlikeclarityarecalledeidetichallucinations,oreideticsforshort.Eideticssharemanyoftheformal
qualitiesofdreams,visualmemory,andimagination,andmaybethemostalluringaspectofexperimentingwith
hallucinogens.Eidetichallucinationsriseandfalllikedreamsnippets,rarelyholdingformformorethanafew
secondsbeforefadingorshiftingintoanotherform.Eideticobjects,scenes,orpeoplethatbecomesolidand
retaintheirshapeforanextendedperiodoftimearecalledfrankorconcretehallucinations.Concrete
hallucinationsareoftensolid,immersive,indistinguishablefromreality,andsharemanyofthequalitiesoflucid
dreaming,sleepwalking,anddementia.
Themostcommonlyreportedeidetichallucinationsseenonpsychedelicsareofpeople,faces,skulls,jaguars,
snakes,plants,bloomingflowers,spirits,aliens,insects,andothersimilararchetypes.Eidetichallucinationscan
sometimestaketheformofentirevirtualworlds,spiritdimensions,invisiblelandscapes,andsoon.Eideticsoften
emergewithinapreexistingentopicinterferencepatternthatgrowsinintensityovertimetoproducemore
photographicor3Drenderedobjects(Fig.20).1Eideticsundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicsaremostoften
reportedwitheyesclosedorwhilesittingmotionlessinmeditativetrance.Onhighdosesofpsychedelicseidetic
hallucinationsmaymaterializewitheyesopenonanysurface,pattern,ortexturethatsgazedatformorethana
fewseconds.3

Figure20.Eidetictryptaminehallucinations,likethisalien,typicallyemergeassnapshotsoranimationswithina
largergeometricinterferencepattern.
Psychedeliceideticsareprogressive,whichmeanstheybeginasnondurableformarisingfrompatternsornoise,
andthenoveraperiodofsecondsdrift,smooth,orlockintoformalqualitieswhichcanberecognizedassalient
shapes.Theprocessofsmoothingorlockingontoaneideticforminapsychedelichallucinationrequiressome
minimalamountoffocusandconcentrationtosustain.Theeideticimagemaymaterialize,ooze,orpulseinto
clarityinresponsetothesubjectsconcentrationandfocus,developingslowlylikeaPolaroidphotoorfilmreel
fadein.Losingconcentrationforaninstantcancausetheeideticimagetofadeorshiftintoanotherimage.
Holdingtheeyesstillwillincreaseintensityofprogressiveeideticimageryblinkingorflickingtheeyesfrom
sidetosidewillwipethevisualmemorybufferandcauseeideticimagestofadeholdingtheeyesstillagainwill
causepreviouslyheldimagestospontaneouslyrematerialize.4

Figure21.Acetylcholine(ACh)modulatesthemedialtemporallobeduringmemorystorage,recall,and
dreaming.EideticimageryinhallucinationisassociatedwithhighAChmodulation.
TheHippocampus,ACh,Memory,andDreaming
Theprocessesofdreaming,memorystorage,andmemoryrecallaremanagedbythehippocampus.5The
hippocampusreceivesperceptualinformationfromthefrontalcortexbutisalsowiredtightlyintotheemotional
limbicsystemandmedialtemporallobewhichiswhystrongmemoriesalwayshaveanemotionalcomponent.6
Sincethehippocampusiscentralintheformation,consolidation,andreconsolidationofallsalientmemory,we
canalsoassumeitisalsothesourceofsalienteidetichallucination.Thehippocampusismostactivewhileawake
andwhiledreaming.Theprocessofmovingfromwakingtosleepingisassociatedwithamovefromhighbetaor
alphaactivitydowntoslowerthetaanddeltaranges.Deepsleepisassociatedwithslowdeltawavesandlow
energyactivation,whileREMsleepanddreamingbegintoproducebetaactivityandenergyprofilessimilarto
thoseseeninwakingactivity.7

Nocturnaldreamactivityisaprocessofmemoryconsolidation.8IndeepsleepandREMthestresschemical
cortisoldecreasescommunicationbetweenthehippocampusandneocortex,9andtheprocessofREMand
dreamingisstimulatedbyacetylcholinerelease.10Acetylcholine(ACh)istheprimarymessengerofthebrains
cholinergicsystem,essentialtohippocampalmodulationofmemorycompressionandrecall(Fig.21).Sleep
onset,sleeping,anddreamingareassociatedwithanincreaseinAChmodulationofthebrainstemandmedial
temporallobethisoccursalongwithaproportionaldecreaseinserotonin,norepinephrine,andaminergicactivity
intheprefrontalcortex(PFC).Theinterplaybetweenthesetwosystemsactslikeatidebetweenwakingand
sleepingworlds.Drugswhichincreaseaminergicactivity,suchasantidepressants,shouldalsodecrease
dreaming.11Similarly,theprolongedsuppressionofcholinergicactivityandREMsleepduetodeprivationor
extendedamphetamineusecreatespsychoticepisodeswhichmaybedefinedasburstsofdreamactivityerupting
spontaneouslyintowakingstates.

Figure22.Hobson'sAIMmodelshowspatternsof(A)ctivation,(I)nputgating,and(M)odulationinvariousstates
ofconsciousness.Dreamsandeidetichallucinationareassociatedwithlowaminergicandhighcholinergic
modulation.11
Todescribethefunctionalinterplaybetweenaminergicwakingstatesandcholinergicdreamingstates,J.Allen
HobsonhasproposedathreedimensionalAIMstatespacemodel.11Theinterferencebetweenaminergicand
cholinergicsystemscanbemodeledbyplottingtheoverallactivationofthebrain(A,highvs.lowenergy),the
inputofsensorysignal(I,internalvs.external),andthesignalmodulation(M,aminergicvs.cholinergic).Using
thisAIMmodelwecanpresentasnapshotofthewaking,dreaming,orhallucinatingbraininagraphiccontext
(Fig.22).Awakingbrainwouldbehighinactivity,inputgatedexternally,withhighaminergicmodulation.A
dreamingbrainwouldalsobehighinactivity,butinputgatedinternallyandhighcholinergicmodulation.
Similarly,statesofdeepsleep,mania,andpsychosiscanalsobedescribed.
AccordingtotheAIMmodel,eidetichallucinationinapsychedelicsessionwillnotbeginuntilexternal
serotonergicmodulationissufficientlyinterruptedtoallowinternallygatedcholinergicactivitytorisetothefore
ofconsciousness.Remainingmotionless,closingtheeyes,orsittinginaquietdarkenedenvironmentwill
stimulatetheonsetofeidetichallucinationsonpsychedelics12thisispresumablybecausedarkenedstillness
promotessleeponsetandanincreaseininternallygatedcholinergicactivity.Thelongerasubjectunderthe
influenceofpsychedelicsremainsmotionless,themorephotographicallyrenderedthehallucinationswillbecome.
Whenthehallucinatingsubjectrousesfromtranceandbeginstomoveagain,hallucinationwilllosephotographic
qualityandreturnbacktomoregenericentopicforms.
TheAChpromotionofdreamingandREMhasbeendemonstratedinanimalresearch,10butonlysubjectively
reportedandpresumedinhumans.22Subjectivereportsofcombiningboththedissociativeketamineandthe
psychedelicLSDwithpredosesofgalantamineandcholine(bothacetylcholinepromoters)indicatesthatACh
promotersfacilitateemotionallyintenseeidetichallucinations,sometimesuncomfortableorunpleasantinnature,
emergingbeyondthesubjectscapacitytocontrol.13Thisdemonstratesthattheproductionofeideticimageryin
responsetoAChmodulationisaspontaneousandautomaticfunctionofmemoryconsolidationthatcannotbe

easilycontrolledbythewillorintentofthesubject.Thespontaneousproductionofsalienteideticmemorymakes
psychedelicsausefultoolinpsychotherapy,14buttheuncontrollablefloodofeideticimagerymaynotalwaysbe
pleasantforthesubject.Statesofintenseeidetichallucinationmaybeassociatedwithmemoryregression,
imprinting,reconsolidation,andneuroplasticity.15
Anticholinergics,ConcreteHallucination,REM
HallucinogenswhichtargetAChreceptorsarereportedtoproduceveryvividwakingdreamsandconcrete
hallucinations.Anticholinergicscausedrowsiness,butathighdosesalsoinduceadisruptivesleepanda
qualitativelyuniqueformofdelirium.24Thecommonlyreportedanticholinergichallucinogensarethetropane
deliriantsatropineandscopolaminefoundindeadlynightshade,belladonna,datura,Jimsonweed,andmembers
oftheSolanaceaefamily.16MuscarinefromtheAmanitamuscariamushroomalsointeractsatthemuscarine
AChreceptorsasanagonist.TobaccoalsotargetsAChreceptors,butnicotinicAChreceptorsinsteadof
muscarinicreceptors.17Allplantsandpharmaceuticalswhichtargetthecholinergicsystemarereportedtobe
hallucinogenicathighenoughdoses.Cholinergichallucinationsareuniqueinthattheymayeruptinto
consciousnessfullyformedlikedreamsorfevereddelusions.18Incontrast,tryptaminepsychedelicshave
progressivelevelsofentopicorerratichallucinationbeforereachingthelevelofconcretehallucination.Although
daturaandtobaccoarecommonadmixturesoftraditionalAmazonianayahuascapreparations,experimentation
withplantsanddrugsthattargetthecholinergicsystemathallucinogenicdosesisphysicallyveryuncomfortable
andpotentiallylethal.16,21
Concretehallucinationsaresimilartosymptomsofdementiainthatthesubjectliterallycannottelldelusionfrom
reality.Likeasleepwalker,thesubjectmaythinktheyareatthesupermarketwhentheyareactuallylookinginto
acloset.Psychedelicsmayproducethisstateofdisorientation,butitismorecommonlyassociatedwith
dissociatives,deliriants,andpharmaceuticalantihistaminesorsleepaids.SuppressionofREMsleepisassociated
withpsychoticdisorders,23andsleepdeprivationforasfewasthreedayscancausespontaneousperiodsof
concretehallucinationandwakingdelusion.19MixinganticholinergicswithREMsuppressioncancreatehighly
realizedwakingluciddreamsandexperiencesofleavingthebodyandenteringintoparallelrealities.20This
indicatesthatperiodicAChREMconsolidationofeideticmemoryoverthecourseof24hoursisnecessaryfor
maintainingstabilityofconsciousness.Activatingeideticmemoryconsolidationwiththeuseofpsychedelicsand
extendedREMtranceinductionmaybetherapeuticforsubjectssufferingfromdepression,anxiety,orpsychosis
duetoPTSD,insomnia,andotherstressrelatedsleepdisorders.Conversely,usingpsychedelicsasstimulantsto
avoidsleepmayleadtonegativeplasticityandpersistentpsychoticdisorders.15
NotesandReferences
1.SeeChapter10,EntopicHallucination.
2.SeeChapter12,ErraticHallucination.
3.Contentofeideticpsychedelichallucinationstakenfromsubjectivereportsandasurveyofpsychedelic
literature.
4.Accountsofeidetichallucinationsarisingprogressivelyandbeingwipedfromvisualmemorybyeye
movementstakenfromsubjectivereports.
5.LeDoux,Joseph,SynapticSelf.VikingPenguin,NY,2002.
6.LeDoux,Joseph,TheEmotionalBrain.Simon&Schuster,NY,1996.
7.MunglaniR,JonesJG,SleepandGeneralAnesthesiaasAlteredStatesofConsciousness.Journalof
Psychopharmacology6:399409,1992.
8.StickgoldR,HobsonJA,FosseR,FosseM,Sleep,learning,anddreams:offlinememoryreprocessing.
Science.2001Nov2294(5544):10527.
9.PayneJD,NadelL.,Sleep,dreams,andmemoryconsolidation:theroleofthestresshormonecortisol.Learn
Mem.2004NovDec11(6):6718.
10.HobsonJA,etal.,TheneuropsychologyofREMsleepdreaming.NeuroReport:16February1998Volume
9Issue3pR1R14.

11.Hobson,J.Allan,TheDreamDrugstore:ChemicallyAlteredStatesofConsciousness.MITPress,2001.
12.Accountsofpsychedeliceideticimagesbecomingmoreintensewitheyesheldstill,eyeclosed,orina
darkenedroomtakenfromsubjectivereports.Saccades,blinking,oranyfastmovementoftheeyeswipingand
refreshingvisualmemoryalsotakenfromsubjectiveaccounts.
13.ReportedaccountsofcombiningdosesofbothketamineandLSDwithpredosesof800mgofgalantamineand
500mgcholinereporttheeideticvisualsoftheserespectiveexperiencesasextremelyintense,impossibletostop,
andimpossibletosteerinaconsciousdirection.Thisexperimentswereconductedtoenhancethecapacityto
rememberthecontentgeneratedinapsychedelicexperience.Insteadofaidinginmemoryimprinting,ACh
modulationproducedanoppositeeffectofvisualmemoryflooding,creatingaFullblowneyelidmoviethat
werenotalwayspleasantandwereimpossibletocontrol.Reportstakenfrompersonalemailcorrespondence
withthetestsubject.
14.Grof,S,LSDPsychotherapy.MAPS,3rdEdition,2001.
15.SeeChapter13,PsychedelicNeuroplasticity.
16.GrinspoonL,BakalarJB,PsychedelicDrugsReconsidered.TheLindesmithCenter,1997.
17.CooperJR,BloomFE,RothRH,TheBiochemicalBasisofNeuropharmacology.OxfordUniversityPress,
NY,7thed.,1996.
18.Accountsofexperimentationwithplantandpharmaceuticalanticholinergicstakenfromsubjectivereportsand
asurveyofliterature.
19.Coren,S,SleepDeprivation,PsychosisandMentalEfficiency.PsychiatricTimes.Vol.15No.3,1998.
20.Zoe7,IntoTheVoid.WorldwideMedia,2001.
21.ArnettAM,JimsonWeed(Daturastramonium)Poisoning.ClinicalToxicologyReviewDec1995,Vol18
(No3).
22.LaBergeSP,SubstancesthatEnhanceRecallandLucidityDuringDreaming.PatentApplicationnumber:
10/604,138Publicationnumber:US2004/0266659A1Filingdate:Jun27,2003
23.CochenV,ArnulfI,DemeretS,etal.,Vividdreams,hallucinations,psychosisandREMsleepinGuillain
Barrsyndrome.Brain,ISSN00068950.2005,vol.128(11),pp.25352545.
24.ItilTM,AnticholinergicdruginducedsleeplikeEEGpatterninman.Psychopharmacologia.
196914(5):38393.

Figure23.AkiyoshiKitaokasRotatingSnakesillusion.Stareatthecenterofanycircleandtheradialedges
ofnearbycircleswillappeartorotate.Thisimagepresentsanexampleoftheperipheraldriftillusiondueto
contrastambiguitiesinthevisualfield.Thisillusionexploitscontrastexpectationscreatedbyprogressive4step
gradientsalongradialtangents.Thecontrastexpectationscreatedby4stepgradientsaretimedependentand
wiredformotiondetectionintheperiphery.The4degreesofcolorcontrastaroundtheperipheryrequiresmultiple
framestoproperlyfill,creatingatemporalambiguitytoedgealiasingexploitedbythisillusion.FromKitaoka,
2003.

Chapter12:ErraticHallucination
Hallucinationshaveformalpropertiesthatcanshedlightontheirorigins.Entopichallucinationsarecharacterized
bygeometricformsoriginatingintheretinaandoptictract.1Eidetichallucinationsarecharacterizedby
photographicimagesoriginatingfromthehippocampusandmedialtemporallobe.2Thereisalsoathirdtypeof
hallucinationnotcoveredbytheseotherformalcategorieserratichallucinations,orhallucinationsoriginatingin
thelossofmultisensoryframestability.Opticalillusionsthatexploitrenderingambiguitiesinperipheralvision
canbedescribedaserratichallucination.Tinnitus,orphantomringingorbuzzingintheearscanbedescribedas
erratichallucination.Parasthesia,orphantomtinglingsensationsduetooxygenlossornervetraumacanalsobe
describedaserratichallucinations.
Likeentopichallucination,theoriginoferratichallucinationisadestabilizationofmultisensoryprocessingand

sensorysignalcoupling.Erratichallucinationscausedby5HT2Aagonismincludewigglinganddriftingofline
andshadowframestackingandrecursiveframecascadingandtemporalandspatialdisorientationcausedby
lossofmultisensorycohesion.Erraticpsychedelichallucinationbeginsatlowdoseswithsimpleformalboundary
errors,andbecomesmoreacuteathigherdoses,leadingtothetotallossofmultisensoryframestability.Lossof
multisensoryframestabilityundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicsresemblesstatesofsenilityandschizophrenia.
BreathingWalls,MeltingTextures,CreepingCarpets
Subjectsundertheinfluenceofhallucinogensreportbreathingwalls,creepingcarpets,andmeltingtextures.
Theseeffectsareallsimilarinthattheyrepresentalossofstabilityinsharpline,contrast,andtexturedetailin
visualmemory.Thiscanbedescribedasarenderingambiguityerror,andindicatesadriftingofcontrast
informationbothlaterallyandradiallyacrossthecortex.Thisdriftinginthevisualfieldismostprominentinthe
peripherywheretheretinalblindspotsareworkingwithincompletedatatobeginwith.Thisorientationambiguity
isexploitedinopticalillusionswhichevokerotationalmovement(Figs.6,23).
Hallucinationsofcreepingline,depth,andshadowarecausedbyalossoflateralorlocalizedinhibitionwithin
corticalcircuits.3Thelevelofdisinhibitionanddriftinthevisualfieldispresumablyproportionaltothedoseof
hallucinogen,andthisassumptionisprovedcorrectbyindividualreportsofhallucinogenuse.Whileatlower
dosestheremayonlybeaslightwigglingordriftingtotherenderingoflineanddepth,athigherdosesthelines
andcolorsbetweensolidformsmayappeartobend,swirl,ormeltintooneanother.4Theinabilitytoaliassmooth
linesorholdsharpcontrastbetweenobjectsisthedefinitionoflineardestabilization.
Themeltingordriftingoftexturesseenonpsychedelicsoriginatesinthelayersofthevisualcortex,butthereare
othersimilarinhibitorymechanismswhichstabilizesensorycohesionacrosstheentirebrain.Byapplying
disinhibitiontoaudionetworks,asubjectundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicsmayhearanechoormurmurrising
inthewakeofeachsound.Byapplyingdisinhibitiontotactilenetworksthesubjectmightfeelphantomfluid
sensationsripplingalongtheskin.Thesehallucinationpatternsaredistinctinthattheyariselikeawigglingor
fluidrippleinthewakeofstimulus,causingalossofsensoryfieldstabilitysimilartoaslowdrippingormelting
ofcontrastboundaries.
FrameDestabilizationandFrameStacking
Theseamlessnatureofhumanperceptiondependsonthefastupdatingofsensoryframeinformation.Humans
updatewakingframeinformationatroughlythebetarangeofconsciousness,around1230Hz,whichiswhy
animation,film,TV,andcomputerscreensallappearseamlessinthe2460Hzrange.Psychedelicsdestabilize
smoothframealiasingbyinterruptingpathwaysresponsibleformultisensorybinding.5Atlowdoses
hallucinogenicinterruptionisfeltasentopichallucination,butathigherdosesmodulatoryinterruptionleadsto
moreextremeframedestabilization.Subjectsundertheinfluenceoftryptaminehallucinogensreportsensory
framelagandslowmotionframesframedelayorechoframeflangeorrecursiveloopingframestackingor
framefreezingframerewindandfastforwarddroppedframessplitorbifurcatingframesframeskippingand
similarnonlinearframeeffects.Theseareallexamplesofextremeerratichallucinationlinkedtomultisensory
framedestabilization.

Figure24.Examplesofframestackingcausedbyvideofeedback,whichisisomorphicoffractalrecursion,
visualecho,andpsychedelichallucination.Framesstackedasfew16layersdeepquicklyconvergetowardsa
vortex,astrangeattractor,orablurofinfiniteregression.
Toaccountforvarioustypesofhallucinationrelatedtomultisensoryframedestabilizationthefollowing
hallucinogenicFrameStackingModelhasbeenproposed.6Tocreatetheperceptionoffluidmovementfrom
frametoframe,anyframeweperceivemustbeacompositeofatleasttwoframes,onearisingandonefading.
Eachframeisassociatedwithaneuralspiketraininvolvingsomefeedbacktothethalamusandbasalforebrainto
fixtheframessnapshotinworkingmemory.Thesefeedbackcircuitsnormallyneutralizeinabout1/15thofa
second,allowingformultisensoryframeupdateof@15Hz.Ifhallucinogensinterrupttheprocessofframe
neutralizationforsomesmallperiodoftime,eachframethenbeginstofademoreslowlyuntilframedatastacks
upandfeedsbackonincomingperception(Fig.24).Asrecurrentinformationfrommultiplerecedingframes
replicatesandstacksontoincomingframes,eachperceptualframesplitsorbifurcatesincomplexity.This
iteratingpatternofrecursivecomplexityistheformaldescriptionofanonlinearsystem.
Framestackingisconsideredtobeprogressivewithhallucinogenicdoseandgrowsfrommildtoextreme.Atlow
dosesyoumighthavefourframesstackedinperceptioninsteadoftwothreefadingandonearising.Withthree
fadingframesyoumaybegintoseesofteningofedgesorintensificationofcolorsasthesaturationofeachframe
stacksoverthenext.Witheightframesstackedyoumightseevisualartifactslikejittersortrailsinthewakeof
anymovement,similartovisualflangeorvideofeedback.Whileholdingtheeyesstill,anincreaseinframe
overlaymakessolidobjectscrystallizeintosomethingveryfascinatingandprecious,likeafacetedjewel,
creatingaqualityoftemporaldepthandluminancetosurfacesandtextures.Anincreaseinframeoverlayalso
createsenhancededgesmoothingbetweensolidobjects,whichgivesrealityasensationofliquidityor
stretchinesslikesurrealart,graffiti,oracartoon.Asframesregresstheperspectiveofperceptualspacemay
begintoelongatelikeafisheyelens.Ifafadingframeproducesanemotionallysalientpattern,thesalientlayer
canthenfeedbackintothearisingframeasaprogressivelyanimatedeideticloop.Whensixteenframesare
stackedinperception,thewakeofoverlappingandrecedingcontentcausesframeoverload,confusion,
disorientation,droppedframes,egoloss,bodilytranscendence,andmissingtime.Beyondsixteenstackedframes
theinformationdensitybecomestoolargeforthehumanbraintorenderegoconsciousnessisoverwhelmedand

totallydestabilizesintoaswirlingvortexoftimelesstranspersonalunity.
TheFrameStackingModelpresumesthathallucinogensenableaperceptualframebufferthatallowsforsorting
andbrowsingthroughmultiplesimultaneouslinearframesorthatframeperceptionmightbesplinteredintoa
radialkaleidoscopeofmultithreadedparallelprocessingframes.Withinthecontextofframestacking,
psychedelicconsciousnessmayenablethesubjecttoscrollbackandforthintimeretrievemultiplesimultaneous
memoriesfromasinglestimulusandprojectmultipleversionsoftheselfintomultipleimaginaryfuture
scenarios.Iftheconsciousnessofasinglepersoncanbemomentarilyrealizedwithinthreeframesthearising
frame,thefadingframe,andastaticframewhichholdstheidealizedconceptofselfthenthepersistenceofsix
ormoreframescouldleadtothefabricationoftwoormorefullyrealizedidentitieswithinasinglesubject.This
framesplittingeffectmayexplainhowpeoplecanhaveconversationswithphantomfriendsorrelatives,orhowa
shamanmightinvokeanthropomorphizedplantspiritswithdistinctpersonalities.
MultisensoryDestabilizationandSchizophrenia
Inlargedoses,hallucinogenscanproducemultisensorydestabilizationastatewheresensations,objects,time,
andspacebecomeentirelydecoupledfromeachotherinconsciousness.Thesensationoftimeuncouplingorof
spacelosingitboundariesisdifficulttodescribeashallucination,butitisclearlyhallucination.Lossofsensory
ortemporalframecohesionimpliesmultisensorydestabilizationanderratichallucination.Externallythesubject
maybeawakeandresponsive,butinternallythebrainhaslostallstatedataandiscompletelydisoriented,much
likeacutesenility.7Thisstatecanbesimultaneouslyhystericalorterrifying,whichdescribestheextrememood
shiftsassociatedwithtransientschizophrenia.Schizophreniaislinkedtotheinabilitytoretainmultisensoryframe
stabilityanddecreasedabilitytoproducethefastgammaoscillationsneededtofocusandbindsensory
perception.8,9Multisensorydestabilizationisalsoreproducedbythehallucinogenicdissociativesketamineand
dextromethorphan(DXM)byblockingassociativeNMDApathwaysnecessaryforfastsensorybinding.10
NotesandReferences
1.SeeChapter10,EntopicHallucination.
2.SeeChapter11,EideticHallucination.
3.KassL,HartlinePH,AdolphAR,PresynapticuptakeblockadehypothesisforLSDactionatthelateral
inhibitorysynapseinLimulus.TheJournalofGeneralPhysiology,Vol82,245267.
4.Accountsoftryptaminepsychedelicsproducinghallucinationsofmeltingtextures,creepingcarpets,and
breathingwallstakenfromasurveyofsubjectivereports.Accountsofhallucinationsofobjectsmeltingand
pouringintooneanothertakenfromasurveyofhighdosesubjectivereports.
5.SeeChapter06,TheControlInterruptModelofPsychedelicAction.
6.TheFrameStackingModelofhallucinationwasproposedbyaCanadianresearcherwhowishestoremain
anonymous,andispresentedhereasabriefsummaryofalargeremailcorrespondence.Themodelisbasedon
firsthandexperimentationwithLSDandSalviadivinorum,andhasalsobeenappliedtohallucinationsseenon
DMT,psilocybin,2CB,N20,5MeODMT,Ketamine,DXM,andothers.
7.Accountsofpsychedelicintoxicationmatchingstatesofschizophreniatakenfromsubjectivereportsand
surveysofcasestudies.
8.ChoRY,KoneckyRO,CarterCS,Impairmentsinfrontalcorticalgammasynchronyandcognitivecontrolin
schizophrenia.ProcNatlAcadSciUSA.2006Dec26103(52):1987883.Epub2006Dec14.
9.Colgin,LauraLee,etal.,Frequencyofgammaoscillationsroutesflowofinformationinthehippocampus.
Nature462,353357(19November2009)doi:10.1038/nature08573
10.BontaIL,Schizophrenia,dissociativeanaesthesiaandneardeathexperiencethreeeventsmeetingatthe
NMDAreceptor.MedHypotheses,200462(1):238.
11.KitaokaA,AshidaH,2003Phenomenalcharacteristicsoftheperipheraldriftillusion.Vision(Japan),15
261262.

Chapter13:PsychedelicNeuroplasticity
Neuralaxonsinthehumanbrainarealwaysbranchingandcreatingnewsynapticconnectionstofacilitate
learninganddevelopment.Likethetoningandbulkingofmusclemass,neuralconnectivity,developmental
growth,andplasticityarebasedpartlyongeneticsandpartlyontheuseitorloseitprinciplethemoreyouuse
aneuralpathwaythemorerobustandresponsiveitbecomes,thelessyouuseapathwaytheweakeritbecomes.
Trainingandrepetitionbuildfasterandmoreresponsiveconnectionsemotionalattachmentstoconceptsbuild
morerobustconnectionsovertime.Themoreaneuronorassemblyofneuronsisusedinaspecificexercise,the
fasterandmoreresponsivethoseneuronswillbecomewhenperformingthattask.Thisishowthebrainlearns
newthingsandintegratesnewskills.Training,repetition,andreinforcementleadstolongtermchangesin
synapticconnectivitythesearethebasicsofneuroplasticity.1
Neuroplasticityisthephysicalmechanismwhichmakesshamanismandpsychedelictherapyviable.Indreaming,
neuroplasticityisstimulatedinresponsetodailyroutineandanxietyinhypnosisneuroplasticityisstimulatedin
responsetosuggestionandreinforcementinshamanismneuroplasticityisstimulatedinresponsetodose,set,and
setting.Theefficacyofpsychedelicsinbothshamanictransformationandclinicaltherapyreliesontheirunique
abilitytodecouplethecortex,disassociateegostructures,andstimulatearchetypalidentityregressionand
personaltransformation.Nootherclassofdrugscanclaimtohavesucharadicaleffectonpersonalityradical
personalitychangeinresponsetobriefpsychedelicexposureimpliesneuroplasticity.
Whilethereisnolaboratoryresearchtoprovethatpsychedelicsstimulateneuroplasticity,thereisevidencethata
singlepsychedelicsessioncanproducelongtermchangesinpersonality.2Peoplewhotakepsychedelics
sometimesadoptanewoutlookonlife,anewmannerofdress,anewspirituality,perhapsevenanewnametogo
withtheirnewidentity.3Selfreinventionisanintegralpartofpsychedelicexplorationandsubculture.The
forgingofanewidentitydoesnotalwayshappeninasinglepsychedelicsession,butpsychedelicexperimentation
canbeacatalystforsuddenradicalpersonalitytransformation.Thesebasicobservationsmakeacasefor
psychedelicsasfacilitatorsoflongtermidentitymodificationandneuroplasticity.
TheCaseforPsychedelicNeuroplasticity
Psychedelicscanstimulaterecalloflostmemoriesandcanalsogeneratefalsememorieslostmemory
reconsolidationandfalsememoryimprintingimpliesneuroplasticity.Thebrainbuildstolerancetopsychedelics
quickly,butpsychedelictolerancecanbesurpassedbysuccessivelyingestinglargerandlargerdoses.4
Successivedosingandincreasinglevelsoftoleranceimpliesstressbasedneuroplasticity.Inthecaseof
hallucinogenpersistingperceptiondisorder(HPPD),thesubjectretainssomeofthevisualeffectsof
hallucinogenslongafterthedrugshouldhavemetabolized5persistingreactionstoneuralstressimply
neuroplasticity.Psychedelicshavebeenusedtofacilitatecultinductionandprogramming6indoctrinationimplies
identitybasedneuroplasticity.Psychedelicsinducepeerandmatebondingintribalsubculturesmatebonding
impliesidentitybasedneuroplasticity.Psychedelicscancreatepositivelongtermchangesinmoodandoutlook2
longtermoutlookchangesimplyneuroplasticity.Finally,whilelyingindarkenedsilence,thepsychedelicstate
resemblesadeepdreamliketrancedreamingisknowntofacilitatememorycompressionandlongtermmemory
potentiation(LTP).7Anydrugwhichfacilitatesextendeddreamlikestatesshouldalsofacilitatememory
compression,LTP,andneuroplasticity.
Inprogrammaticterms,apsychedelicdrugcanbethoughtofasabackdoororrebootmechanismthatallowsthe
subjecttoenteravisuallydrivenegoprogramminganddebuggingmatrixthisstatewouldbesimilartohypnosis
mixedwithanelementofluciddreamingorcreativevisualization.Tostretchthecomputermetaphorfurther,in
theabsenceofhypnoticsuggestionorshamaniccontrol,thepsychedelicdebuggingmatrixwillnaturallydropinto
amaintenancemodewhereanxietiesarebroughttotheforelikeascreensaverprogrammedtobrowsethrough
repressedsalientpatternsarisingwithinchaoticnoise.8Alloftheseprogrammaticmetaphorsforpsychedelics
areaccurate,andallimplyaspontaneouscataloging,compression,orreorganizationofexistingsynaptic
memoryvianonlineareideticemotionalcuesthisimpliessynaptictestingandstrengtheninginresponsetopre
existinganxiety,whichimpliesneuroplasticity.
PhysiologyofPsychedelicNeuroplasticity
Hallucinogenswhichtargetthe5HT2AreceptorcaninfluencecellularfunctioningviatheactivationofG

proteinsandintracellularsecondarymessengers.Thesignalingpathwaysmediatedbythe5HT2Areceptor
includetheactivationofPKCandMAPK,proteinkinaseswhichenergizeenzymestoperformcomplexcellular
maintenance.TheactivationofPKCundoubtedlyplaysaroleintheproductionandmaintenanceoflongterm
memory.EvidenceshowsthatinhibitingPKCactivationinthecortexforaslittleasafewhourscancausethe
rapiderasureoflongtermmemoryassociations.11ItisobviousthatPKCisafundamentalpartofmemory
formationandretention,anditisreasonabletoassumethatdrugswhichstimulatePKCactivitymayenhanceor
altertheprocessesofmemoryformation,recall,retention,andplasticity.
TheprocessbywhichPKCmediatesmemoryassociationsisstillunknown,buttheprimaryassumptionisthat
PKCinteractswithdiglycerides(DAG)attheintracellularmembranetomarkenergeticsignalingareasfor
receptorformationandsynapticstrengthening.Thesecondarysignalingcascadegoeslikethis:The5HT2A
receptorisstimulatedwithanagonist,activatingphospholipaseC(PLC)inthecellmembrane,whichthenchops
aphospholipid(PIP2orPI)atthemembraneintoanIP3groupandDAG.TheDAGstaysnearthemembrane
whileIP3activatesthereleaseofcalcium(Ca 2+ )fromtheendoplasmicreticulum,whichthenactivatesPKC,
whichallowsPKCtocarryenergybacktothecellmembraneneartheDAGsitebeforeactivatingotherenzymes
andintracellularsubstrates.PKCperformsitsjobbymovingphosphategroupsaroundthecytoplasmand
activatingcellularenzymessuchasadenosinewhichformsAMP,ADP,andATPbylinkingwithphosphate
groupsinchainsofuptothreeatonce,allowingmetabolicenergytomovequicklytoothersitesthroughoutthe
cell.Theadditionandremovalofphosphatestoandfromproteinsisafundamentalpartofallorganicmetabolic
processes5HT2AagonistsstimulatethisphosphorylationprocessthroughPLC,IP3,Ca 2+ ,andsubsequentPKC
activation.
Thefactthat5HT2AagonistsstimulatePKCandfundamentalmetabolicprocessesindicatesastrongcasefor
psychedelicneuroplasticity.ItisinterestingtonotethatSalvinorinA,fromSalviadivinorum,alsoactivatesthese
samephosphorylationpathwaysthroughtheGcoupledkappaOpiodreceptor.12Itisalsointerestingtonotethat
ofallthehallucinogeniccompoundsthatoccurinnature,psilocybin(foundinmagicmushrooms)istheonlyone
thatcomeswithitsownphosphategroup(whichisstrippedtomakepsilocin),andalsoappearstobetheweakest
tryptamineagonistatthe5HT2Areceptor.13WhileitistemptingtoassertthatPKCphosporylationisattheroot
ofallhallucinogenesisandpsychedeliceffect,ithasbeendemonstratedthat5HT2AmediatedPIhydrolosisis
notalwaysagoodindicatorofpsychedelicpotency.14Althoughtherearemultiplefactorsresponsiblefor
hallucinogenesis,psychedelicstimulationofPKCactivityundoubtedlyplaysaroleinperturbingandstimulating
persistentmemoryfunctionsandpromotingpotentialpotentneuroplasticity.
OtherresearchindicatesthatLSDactivatescellularmechanismstopromoteexpressionofgenesresponsiblefor
encodingcFosandArcproteins,particularlyintheprefrontalcortex(PFC).15cFosisessentialtocell
proliferation,differentiation,andcellulardefense,whileArc(activityregulatedcytoskeletonassociatedprotein)
regulatestheformationandrepairofthescaffoldingmaintainingneuralshapeandstability.Byactivating
expressionofcFosandArcproteinsinPFCneurons,LSDmaypromotepotentneuroplasticity,cellproliferation,
cellrepair,andsynapticgenerationinneuronsresponsibleforidentity.Presumablyanyselective5HT2Aagonist
willproducesimilarresults,makinghallucinogenictryptaminesprimarycandidatesforcellularsignal
strengtheningandprofoundidentitybasedneuroplasticity.
PositiveandNegativePlasticity
Shamanictransformationmaystimulateneuroplasticitybyhelpingthesubjectrealizeamoretranscendentor
spirituallyintegratedvisionofthemselves.Thelogicfollowsthatvisualizationofatranscendentinnerselfwill
reinforcepositivepersonalitytraitsandbehavioralchangestosynchronizewithinneridealization.Shamanic
identitytransformationisnotinstantaneous,butinsteadfollowsanintegrativeprocessofsynaptictestingand
reinforcementoveraperiodofdaystoweeks.Somepsychedelictherapystimulatesneuroplasticityusing
techniquessimilartothetenstepprogramemployedbyAlcoholicsAnonymous(AA),wherethesubjecttakesa
clinicalinventoryoftheirlifeandbehaviorsandassesseseachareawheretheyneedforgive,accept,ormake
changes.Inpsychedelictherapytheprocessofuncoveringandseveringnegativepathwaysiscalledcatharsisthe
processofwiringandreinforcingnewpathwaysiscalledintegration.Theseareexamplesofpositivepsychedelic
plasticityusedtomaximizepositivesocialintegration.Theseprocessesaresometimesslowandrequiresome
smallamountofmentaldisciplineandbehavioralfollowthroughforsuccess.
Therearemanyexamplesofnegativepsychedelicneuroplasticity.Renegadeschoolsofayahuascasorceryand

witchcraftemploysomeofthemostelaborateandlethalmindgameseverdevised,includingtheconstantfearof
attackbyrivalsorcerersthroughpoisons,curses,dreaminvasion,andmagicaldartsthatmayinduceparalysis,
cancer,death,orinsanity.9Thetraditionalshamansconstantstressofexposuretotheeffectsofblackmagic
mirrorsparanoidpsychosisandposttraumaticstressdisorderthisimpliesnegativeplasticity.Exposingany
subjecttoextendedandrepeatedpsychedelicsessionsmayforcestressdrivenplasticityassociatedwithPTSD,
torture,isolation,andsensorydeprivation.Psychedelicsmayspeedtechniquesofegodeprogrammingand
imprintingassociatedwithbrainwashingorcultindoctrination6thisimpliesmindcontrolandnegative
neuroplasticity.Psychedelicsmayproducepsychoticbreakswheresubjectsbecomeviolentandderanged,ormay
reinforcedelusional,messianic,paranoid,sociopathic,antisocialandmegalomaniacalidentitytraits10thisalso
impliesnegativeneuroplasticity.Thus,forgingnewsynapticpathwaystoradicallyalteridentitystructuresisnot
alwaysagoodthing,thisprocesscaninducepathologyaseasilyasitcanreducepathology.
TribalImprintingandViralNeuroplasticity
Oneofthemostinterestingaspectsofpsychedelicsisthatgrouppsychedelicexperimentationcancatalyze
spontaneousorganizationoftribalsubculturesandgrassrootspoliticalmovements.AccordingtoPIT,ifyou
destabilizethetopdownregulatinginfluenceofcultureoverasmallgroupofpeers,energetictribalorganizations
willspontaneouslyemergewithinthosegroupsthisisanextrapolationofcontroltheoryandtenetsofdistributed
cognition.ModernhistoryhasdemonstratedthatifyousprinkleLSDorpsychedelicmushroomsoveramajorcity,
thenflowerchildrenwillblossomandformdrumcirclesandbegintoreproduce.Butcloseobservationofmodern
psychedelicsubculturesrevealsthatradicalidentityreinventionisnotafunctionofspiritualfreedomorpolitical
subversion,butismoreaviralformoftribalbondingandindoctrination.Forexample,thehippiesof1960sandthe
raversof1990seachpreachedfreedomandindividuality,yeteachculturehadstrictlycontrolledtribaluniforms,
politics,musicalstyles,andrituals,andostracizedoutsidersasbeingsquaresorunhip.Thisindicatesthat
psychedelictribalorganizationandidentityreinventionisnotalinearfunctionoffreedomofexpressionorsocial
liberation,butisinsteadanonlinearamplificationofthetypicalmotivatorsofsocialelitism,thefearsofbeing
ostracized,andthereinforcementsoftribalacceptanceallofwhichstronglyaffectidentitybased
neuroplasticity.Presumablyanytribe,culturalgroup,religion,cult,orgovernmentcanemploypsychedelic
neuroplasticitytosimilarsocialorganizingeffect.
NotesandReferences
1.LeDoux,Joseph,SynapticSelf.VikingPenguin,NY,2002.
2.Griffiths,R.R.,Psilocybincanoccasionmysticaltypeexperienceshavingsubstantialandsustainedpersonal
meaningandspiritualsignificance.Psychopharmacology(2006)187:268283.
3.Observationsofindividualsadoptingnewnamesandnewidentitiesinresponsetopsychedelicindoctrination
comefromsubjectivereportsandfirsthandobservationsofpsychedelicsubcultures.
4.GreschPJ,SmithRL,BarrettRJ,SandersBushE.,Behavioraltolerancetolysergicaciddiethylamideis
associatedwithreducedserotonin2Areceptorsignalinginratcortex..Neuropsychopharmacology.2005
Sep30(9):1693702.
5.AbrahamHD,DuffyFH,EEGcoherenceinpostLSDvisualhallucinations.PsychiatryRes.2001Oct
1107(3):15163.
6.GroupslinkedtotheweaponizeduseofpsychedelicsincludetheMansonFamily,theSLA,AumShinrikyo,the
CIA,andtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofDefense.
7.Hobson,J.Allan,TheDreamDrugstore:ChemicallyAlteredStatesofConsciousness.MITPress,2001.
8.Accountsofpsychedelicsproducingascreensaverorhypnoticautopilotofunresolvedanxietiesandsalient
attractorsaretakenfromsubjectivereportsandsurveysofpsychedelicliterature.
9.Beyer,SV,SingingtothePlants:AGuidetoMestizoShamanismintheUpperAmazon.UniversityofNew
MexicoPress(October31,2009).
10.Reportsofpsychedelicsfacilitatingsymptomsofpersistentpsychosistakenfromsubjectivereportsanda
surveyofpsychedelicoverdosecasestudies.

11.ShemaR,SacktorTC,DudaiY,Rapiderasureoflongtermmemoryassociationsinthecortexbyan
inhibitorofPKMzeta.Science.2007Aug17317(5840):9513.
12.BohnLM,MitogenicSignalingviaEndogenousOpioidReceptorsinC6GliomaCells:Evidenceforthe
InvolvementofProteinKinaseCandtheMitogenActivatedProteinKinaseSignalingCascade.JNeurochem.
2000February74(2):564573.
13.RayTS,PsychedelicsandtheHumanReceptorome.PLoSOne.20105(2):e9019.
14.NicholsDE,Hallucinogens.Pharmacology&TherapeuticsVolume101,Issue2,February2004,Pages
131181.
15.NicholsCD,SandersBushE,ASingleDoseofLysergicAcidDiethylamideInfluencesGeneExpression
PatternswithintheMammalianBrain.Neuropsychopharmacology(2002)26634642.

Figure25.Flyerfora21stcenturymushroomtrancepartyentitled,MushroomInside:BacktoMushrooms,
whereaDJinsideagiantamanitamushroomcontrolsasynchronizedcrowdofpsilocybeheadeddancersthrough
giantamplifiersmadeofpsilocybinmushrooms.Likemarionettes,thedancersassumearchetypalformsof
resonatingChladnipatternsorfractalplanefillingcurvesinaudiomotorsynesthesiawiththemusic.Notethe
ecologicalovertonesasthegrass,trees,andgalaxykeeptempowithglowingapproval.

PartII:ShamanismintheAgeofReason

Figure26.Picturesoftheshamanfromfourdifferenttraditions.Clockwisefromtop:Tartar,NativeAmerican,
Siberian,andYakut.Allshamenusemedicinedrumstocontrolthetempoandamplitudeofenergyoscillating
throughthesacredcircle.

Chapter14:WhatisShamanism?
Theoriginsofshamanismarerootedinspiritualityandmyth,butthepowerofshamanismisentirelyreal.Itisthe
goalofthistexttoexplorerationallimitsandapplicationsofshamanicpowerbeyondtheparadigmsofmythology
andfaithhealing.ThesubtitleofthistextisShamanismintheAgeofReason,soitseemsfittingtoprovidea
gooddefinitionforshamanism.Therearemanydefinitionsthathavesomethingtodowithtribalhealers,witch
doctors,ritualplantmagic,and/ordealingwiththespiritworldthesedefinitionsconjureimagesofpreindustrial
folkmedicinesteepedinsuperstition.Relegatingshamanismtothebinoffolkmedicinefailstoaccountforthe
sophisticationofshamanictradecraft,methodology,orthevaryinglevelsofshamanicmanipulation.Traditional
shamanismmaybecloakedintheveilofsuperstition,butbehindtheveilistherealscienceofprogramming
humanbeliefandbehaviorwithablendofmysticism,ritual,andhallucinogenicdrugs.
Insteadoffocusingonthemanysocietalrolesandfunctionsashamanmightfill,PITtakesabroaderviewand
startswiththisdefinition:Shamanismisthecraftofevokingspontaneousorganizationofpsychedelicinformation
inasubjectorgroupofsubjectstopromoteplasticity,imprinting,andtransformation.Psychedelicinformation
impliesholisticormetalevelmanipulationofmemoryandidentity,andthisdefinitionfulfillsthefunctionsof
therapy,sorcery,mindcontrol,appliedpsychedelicscience,targetedneuroplasticity,behavioralconditioning,and
tribalbonding.Thetechnologyofevokingandimprintingpsychedelicinformationisinherentlyneutralthe
shamanlearnstoapplythistechnologyforhealingandpositiveplasticity,thesorcerersuccumbstothetemptation

tousethistechnologyforblackmagicandnegativeplasticity.
TransformationalPlasticityandImprinting
Thepowerofshamanismcanbemeasuredbytheshamanicabilitytotransformsubjectivebeliefsandbehaviors.
Ashamancantransformthesubjectintheliteralsense,throughdietandchemicalmanipulationorinthe
figurativesense,byalteringthesubjectsparadigmandperceptionofreality.Bothofthesetransformationsimply
targetedneuroplasticity.Theextremedietsandpsychedelicmedicinecatalyzespontaneousstressbased
reorganizationofneuralidentitystructures,andtheshamanicmythologycreatesthesemanticframethrough
whichthesubjectparsesthetransformationalexperience.Althoughpsychedelicshavebeentestedin
brainwashingandhostileinterrogation,theprocessofpsychedelicimprintingusuallyworksbestifthesubjectis
readyandwillingtoreceivethetransformation.1
Someaspectsofpsychedelicimprintingareautomaticandspontaneouslygeneratedlikedreams2inthiscasethe
shamansjobistoapplythemedicineandessentiallylookimportantdoingnothing.Inotherinstancesthesubject
mayhaveanadversereactiontothemedicine,orbecomelostinthepsychedelicspaceinthiscasetheshaman
mayintervenewithaspiritsong,ameditativechant,orarhythmicbreathingexercisetoguidethesubjectthrough
thetransition.Intraditionalorlooselyorganizedshamanicceremonies,thelevelofinterventionanddepthof
psychedelicimprintingiscontrolledbyritual,shamanicintent,andgroupintuitioninclinicalpsychedelictherapy
thedepthofpsychedelicimprintingiscontrolledbyprotocol.
ShamanicReputationandExpectantPlasticity
Ifashamangainsareputationforbeingtransformative,subjectswillseekthemoutexpectingtobetransformed.
Similarly,apopularshamanmaybecomethetargetofarivalshamanseekingtocursethemorbringthemdown
withmagicdarts.Bothscenariosindicatethattheshamanhassuccessfullyimprintedhisownsupernatural
abilitiestothepointofviralplasticity.Ashamandoesnotneedpsychedelicdrugstoaccomplishthis,anyguru
withatransformationalphilosophyandselfpromotionalstreakcanachievethislevelofinfluence.Theshaman
differsfromtheNewAgeguruonlybyhavingmasteryoftheplantsandthespiritworld,whichisrudimentary
psychopharmacologyandritualtranscendence.Byofferinghisorherselfasthepathtosacredwisdomor
healing,orbytellingtalesofsupernaturalbattleswithothersorcerers,theshamanimpliesthatheorsheismore
powerfulthanthemedicinetheyemploy.Shamanicreputationbuildssubjectiveexpectations,andinmanywaysis
averycleversetupandmisdirectionsimilartoprimingamagictrickoraplacebo.Ifthesubjectalreadybelieves
theshamanhassupernaturalpower,thetaskoftransformingthemwiththemedicineistheeasypart.
Bycraftingasupernaturalreputation,theshamanstartstheprocessofbendingthesubjectsbeliefsand
expectationslongbeforethemedicineisapplied.Inhostileinterrogationandindoctrinationtechniques,this
processofbendingsubjectivebeliefsiscalledsofteningupthesubject,orprimingneuroplasticitytobe
vulnerabletoimprinting.Ifthesubjectdoesnotappeartorespecttheshamanssupernaturalauthority,theshaman
maybecomewithholdinganddemandthatthesubjectfollowcertainstrangerulesbeforeapplyingthemedicine.
Establishingauthority,submissiveness,andstrictlyenforcedrulesgivestheshamanimplicitcontroloverthe
subject,andsetsthestageforapplyingtransformation.Evenifthesubjectdoesnotbelievetheshamans
mythology,byforcingthesubjecttofollowritualprotocoltheshamanestablishesthepowerdynamicnecessary
forcontrollingtheceremonyandimprintingthesubject.
Shamanism,ChaosMagic,andBeliefasToolkit
Theshamansrolewillalwaysbeintertwinedwiththespiritualbeliefofthelargertribeorculture.The
mythologyisnotimportant,agoodshamancanadaptanymythologyorbelieftotransformationalritual.Insteadof
preachingthemythology,theshamanexploitsthemythologyasahandleortoolforinterfacingwithand
manipulatingthesubjectscoreidentitystructures.Byadoptingamythologythatsalluringtothepatient,the
shamancanapplyidentitytransformationwithinaseamlessspiritualcontext.Theprocessoffindingorseedingan
emotionalhandleisaskillthatcanbelearned,butitcanalsobepurelyintuitive.Thetechnologiesofreligion,
propaganda,agitprop,andsocialactivismallusenegativeemotionalhandlestoinfluencepeoplesbeliefsand
behaviorsshamanismemploysmanyofthesametechniqueswithpositiveemotionalhandles.Thepracticeof
manipulatingbelieflikeatooltoproducetransformativeresultshasbecomepopularlyknownaschaosmagic.3
Thebulkofavailableliteratureonshamanismfocusesonsprits,spiritmythology,andthewaysinwhichthe

shamancommuneswithplantandspiritstogainsupernaturalinsights.Theallureandpowerofadrugthatallows
theusertotalkdirectlywithspiritsisobvious,butfascinationwithspiritsandtranscendencemayalsobea
handleusedbytheshamantomanipulateandimprintawillingsubject.Westernspiritualseekersarequickly
enamoredwiththeromanticismofentheogenicspiritcommunion,thisisnotsomethingagoodshamanwould
overlookthisissomethingthatcanbeeasilyexploited.WhetherthesubjectcomeslookingforJesus,God,plant
spirits,healing,ortranscendence,thespiritualpassionsofthesubjectarethemostpowerfulitemsinthe
shamansentiretoolkit.
ShamanicPracticeandSeekingBalance
Theroleoftheshamanhasalwaysbeentoapplytransformation,typicallytorestorebalanceandharmonywithin
tribalunits.Theshamanworksbyorganizingtheflowofenergyandinformationwithinindividualsandtribal
structures.Theshamansynergizesmanylayersoftransformationintheactofbrewingandingestingpsychoactive
sacraments,andusesmythologyandsacredritualtofacilitatecommunication,navigateconflict,andfinetunethe
overallhealthofthetribe.Sinceshamanictransformationcanbeusedforbothhealingandsorcery,itislogical
thatthelargertribewillonlytoleratesuchpoweraslongasitismoretherapeuticthandestructive.Becauseof
thisdynamic,apracticingshamanmaybeinherentlydistrusted,andwillalwayswalkthelinebetweenoutcast
andsavior.Theromanticcharacterofshamanismreliesheavilyonthisoutcasttrope.Iftheshamanfailsatthe
basictasksofhealingandconflictresolution,orabusesshamanictechnologytounderminethewellbeingofthe
tribeforpersonalgain,thentheshamanlosespowerandrisksbeingostracizedbythetribe.Thus,theshamans
powerislimitedandultimatelydefinedbythetrustplacedinhimbythelargertribe.
NotesandReferences
1.GroupslinkedtotheweaponizeduseofpsychedelicsincludetheMansonFamily,theSLA,AumShinrikyo,the
CIA,andtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofDefense.
2.SeeChapter13,PsychedelicNeuroplasticity.
3.WikiPedia.org,ChaosMagic.InternetReference,2010.

Chapter15:AnOverviewofPhysicalShamanism
PhysicalShamanism,orShamanismintheAgeofReason,isdifferentiatedfromSpiritualShamanisminthat
physicalshamanismreliesonmodelsofneuraloscillatorsandresonantwaveentrainmentasopposedtospirit
modelsofchanneling,telepathy,orclairvoyance.TheControlInterruptModelpresentsadescriptionofphysical
shamanismbasedontheprecisioncouplingofamultisensoryhallucinogenicinterrupttoaresonantenvironmental
driver.1Physicalshamanismassumesthehumanbraininadestabilizedstateactsasaresonantoscillator,ora
nonlinearinformationprocessingsystemthusshamanismcanbedefinedastheapplicationofresonantdriversto
mediatecomplexphasetransitionsbetweenmultistablestatesofconsciousness.10,11Thetechniquesofphysical
shamanismareoftenusedinconcertwithahallucinogeninordertoentranceorhypnotizeasubjectorgroupof
subjectsintoatargetedmysticalstate.
SpiritVoices,ShamanicSongs,andStrangeAttractors
Whenashamantakesapsychedelicheorshehearsthespiritvoicesandintuitivelylearnstosingthespiritsongs.
Thesesongsaretakendirectlyfromtheshamansheadasthepsychedelicbeginstointerruptconsciousness.In
manywaysthesesacredsongs,oricaros,areattemptstorecreatethevoiceandtoneofthepharmacological
interactionatvariousstagesofthepsychedelicexperience.Thevoiceoftheshamanicmedicineisnothumanin
thetypicalsense,thepsychedelicvoiceisdescribedmoreintermsoftherepetitivebleepingandbloopingof
machinecodeabiologicalthrumminganelectronicoralienpulsationagutturalriverofslurpingandsquelching
soundsthegreatwheezeofamysticalreedorganthechirpingofcricketsthecroakingoffrogsorthefast
clickingcommunicationofaninsectintelligence.2,3Allofthesecolorfulmetaphorsarethesameinthatthey
perfectlydescribearesonantstandingwaveinthealphatogammarangedrivingamplitudealongmultisensory
perceptualbands.Asthehallucinogenicvoicegrowsinstrength,theresonanceofthestandingwavethencouples
withanddrivestheamplitudeofallinternalphysiologicalprocesses.4
TheControlInterruptModelpositsthatthesespiritvoicesarethenonlinearartifactsofthehallucinogenic

interruptfrequencyoverlappingintomultisensoryframeperceptionwithaspecificADSR(attack,decay,sustain,
release)envelope.Bymodulatingstandingvocalwaves,theshamancanexactlymatchtheperiodicfrequencyof
thehallucinogenicinterruptbychangingtheshapeofthelips,thespeedofairthroughtheglottis,andthespeed
ofthetongueflickingtowardsthebackofthethroat,theshamancanreplicatetheslipperyshapeandfeelofthe
hallucinogensinterruptenvelope.Resonanceisatermappliedtooscillatorswhentheshapeandfrequencyof
onestandingwaveharmonizeswithanddrivestheamplitude,orenergy,ofanotherstandingwave.Byusingthe
physicaltechniquesofsoundshapingandresonance,theshamancanamplifythehallucinogenicinterruptofany
psychedelicand,beyondthat,drivestandingwavecoherenceamongmultipleparticipantsinashamanicritual.
Thisprocessisintuitiveiftheshamanmerelypayscloseattentiontohisorherinternalphysiologyasthe
hallucinogentakesaction.
Inthenomenclatureofchaostheory,whenachaoticsystemevolvestowardsaparticularstateovertime,that
stateiscalledanattractor,orastrangeattractorinfractalsystems.AccordingtoPIT,nonlinearconsciousnessis
multistable,whichmeansitcanhavemanystrangeattractorspullingittowardsmanydifferentstablestatesorit
canbecomestuckinasuperpositionorchaoticphasetransitionbetweentwoormorestableattractors.Innormal
perception,theprimaryattractorislinearconsciousnesswhenconsciousnessisdramaticallyperturbeditwill
alwaysfindawaytoreturntothelinearstateafterenoughtime,andconsciousnesstendstoreturntothelinear
stateevenwhenmomentarilydestabilized.Innonlinearconsciousnesstheattractormaybeamanicstate,a
trancestate,adisorientedstate,aparanoidstate,anenlightenedstate,andsoon.Aspsychedelicconsciousness
becomescomplexandbifurcates,itgraduallymovestowardsoneofmanymultistableattractors,eventually
lockingintoacomplexstabilizedstatebasedonperiodicdriversinsetandsetting.Onceasubjectunderthe
influenceofpsychedelicsfindsanattractorstateandlocksintoit,itbecomesdifficulttobreakthestabilizing
harmonicpatterntomovetowardsanotherattractor.Navigatingbetweenstrangeattractorsinthedestabilized
nonlinearstateistheprimaryfunctionofshamanicsingingandritualwithouttheabilitytoselfnavigatetoa
specificattractor,thesubjectmaybecomestuckinanegativeattractor,likeananxietyspiralorparanoid
feedbackloop.
ControlInterruptandSpiritSpaces
MixingtheControlInterruptModelwithtraditionalshamanicmetaphors,itisaccuratetosaythatthespiritworld
ofeachhallucinogenisliterallyeruptingorinterruptingintonormalconsciousnessbycarvingoutadistinctwave
spacewherespiritscansneakpacketsofinformationtothesubjectinbetweennormalframes.Inphysicalterms,
spiritinformationeruptsintoconsciousnessalongtheattackanddecayofeachpsychedelicinterrupt,then
attenuatessalientrecognitionandimprintsitselfintomemoryaccordingtotherecedingsustainandrelease.As
theinterruptsinterferencepatternoverlapsontomultisensoryperception,spiritinformationwillappeartooverlap
ontothefabricofrealitybendingtowardsthesubjectfromanearbydimensiontricklingorgurglingoveran
invisiblespillwayflickeringinastroboscopicfilmreelpartingthroughfoldsinalatticeorscreenbecoming
visibleunderneathasilkenveilandsoon.6Thesubjectiveviewofthespiritworldisthatitisaninvisible
landscapesuddenlymadevisibletohumaneyes,andtheadditionofthehallucinogenicdriverallowstheveilof
perceptiontobedrawnopenlikeshutters.Theseareallallusionstotheboundariesofperceptualspacechanging
asthehallucinogenicinterruptgainspower,entrainssensoryprocessingnetworks,andgeneratescomplex
interferencepatterns.
Toclarifythisprocesswithametaphor,intherealmofshamanismitmaybehelpfultothinkofserotonergic(5
HT)modulationasreality,andthefrequencyofthehallucinogenasthespiritworld.Ifserotonergicrealityis
modulatedinthebetarangeat1230Hz,andthehallucinogenicinterruptoftryptamineYismodulatedto24Hz,
thentherewillbeapredictable24Hzframeflickersuperimposedovernormalperceptionwhenyouingest
hallucinogenY.Theinterruptfrequencyof24Hzpresumesaveryfastpulsation,fastenoughtoproducefilmlike
orfullyanimatedcartoonhallucinations.The24Hzspiritinterruptthenmasksitselfontomultisensorypathways
andisperceivedasanontologicallydistinctspiritrealmemergingasaphantombutembeddedpartofphysical
reality.Thephysicalintensityandtactilesensualityofthehallucinogenicspiritoverlaywilldependonthespeed,
shape,andintensityofthemoleculesADSRinterrupthigherdosesofhallucinogentypicallymeansharder
attack,longersustain,elongatedrelease,andmoreseamlessmergingbetweenrealityandhallucination.
DrivingInterruptAmplitudeandADSRTransitions
Asapsychedelicchemicalisingestedandmetabolized,thefrequencyandADSRenvelopeofthehallucinogenic

interruptwilltransitionovertime.Thisshiftinmodulatoryinterruptcanbedescribedasachangeininterrupt
amplitudeoverdurationofeffecthigheramplitudeofinterruptmeansstrongerandmorerealizedhallucinations.
Ashamanwillinstinctivelymodulatethetonesofhisorherchantsandsongstomatchtheinterruptfrequencyand
envelopeofthehallucinogenasitbeginstotakeeffect.Thistechniqueaccuratelydescribestheoscillating
drones,throatsinging,slurping,sucking,squelching,whooshing,whistling,gutturalululating,andother
vocalizationsassociatedwithayahuascashamanism.2,3Ifashamancandriveinterruptamplitudethrough
constructivevocalinterferenceheorsheshouldalsobeabletodampeninterruptamplitudethroughdestructive
vocalinterference.5Thistechniquewouldmanifestastheabilitytosnapasubjectoutofanintensepsychedelic
experiencewithaquickchangeinphasebetweenvocalwavesandhallucinogenicinterruptfrequencytodecrease
andflatteninterruptamplitude.
TechniquesofusingresonancetodriveandshapewaveamplitudehavebeenexploitedbymodernDJsandmusic
producerstoengineerhardattackbasslinesassociatedwithacidhouseandtrancemusic.Inthepsychedelic
musicalgenreknownasGoaTrance,basslinesripthroughcrowdsofthousandsofdancerswiththeresonant
waveshapeandamplitudeofelectricsawblades.TheintenselyamplifiedresonantpulsedriversofGoaTrance
musicare,infact,thecurrentbleedingedgeritualtechnologyofphysicalshamanism.GoaTranceoriginated
fromIndiaGoaTranceDJsandproducersarereveredlikegurusortechnoshamenandfansofGoaTrance
traveltoglobalmusicfestivalsthewayotherspiritualadherentsmakeyearlypilgrimages.GoaTrancemusicis
thepsychedelicessenceofresonanthallucinogenictryptamineinterruptexpressingitselfthroughmodernritual
entrainmenttechnology.Usinganelectricallyamplifiedsoundsystem,atranceDJcanmanipulateatribeof
thousandsinthesamewayatraditionalshamanmanipulatesatribeofdozens(Fig.25).Itisshamanicfolk
technologynowappliedonanindustrialscale.
CellularAutomataandFractalImprinting
Itmaybedifficulttounderstandhowasimpleperiodicinterruptormodulatoryframepulsecancreatesuch
dramaticperceptualresults,butthehallucinogenicinterruptshouldbethoughtofasalinearresonantdriver
which,overtime,generatescomplexandsalientwaveinterferencepatterns.Thiscanalsobedescribedbya
dynamicalinformationprocessingsystemgeneratingcomplexityovertimebasedonasimplerepetitivealgorithm,
suchasafractaloracellularautomata.Fractalsorcellularautomataareperhapsthebestvisualmetaphorsfor
thespontaneousrecursiveorganizationofpsychedelicvisualhallucinations,andthereisaveryfractalorcellular
elementtothepsychedelicexperiencewhichevolvesalongtheflickeringpulsationofthehallucinogens
interrupt.Theendlessunfoldingoftheinfinitepsychedelicfractalcontinuesuntilthehallucinogenismetabolized,
atwhichpointthehallucinogenicinterruptwearsoff,fadesaway,andconsciousnessunwindsfromtherecursive
spiralandstabilizesbackintolinearinformationprocessing.
Biologyisrepetitivefeedbackpatternsconsciousnessisrepetitivefeedbackpatternsshamanismisthe
interruptionandremodulationofthoserepetitivefeedbackpatternstoproducespectacularexperientialresults.In
averyrealway,shamanismistheartofshapingthefractalintegrityoftheindividualfromthegeneticlevelup
throughpersonalmemoryandtribalidentity.Thehallucinogenicinterruptallowstheshamantobreakthe
subjectshabituateddailyroutinesandplacethemintoaselfreferentialprogrammingloopthatincludesalllayers
ofpersonalandtranspersonalidentity.Theinterlockingfacetsofbiologicalselfandtranspersonalselfaremade
explicitintheflickeringspiritspace,andbycontrollingthedepthofimmersionintothisspacetheshamancan
controlhowmuchofthesubjectsexistingidentityisexposed,manipulated,andtransformedintheprocess.
Thefractalrenderingofsubandmetaconsciousnessintheshamanicspaceallowspsychedelicstohavea
profoundlongtermeffectonidentitybasedneuroplasticity.9Byapplyingaresonantmultisensorydriverthatacts
asafractalgeneratorforarchetypalsymbolsinimagination,thepsychedelicparadigmsimprintedintomemory
appeartobemorecosmic,transpersonal,holographic,anddurablethansumoflinearidentityconstructsimprinted
overtheaveragelifespan.Tobeclear,thenonlineariterativenatureofpsychedelichallucinationexploits
archetypalsymbolrenderingtobypasslinearegoandimprintarecursive,holographicviewofthetranscendent
selfwithinalargeremergentcosmicreality.Thisidealized,holographicrepresentationoftheselfmaybe
consideredmorerealthantheactualself,perhapsevenexperiencedastheessentialself,geneticself,
transpersonalself,ortheeternalsoul.Theabilitytoproduceandmanipulatearepresentationoftheidealized
transpersonalselfmakespsychedelicsviableinshamanictransformation,clinicaltherapy,andspiritual
awakening.

Theholographicimageofidealizedselfdoesnotemergeinasinglemomentoreveninasinglepsychedelic
sessiontheorganizationofapsychedelicmetaidentityisaprocessthatmaytakemanyhoursofasingle
psychedelicsessionorpossiblymultiplepsychedelicsessionstofullycomplete.However,oncetheself
activationofpsychedelicmetaprogrammingandholographicimprintingtakeshold,thesubjectmayperceivetheir
transformationtobeanevolutionaryexpressionofahiddengeneticinstructionset,oramoreperfectand
cosmicallymatureversionoftheselfemergingthroughspiritualcleansingandrebirth.7Thereisevidencethata
singlepsychedelicsessioncanenhanceselfworthandhavelastingbeneficialimpactonmoodandoutlook.8
Thereisalsoevidencethatpsychedelicscanbeusedtoimprintpathological,antisocial,anddelusionalidentity
constructs.9Holisticidentityexpressionisgenerallyconsideredtobeapositivespiritualtechnology,butitcan
alsobeusedtomanipulateanxietyandexacerbatepathologicalbehavior.Thisdualityiscommonlyexpressedin
thenomenclatureoftherapyvs.mindcontrol,negativevs.positiveneuroplasticity,orshamanismvs.sorceryand
witchcraft.
Linearvs.NonlinearMemoryImprinting
Thelimitsofhumanmemorypresentsomechallengesforaccuratelyencodingordescribingtheinformation
generatedinpsychedelicstates.Wakingmemoryencodeslinear,semanticinformationdreamsencode
associativeeideticinformationpsychedelicsencodenonlinearfractalinformation.Therearemanyfactorswhich
limittheabilitytoaccuratelyrememberorrecallpsychedelicinformation.Therushofinformationistoofastthe
contentoftheexperienceistooineffableandtheprocessesofdreamingandeideticvisualhallucinationblocks
theformationofnewsemanticmemories.Inordertorememberadreamasubjectmustwakeupandmakesome
mentalnotes,thengobacktosleeptofinishthedreambutifthesubjectdoesnotrousetosomeleveloflucidity
thedreamisalmostalwaysforgotten.Thesamecanbesaidforpsychedelichallucinationifthesubjectistoo
overwhelmedtomakementalnotes,thecontenttotallybypasseslinearsemanticmemory.However,if
psychedelichallucinationemploysthesamespontaneousorganizationofeideticinformationusedtoencode
associativelongtermmemorythroughdreaming,thenpsychedelicfractalinformationmayalsoimprintdirectly
intolongtermmemoryatasubconsciouslevel.
ShamanicInformationCompression
Thefunctionallimitationsofhumanmemoryandexpressionhavebeenproblematicforhighdosepsychedelic
researchfromthebeginning.Thebestwriting,artwork,andvideoemulatingthepsychedelicexperiencemustbe
createdafterthefact,sometimespainstakinglyso.Thevisualreconstructionofpsychedelicmemoryisalabor
intensiveprocessasinglesubjectivepsychedelicframemaytakeweeksormonthstovisuallyrender,andwill
stillbelackingincontextandcomplexityfromtheoriginalexperience.Thisisevenmorefrustratingwhenyou
considerthataonelinefractalalgorithmorcellularautomatacangenerateenoughnovelartisticcomplexityto
keeptheaveragehumanfascinatedforhours.Linearapproachestocapturingthepsychedelicaestheticalmost
alwayspaleincomparisontotheirsimpler,nonlineargenerativecounterparts.
Theoneartisticmediumwhichcanbeexpressedimmediatelyinpsychedelicintoxicationwithoutdisruptingthe
qualityoftheshamanicexperienceismusic.Ashamancanrelatethetoneandcontentofthepsychedelic
experienceinrealtimebysinging,vocalizing,orplayingdrums(Fig.26)thisisthetraditionalmethodforbinding
psychedelicmemoryintophysicalspace.Theactofsinging,drumming,ordancingalsodrivesfeedbackand
amplifiestheenergyofthepsychedelicexperience,thusmakingmusictheprimarymediumofpsychedelic
informationcompressionandtransmission.
Thereiscompellingevidencethatspontaneoussingingandvocalizationareformsofnonlinearpsychedelic
informationcompression.Glossolalia,orspeakingintongues,isreportedasaspiritualsideeffectofpsilocybin.
Glossolaliamaybeconsideredaformofnonlinearspeech,orpsychedelicinformationeruptingspontaneously
throughpsychoverbalsynesthesia.Whentheshamanwantstospeakwiththespiritvoice,thatvoicecomesout
morelikemusicorglossolaliathanlikewordsandgrammar.Whenasubjectonpsychedelicslistenstomusic,the
musicexpandsfromauditorysignalintofullmultisensorysynesthesiaeverylayerofemotionalresonanceinthe
songislaidbareforthesubjecttointimatelyseeandfeel.Claimingthatpsychedelicsmakemusicsoundbetteror
allowyoutoseethemusiciseasythisappreciationhasfueledglobalmusicfestivalsandDJcircuitsfor
decades.Shamanicmusicdoesnotneedtostorevisualinformationbecauseundertheinfluenceofpsychedelics
themusicnaturallyexpandsintovisualperception.Asacredsongfromarainforestshamanmaynotinducea
strongreactioninasobersubject,butundertheinfluenceofayahuascathatsamesongmayopenawindowinto

theshamansspiritworld.Thisphenomenagoesbeyondthelevelofmeremusicappreciation,itdemonstratesa
crossculturaltechnologyforrealtimeencodingandtransmissionofnonlinearpsychedelicinformation.
Byexaminingthewavepropertiesofayahuascaicaros,isitpossibletoconstructanexperientialrenderingofthe
synesthetichallucinogeniceffects.Ashamanmaymakegurglingorretchingnoisestoamplifymodulatory
interruptionof5HTreceptorsintheguttodrivepurgation.Afastrustlingorshushingnoise,likeasnakerattleor
windthroughtreebranches,evokesalpharangerelaxationandmentalfluidity,andmayalsocreategoosebumps
andasalientsenseofsupernaturalmystery.Adroningdrumbeatorchantdrivesthetabandtranceand
hypnagogicstates.Awhistlingorhighpitchedmelodydrivesbetaandgammacoherence,creatingsharp
multisensorysynesthesiaofrisingeideticimages.Agutturalcroakingoraresonantbasslineamplifiesthe
saturatedattackanddecayofstackinghallucinogenicframes.
Ashamanmayemployoneorallofthesetechniquesatvariousstagesofceremony,andmayusethem
repetitivelyorcyclically,likeawindingstemthatmovesthroughdeeperanddeeperlayersofhallucinogenic
immersion.Theshamanictechniqueoflullingandevokingmysticalhallucinationcanbecomparedtothefrenetic
qualitiesofmoderntrancemusic,wherethegoalistoentrainandsustainahighenergyvisualstatethatunfolds
andrecoursesforextendedperiodsoftime.Trancesongsarebuiltaroundarpeggiatedloopingmelodieswhich
growincomplexityovertime,culminatinginphasetransitions,orbreakdowns,wherestableloopingstatesare
shatteredintochaos.Whiletrancedancing,thesebreakdownsarefeltaseuphoric,likeshatteringabarrierintoa
higherstateoffreedomandbliss,andwhenthechaosofthebreakdownconvergesbacktowardsarhythm,itisan
evenmorefreneticleveloforganizedsyncopatedbeatsdrivenandheldtogetherbydeepresonantbasspulses.
Thewaveanalysisofbothmoderntrancemusicandtraditionalicarosindicatesthatthesearenotmerelyformsof
artisticexpression,butarealsoformaltechnologiesformediatingandnavigatingvariouslevelsofstabilityin
chaoticpsychedelichallucination.
NotesandReferences
1.SeeChapter06,TheControlInterruptModelofPsychedelicAction.
2.Beyer,SV,SingingtothePlants:AGuidetoMestizoShamanismintheUpperAmazon.UniversityofNew
MexicoPress(October31,2009).
3.Observationsofshamanicritualsandvocalizationstakenfromfirsthandandrecordedaccountsofshamanic
ceremonies.
4.Subjectivereportsofpsychedelicintoxicationincludereferencestointernalphysiologicalprocessesachieving
adramaticsynchronizedefficiency.Itisunknownifpsychedelicshaveagloballycoherenteffectoverall
physiologicalprocesses,butsincethereare5HTreceptorsdistributedthroughouttheentirebodyitiscertainly
withintherealmofpossibility.
5.WikiPedia.org,Interference(wavepropagation).InternetReference,2010.
6.Descriptionsofenteringintothespiritworldorreceivinginformationthroughalattice,veil,orspiritualoverlay
takenfromsubjectivereports.
7.Themesofspiritualcleansingandrebirtharecommoninshamanismandpsychedelicmysticism.Modern
interpretationsofthesethemesincludegeneticselfactivationorevolutionarymanipulationofDNAvia
psychedeliccatalyst.Whilethesedescriptionsfeelauthentic,thereisnoevidencetoindicatethatpsychedelics
drivemanipulationorprogrammingatageneticlevel.
8.Griffiths,R.R.,Psilocybincanoccasionmysticaltypeexperienceshavingsubstantialandsustainedpersonal
meaningandspiritualsignificance.Psychopharmacology(2006)187:268283.
9.GroupslinkedtotheweaponizeduseofpsychedelicsincludetheMansonFamily,theSLA,AumShinrikyo,the
CIA,andtheUnitedStatesDepartmentofDefense.
10.YuJiang,Trajectoryselectioninmultistablesystemsusingperiodicdrivings.Volume264,Issue1,13
December1999,Pages2229.
11.ChizhevskyVN,CorbalanR,Multistabilityinadrivennonlinearsystemcontrolledbyweaksubharmonic
perturbations.phycon,vol.2,pp.396402,2003,InternationalConferenceonPhysicsandControl.

12.CharingHG,CommunionwiththeInfinite:ThevisualmusicoftheShipibopeopleoftheAmazon.SH,
Winter2005.

Chapter16:PhysicalShamanismandShamanicTherapy
Thepracticeofspiritualshamanismandhealinghasbeencoveredinmanytexts,soherewewillexamine
physicalmodelsofshamanictherapyonlyastheyapplydirectlytoPsychedelicInformationTheory(PIT).
AccordingtoPIT,hallucinationisthespontaneousproductionofnonlinearinformationviadestabilizationof
multisensoryperception.1Similarly,shamanictherapyistheproductionofspontaneouscellularorganizationvia
destabilizationofmetabolichomeostasis.AnM.D.mayprescribeaspecifictherapytotreataspecificsymptom
orpathologyashamanwilllookbeyondthepathologyandprescriberadicaldietingandpsychedelicdrugtherapy
tofullyreboot,retune,andrecyclethepatientsentiremetabolicprocess.Shamanictherapycanbeconsidereda
nonlinearorholisticapproachtodiagnosisandhealing.
ModernShamanicPsychotherapy
Inmodernclinicaltherapypsychedelicsareemployedtoimprovepsychologicalresilienceinthefaceofstressor
trauma,typicallyinthecaseofdepression,PTSD,andanxiety.Psychedelicsarethoughttoproducepsychological
resiliencethroughthespontaneouscreationofautobiographicalinsightsandtranspersonalspiritualepiphanies
whichcompressexistingmemoriesintoanewholisticidentity.AccordingtoPIT,thegenerationofsalient
insightsinpsychedelictranceisthebyproductofnonlinearinformationcreationandmemorycompression,justas
dreamingisaformofassociativeinformationcreationandcompression.2Evenasinglelowdosepsychedelic
sessioncanproducechangesinidentityandtranspersonalawarenessthatlastalifetime.3,4,5
Toapplysimplepsychedelictherapy,theshamanneeddonothingmorethanprovidethemedicineandawarm
quietplaceforthesubjecttoliedown.Psychologicalresilienceisgeneratedbyallowingthesubjecttonavigate
anxieties,forgiveandacceptpastbehaviors,andsenseatranspersonalunityandloveflowingthroughall
creation.Thismethodworksbestintargetedtherapy,andshouldonlybeappliedinacontrolledsettingtoreduce
anxietyspiralsandnegativeplasticity.
ShamanicDieting,Purging,andCleansing
Traditionalshamanictherapytypicallyincludescomponentsofrestrictivedieting,fasting,andpurgationofbodily
wastesandfluids.6Thecommonwisdomisthatdietingandpurgationcleansesandpurifiesthebody,restoringit
toharmonyandbalance.Amorecynicalanalysisconcludesthatradicaldietingandfastingdestabilizesthe
bodysmetabolichomeostasisandputsitintodeprivedstatesofheightenedalertnessandstress,stateswhichcan
easilyproducepsychosisifprolongedforadayormore.Subjectivereportsofpsychedelicuseoftenincludean
initialperiodofstomachpainandintestinaldiscomfortprecedingfullpsychedelicdestabilizationthisisbecause
thepsychedelicmustinterrupt5HTreceptorsinthegutbeforemetabolichomeostasiscanbefullyuncoupledand
retuned.Techniquesofdietingandfastingspeedandamplifythedestabilizingeffectofpsychedelicsonglobal
metabolichomeostasis.
MetabolicDestabilizationandCellularRegeneration
TheControlInterruptModelpositsthathallucinogensproducecomplexperceptualresultsthrough
pharmacologicalinterferenceofmultisensoryframestability.1Thesamemodelappliedtoneuraloscillatorsina
sensorynetworkcanbeappliedtocellularoscillatorsinanbiologicalmatrix.Manyfunctionsofmetabolismand
cellularsignalingaremodulatedby5HTanddopamineinterruptingthesesignalingpathwayswillnotonly
producepatternsofspontaneousneuralorganization,theywillalsoproducepatternsofspontaneousmetabolicand
cellularorganization.Forinstance,5HT2Areceptorsandserotoninhavebeenshowntoplayalargerolein
mediatingbloodplateletaggregation.10Hallucinogenstarget5HT2Areceptors,andplateletaggregationisa
fundamentalimmunemechanism.5HT2Aactivationhasalsobeendemonstratedtoproducepowerfulanti
inflammatoryeffectsincardiovascularandsofttissuesand5HT2AagonistslikeLSDmayproducepotentanti
inflammatoryeffectsagainstTNFa(tumornecrosisfactoralpha),anautoimmuneregulatorwhichhasbeen
indicatedinatherosclerosis,rheumatoidarthritis,psoriasis,typeIIdiabetes,depression,schizophrenia,and
Alzheimer'sdisease.11

Becausethe5HT2AreceptorisaGcoupledproteinthatpromotessecondarytransmissionwithinthecell
membrane,psychedelicsthattargetthe5HT2Areceptorcaninfluenceawidevarietyofintracellularfunctions.
Thesignalingpathwaysmediatedbythe5HT2Areceptorincludethereleaseofchargedcalciumions(Ca 2+ )
andtheactivationofPKCandMAPK,proteinkinaseswhichtransferenergytoproteinsandenzymesthat
regulatecellularmetabolismandproliferation.Coaxingcellularsignalingpathwaysintopatternsofspontaneous
regeneration,antiinflammatory,orautoimmuneorganizationisattherootofallphysicalshamanictherapy.This
modelcanbeappliedtoneuralinflammation,asinclusterheadachesemotionalinflammation,asinPTSD
stressrelatedsofttissueinflammation,asinfibromyalgiaoranysystemicinflammationrelatedtostress,chronic
disease,andautoimmunedisorders.
Subjectsundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicssometimesreportfeelingsofbeingcleansedfromtheinside,like
eachcellisbeingpolishedandorganized,andthatwasteandcellulardebrisarebeingexpelled.Thissensation
hasbeencomparedtoaradicalautoimmuneresponse,likecomputerizedmaintenanceroutinefordefragmenting
andoptimizingcellularmemorystructures.Justasneuralassembliesmaybecoaxedintobecomingspontaneous
nonlinearfeedbackgenerators,cellularsignalingpathwaysmaybecoaxedintogeneratinginformationvia
spontaneousenergeticmetabolicpathwaytesting,strengthening,andregeneration.Justasnonlinearhallucination
mayfacilitatememorypotentiationinthesamewayasdreaming,nonlinearmetabolicorganizationmayfacilitate
cellularregenerationorimmunologicalresponsesimilartostatesoffeverordeeprestorativesleep.Thecellular
regenerativepowerofpsychedelicshaveonlyrecentlybeendemonstratedinscientificterms,butinshamanic
modelsthisrestorativefunctionistakenforgranted.

Figure27.PatternsfromShipibotextilesarenonlinearartifactsofayahuascahallucination,andarealso
isomorphicofChladniresonatinginterferencepatternsandPeanoplanefillingfractalcurves.
PhysicalShamanismandMetabolicEntrainment
Physicalshamanismemployswavebasedentrainmenttechniquestocoaxspontaneousnonlinearorganizationin
metabolicpathwaysandcellularsignalingsystems.Typicalshamanicwaveentrainmentcomesintheformof
singingormusic,butcanalsobeappliedthroughtalk,touch,hypnoticmotion,orotherrepetitivesensory
feedbackstimulation.Entrainingasubjectintoatargetedstateofconsciousnessisthescienceofhypnosisor

trance.Thepsychedelicmedicineallowsthepatientshomeostasistobecomedestabilized,andinthisstatethe
shamanbecomesthecircuitdriverorentrainer,theoscillatorwiththemostpowertoalterfrequenciesand
amplifyordampensignalstrengthacrosstheentirecircuit.Actingasahypnoticentrainer,theshamancanplace
thepatientintodreamliketranceandthensynchronizehisownperceptiontothepatientssubtleinternalbody
rhythms.Theshamanusesthehallucinogenicinterruptasacontrolfrequencyformediatingcontactwithand
manipulatingthepatientsmetabolicprocesses.Oncethecontrolfrequencyconnectionhasbeenestablished
throughmutualingestionofthepsychedelicmedicine,theshamanthenusesspecializedentrainmentwavesto
coaxnewmetabolicinterferencepatternsandsignalingpathwaysthroughoutthepatientscellularmatrix.
InShipiboayahuascashamanism,theshamantakesthepsychedelicmedicineinordertovisualizeaflickering
gridofpatternsandsymbolscrawlingacrossthesurfaceofthepatient.Theseayahuascapatternsareembedded
intoShipibotextiles(Fig.27),ceramics,tattoos,andallformsoftribalartwork,andareconsideredtobevisual
representationsoftheicarossungduringshamanicceremony.EachShipibopatterncorrespondstoasacred
psychedelicspacewhereaspecifictypeofinformationismanipulatedandrevealed,andbytuningthefluctuation
ofthesepatternsthroughthepatientsbiologicalsystems,theshamancansenseblockedsignalingpathways,
restoreatrophiedpathways,andbringharmonyandbalancetotheorganism.Subjectsundertheinfluenceof
ayahuascaandshamanicsingingoftenreportthefeelingofeverycellintheirbodyresonatinginharmonywiththe
healingsongsoftheMaestro.7,8
Theayahuascashamanmayemployhandsontechniquestomassagethepatientsenergypatternsintoamore
harmonicshape,sometimesevensuckingorblowingpsychicenergythroughthepatient,orperhapsperforminga
psychicsurgerytoremoveadarkbody,ablock,oracurse.9Sometimestheshamanmustdigverydeepinto
muscleandorgantissuebeforethesourceofillnesscanbefoundsometimesthepatientsenergypathwaysare
soblockedordegradedtheyareimpossibletofix.Theshamanmayusehighpitchedvocaltonestofocussound
wavesdeepintothebody,hopingtobreakapartblockedsignalpathwaysviathepowerofresonantintonation.
Theshamanmayusehighpitchedwhiningorwhistlingtonesfocusedatoneareaofthebody,ormayusethroat
singingtoinvokedeeprumblingbasstoneswhichmakethepatientschestcavityresonateatsamefrequencyas
soundvibrationsmovingdeepintotheEarth.7

Figure28.HilbertcurvesareexamplesofrecursivelyconstructedLshapedPeanocurves,alsocalledspace
fillingorplanefillingcurves,whichrecedeingranularitywitheachoctaveoriteration.FromWolframMath,
2010.
ThecasecanbemadethatShipibotextilepatternsandsacredsongsarecompressedartifactsofnonlinear
hallucination.ThesepatternsareisomorphicofChladniresonatinginterferencepatterns(Fig.31),aswellas
Peanospacefillingfractalcurves(Fig.28),SorLshapedpatternswhichrepeatinembeddedgranularity
dependingonthedepthofsystemiteration.12Shipibotextilepatternscorrespondtospecificresonatingtonesand
statesofconsciousness,andicarosareculturaltechnologiesforaccessingspecificstatesofhighlyorganized
nonlinearfeedbackcomplexityinbothneuralandcellularsignalingpathways.Byemployingthesetechniques
undertheinfluenceofpsychedelics,theshamancanentrainthebiologicalfunctionsofthepatientalltheway
downtothecellularlevel,perhapseventothegeneticlevel.Transitioningthroughtheselevelswoulddependon
thegranularcomplexityoftheinterferencepattern,ordepthofsystemiteration,createdbetweentheshamanic
entrainmentwaveandthehallucinogenicinterrupt.
NotesandReferences
1.SeeChapter06,ControlInterruptModelofPsychedelicAction.
2.SeeChapter13,PsychedelicNeuroplasticity.
3.Doblin,R,PahnkesGoodFridayExperimentALongTermFollowUpAndMethodologicalCritique.The
JournalofTranspersonalPsychology,1991,Vol.23,No.1.
4.Griffiths,R.R.,Psilocybincanoccasionmysticaltypeexperienceshavingsubstantialandsustainedpersonal
meaningandspiritualsignificance.Psychopharmacology(2006)187:268283.
5.GriffithsRR,RichardsWA,etal.,Mysticaltypeexperiencesoccasionedbypsilocybinmediatethe
attributionofpersonalmeaningandspiritualsignificance14monthslater.JournalofPsychopharmacology,Vol.
22,No.6,621632(2008).
6.TindallR,TheJaguarThatRoamstheMind.ParkStreetPress,Vermont,2008.
7.CharingHG,CommunionwiththeInfinite:ThevisualmusicoftheShipibopeopleoftheAmazon.Eagles
Wing,Winter2005.
8.Pantone,DJ,TheShipiboIndians:MastersofAyahuasca.InternetReference,2006.
9.Beyer,SV,SingingtothePlants:AGuidetoMestizoShamanismintheUpperAmazon.UniversityofNew
MexicoPress(October31,2009).
10.CerritoE,etal.,5HT2receptorsandserotoninrelease:Theirroleinhumanplateletaggregation.Life
SciencesVolume53,Issue3,1993,209215.
11.YuB,etal.,Serotonin5HT2AReceptorActivationSuppressesTumorNecrosisFactorInduced
InflammationwithExtraordinaryPotency.JPETNovember2008vol.327no.2316323.
12.WolframMath,PeanoCurves.InternetReference,2010.

Chapter17:HypnoticEntrainmentandInducedTranceStates
Thefundamentalsofhypnosisandinducedtrancestatesbeginwiththeconceptsofwaveresonanceand
entrainment.Resonanceisthequalityofanyoscillatingsystem(wavesinaneuralnetwork)toreachmaximum
amplitude(power)whenstimulatedwithperiodicdrivers(pulses)ataspecificpitchorrhythm(aresonant
frequency).Oscillatorscanhavemanyresonantfrequencieswhichtopoutatmaximumamplitudes.Ifwe
envisionthebrainasanoscillatorformaintainingstablebandsofconsciousness,eachbandinthespectrummust
thereforehaveitsowncorrespondingresonantfrequency,orfrequencies,whichcandrivespontaneousphase
transitionsintothatstandingwavestate.Theprocessofusingresonancetodrivethefrequencyandamplitudeof
oscillatorsiscalledentrainment,andwhentheshamaninducesatrancestateheisapplyingresonantwave
interferencetoentrainthefrequencyofthepatientsneuraloscillators.

NeuralOscillators
Allstatesofconsciousnessarecreatedbytheactofneuronsfiringinanetwork.Whenasingleneuronfiresonce
itisnotabigevent,butwhenaneuronfiresinarapidsequencethenitissignalingotherneuronswithafine
vibrationofwavespikestheseneuralspikesarethelanguageofconsciousness.Whentwoormoreneuronsfire
atthesamefrequencytheyaresaidtobesynchronized,andwhentwoareasofthebrainarefiringinsynchrony
thereissaidtobecoherencebetweentheseareas,whichmeanstheyaremostlikelyengagedinacomplex
distributedprocessingtask.Whenneuronsarecoupledtogetherinarecurrentnetwork,therapidpulsessentback
andforthbetweenthemarereferredtoasoscillations,andtheseoscillationstakeonthepredictablemathematical
propertiesofwavesawavebeinganystandingoscillationpassingthroughamedium.Thesestandingoscillations
literalwavesofenergyripplingthroughpathwaysinthecranialsaltwaterarethefieldeffectofconsciousness
flowingthroughtheneuralnetwork.Smoothorharmonicpropagationofthesewavesindicateshighfidelityand
stabilityinthefieldofconsciousnesserraticpropagationorinterferenceinthesewavesindicatesachaotic,
transitional,ordestabilizedfieldofconsciousness.
EEGandBrainwaves
Thewavelikeoscillationsofthebraincanbemeasuredviaelectroencephalography(EEG),atechniqueinwhich
electrodesareplacedontheskinandscalptoaggregatethevoltageofenergywavesproducedalongthe
outermostcorticallayersofthebrain.EEGmachinesproducegraphsofbrainactivityovertime,andeachstateof
consciousnessoccupiesitsowndistinctspacealongthebrainwavespectrum(Fig.29).Thenormalwaking
consciousnessweperceiveasactiveselfisabetastatewhichbeginsaround12Hz,or12cyclespersecondthis
isthespeedatwhichconsciousnessupdatesinafocused,activestate.Inhighlyfocusedorintensewakingstates
thesebetarhythmscanbepusheduptoaround38Hz,whichmeanstheneuralnetworkwouldbecycling
informationatarateofthirtyeightframespersecond(FPS).
Belowbetaisthealphastate,inthe712Hzrange,whichisassociatedwithdetachedcriticalanalysisandmore
relaxedphysicalintuition.Evenmorerelaxedthanalphaisthethetastatebetween47Hzthisbandmakesupthe
transitionalstatesbetweenwakingandsleeping,includingmeditativeandluciddreamstates.Thewakingmind
finallyshutsdownatthedeltarangeof0.5to4Hz,wherethebrainslowsintothedeeprhythmsofregenerative
sleep.Thebrainwavespectrumfrom0.5to38Hziswherewespendallofourdayseveryday,withglobalbrain
cohesionrarelytippingoverintothehighgammarangeof40Hzandbeyond,bandsassociatedwithfastpersonal
awarenessandhighlyfocusedconnectiveinsight.Butevenhigherthangammaisthehypergammarange,which
isover100Hzandabovethatisthemythicallambdastate,over200Hz,whereitisrumoredthathuman
consciousnesstopsoutattotalawarenessofallthingsfromthebeginningoftimetotheendofhistory.Onthe
otherend,evenlowerthandeepdeltasleep,isthemythicalepsilonstatewherebrainwavesdropbelow0.5Hz
andayogicstateofsuspendedanimationoccurs.
Whenevaluatingbrainwaves,humanconsciousnessappearstobelikeamusicalinstrumentthancanbetunedand
tweakedalongapredictablespectrumofpossibletonesandchords.Thebrainwavespectrumasdetailedhereis
onlythemostbasicinformation,butEEGandbrainwavescienceisrichwithdetailonhowthevariousstates
interactwithoneanother.Forinstance,thereisevidencethatslowwaveoscillatorsinthebrainstemmayactas
thecircadiandrumbeatofallconsciousnessthatfastgammawavesareemployedspontaneouslytobind
coherencebetweenslowerbrainareasthatslowepsilonwavesmaydriveamplitudeinthehypergammaand
lambdarangesthatthemurhythm(812Hz)controlsandinterpretscontralateralmotoractivationthatthereare
specificbrainorgansandhormonesresponsibleforattenuatingspecificpulserangesandkeepingthebrainin
synchthatbetastatespromoteanxietythatthebrainconstantlyproducesmanysimultaneousbandsofactivityat
differingpowerrangesinanystateofconsciousnessandsoon.Brainwavesareoftenfleeting,irregular,and
disorganizedconsciousnessisdistributedandconstantlytransitioningbetweenmultipletasksandstatesoffocus.
Hypnosis,InducedTranceStates,andEntrainment
Mostshamanicworkisdoneinwhatisknownasatrancestateahighlyrelaxedstateofextremelynarrowed
focus.Thetraditionalshamanictrancestateisinthethetarange,around47Hz,whichisameditativestatein
theboundaryzonebetweensleepingandwaking.Mostshamanicdrumcirclesdropnaturallyintothethetarange,
andthisisthesamerangeahypnotherapistwilldropapatientintowheninducingahighlyrelaxedstate.This
rangeisalsoassociatedwithdaydreaming,memoryrecall,andguidedvisualization.Thehighendofthetheta

bandisassociatedwithinternalfocus,visualization,andsustainedconcentrationthelowerendisassociatedwith
moretransientstatesofdaydream,spontaneousmemoryrecall,andluciddreaming.Somewhereinthelowerend
ofthiszoneisthehypnagogicgreyareabetweenwakingandsleepingwherebodyconsciousnessdisappearsand
theuserfeelsfloatingsensationsandmayhaveoutofbodyexperiences(OBEs).
Oneofthewaysashamanachievesatrancestateisthroughhypnosis.Atypicalhypnotherapyroutinewillguide
thepatientslowlydownthrougharelaxedalphastateandgentlyplacethemrightontheborderlineofthe
hypnagogicthetastate.Withthepatientteeteringontheedgeofhypnagogia,thetherapistcantheneitherengage
themcasuallyinaminimallyawarealphastateortipthemintoaninternalthetastatewhereitiseasiertoimprint
newsuggestionsontoexistingmemorystructures.Ifthehypnotherapistwantstomakeastrongimprint,hewill
introduceasuggestioninareceptivealphastate,thendropthepatientintoalowthetastatetoprocessthe
suggestion,thenbringthembackuptoalphatoreinforcethesuggestion,andthenfinallysendthembackdownto
lowthetaorslowdeltasleepforfurtherdeepassociativeimprinting.Thisbasichypnoticroutineismeanttofocus
thepatientintothedisengagedtrancewhererationaloverrideisshutdownandthebrainisvulnerableto
suggestivememoryimprinting.Mostmodernhypnotherapyfocusesonbehavioralimprinting,butthe
hypnotherapistmayalsouncoverlostmemories,imprintnewmemories,suggestthepatientisfloating,ortakethe
patientonaguidedvisualizationthroughadreamworld.Whileperformingtranceworktheshamanwilltellthe
patienttoremaincompletelystillthisistominimizecircuitperturbationandwaveinterferenceproducedby
voluntarymotorrhythms.
ShamanicEntrainmentTechnology
Hypnotherapycontainsmanyofthesameelementsofshamanism,buthypnotherapydoesnotworkforeveryone.
Inshamanictherapythepsychedelicagentisappliedtodestabilizetopdowncontrolandmakethepatientmore
susceptibletoentrainmentforlongerperiodsoftime.Ifthepatientislyingdownwiththeireyesclosedthen
psychedelicswillproduceatrancestatefairlyreliablyontheirowntheshamandoesnotneedtodomuchmore
thanmeasureanaccuratedoseandprovideasafeplaceforquietreflection.Butasidefromtreatingpatients,the
shamanalsoleadsgroupbondingrituals,andthesegroupritualsallutilizesimilarhypnoticentrainment
technologies.
Typicalshamanicentrainmenttechnologymayincludedrums,chants,music,strobelights,chimes,audiopulses,
andtalkroutineswhichguidetheritualparticipantsintoasharedtrance.NativeAmericanpeyoteritualsusethe
beatofamedicinedrumasthesynchronousdriverforthebaselinetrance,andthenlayertherhythmwithvocal
dronestocreateresonantdriverswhichmaximizebrainwaveamplitudeandglobalcoherenceinthegroup
circuit.Discussionofperiodicresonantoscillatorsandentrainmentisessentiallyaphysicsbaseddeconstruction
ofmusicspowertoinduceandlocktargetedmindstates,whichissomethingweallinstinctivelyunderstandfrom
theexperienceoflisteningtomusic.However,whenyoulookatthisdynamicfromaphysicalstandpoint,when
themindisentrancedbyanentrainmenttechnologysuchasmusic,themindandthemusicmergefromseparate
individualoscillatorsintoastandingharmonicinterferencepatternwithitsownuniquepropertiesofcoherence
andstability.
IntraditionalAmazonianayahuascaceremonies,theshamanmaybeblessedwithanicaro,orasacredsong
whichisdeliveredspontaneouslyintothebrainbythespirits.Whentheshamansingsthissacredsong,theritual
participantsarequicklyusheredintothesacredspacealongwiththeshaman.Usingtheentrainmentdynamicitis
reasonabletoassumetothattheseicarosarefeedbackvocalizationstunedtotheresonantfrequencyofthe
specifictrancestateoccupiedbytheshaman.Theshamanhearstheresonantfrequenciesinhisheadas
hallucinogenicartifactsofthephasetransitionshappeningwithinhisneuraloscillators,andwhenhevocalizes
thesenoisestheycomeoutaspitchedmicrotones,oftenlayeredwithvibratoscomingfromthenoseandthroat.
Bylayeringresonantmultitonesintothesacredsong,theshamanincreasestheamplitudeandentrainmentpower
ofhisneuralandvocaloscillators.Iftheshamanandtheritualparticipantsallsingthesametonestogether,their
oscillatorsallmergeintoaconstructiveinterferencepatternanddriveeachotherintoahigheramplitudeof
sharedenergy.Thisisthephysicsofneuralentrainmentandlinkinggroupmind.

Figure29.EEGbandsoveronesecondofactivity.FromWikiPedia.

Chapter18:PsychicBondingandPsi
Psychicbondingisaphysical,neurologicaladaptationthatoccurswhentwosubjectsspendtimetogethersharing
thoughts,feelings,andpersonalspace.Psychicbondingisasurvivaltraitthatallanimalsandpossiblyallplants
share.Psychicbondscancreatepersonalvulnerabilities,sotheaveragesubjectwillhaveabuiltinresistanceto
psychicbondingunlessthereisanexplicitsurvivalneedandacertainleveloftrustestablishedbetweensubjects.
Resistancetopsychicbondingnaturallybreaksdownoverprolongedexposurebetweensubjectslivinginthe
sameconfinesastrustbecomesroutineandimplied.Inordertoformapsychicbond,subjectsmustspenda
periodofatleastafewhourstogetheraperiodoftwotothreedaysisoptimal.Subjectsshouldbetogether
throughoutalldailyactivities:waking,sleeping,eating,working,relaxing,etc.Sharingtheschedulesandroutines
ofdailylifeisessentialtosynchingthecircadianrhythmsandcrossexpectationsofeachsubject.
PsychicBondingandCircadianRhythms
Circadianrhythmsarethemasterclockwhichcontrolsallthestatechangesanorganismundergoesina24hour
period.Wewakeup,getactive,gethungry,getrelaxed,getsleepy,gotosleep,anddreamonapredictablecycle
thatmirrorstherotationofourplanet,ourmoon,andourowninternalbiology.Subjectswhoaresynchedtothe
samecircadianrhythmsarelocallyboundtothesamehourlyoscillator,whichmeanstheysharethesametime
zoneanddailylivingschedules.Peoplewhoarecalledtoperformdailyroutinesatcertainhoursliketheprayer
timesofIslam,thecoffeeandlunchbreaksofWesterncorporatism,orthehourlynewscyclesofmodernmedia

culturehaveparticularlyhighlevelsoflocalcircadianbinding.Usuallycircadianrhythmsmustbesynched
beforepsychicbondingbetweensubjectscanbegin,thoughthereisanecdotalevidencethatpsychicbondingcan
takeplaceovertelepresenceifvirtualcontactismaintainedforextendedperiodsoftime.
Psychicbondingusuallytakesplacewithinahouseholdthehouseholdcanbeametaphorforanygroupliving
situation,itcanbeanactualhouse,abusinessorpartnership,oritcanbealoosetribalstructurelikeaband,
team,squad,orsimilarnomadiccrew.Whenlivingwithincloseconfinement,subjectsareforcedtowork
together,compromise,andsharerigidlyinducedschedulesforeating,relaxing,andsleeping.Assubjectscoexist
theybegintobuildinternalizedconstructsofeachotherwhichdictatehowtheybehaveandinteracttheseare
crossexpectationsfedbymirrorneuronsanalyzingcooperativebehaviors.Theclosefamiliaritybetweensubjects
drivesaneuralwiringprocesswhichembedsthepatternsofeachbondingpartnerintotheothersmind,aprocess
calledmutualplasticity.Routinefamiliaritybetweensubjectsdrivesmutualplasticity.
StressandPheromoneInducedNeuroplasticity
Smellisthemostevocativeofhumansensesbecauseitiswiredtightlyintorewardandfearresponses,andofall
thethingsthatenticeandrepulseusaboutotherpeoplesmellisarguablythestrongest.Whensubjectsareliving
incloseproximitytheyproducehormones,pheromones,andtheysweat,andwhenthosepheromonesareinhaled
theyproduceinstinctualemotionalandneuralresponses.Thereisaverycomplexrelationshipbetweenhormones,
pheromones,behavior,mating,andbondingthatpermeatestheentireplantandanimalkingdomitisasubjectthat
transcendsmolecularbiochemistryandapproachesorganicinformationfieldtheory.Attemptingtobreakdown
thenonverbalpowerofpheromonestoinducebondingandneuralgrowthcanleadtomanyinteresting
digressions,butwhatismostgermanetoourdiscussionisthatwhenhumansareunderstresstheyproduce
hormonesandtheysweat,andthathormonelacedperspirationinducespowerfulempatheticresponsesinother
humans.Thefeedbackofpheromonalresponsebetweensubjectsoveraperiodofafewcircadiancycleswill
automaticallydrivethebondingprocessevenifsubjectsarenaturallyresistant.Theintroductionofstressintothe
grouphouseholdwillincreasehormonalresponseandthusmakethebondingprocessmoreurgentandmore
powerful.
Bondingcanbeslowandrelaxed,likethewayafamilybuildsfamiliarityovertimeoritcanbefastandforced
likethewaycults,fraternities,andmilitiashazesubjectsintocoherenceinamatterofdaysorweeks.Bonding
canalsobeartificiallyinducedthroughdrugs,groupmindrituals,orthroughthestressofsurvivingcombatora
naturaldisasterwithasmallgroupofpeople.Bondingpairsaremostlikelymates,partners,roommates,orpeople
wholiveandtraveltogetherinsmalltribelikegroups.Hostagescanalsobondwiththeircaptorsinwhatis
famouslyknownasStockholmsyndrome,1whichisanexampleofstresscreatingasituationwherethebrainis
ripeforentrainmentandimprinting.
Aromanticversionofgroupmindleadingtopsychicbondingmighthappenspontaneouslyondatewhentwo
potentialmatessitandtalkquietlyforlongperiodsoftime,sharingvulnerableaspectsofthemselvesoverdinner,
drinks,andconversation.Ifthecoupleisgoodfit,theywillslowlysynchintoharmonywitheachotheroverthe
courseofaneveninguntiltheywinduptalkingallnight,feelingliketheyvenevermetanyonewhounderstands
themsodeeplyandintuitively.Thisispheromones,proximity,andselfreinforcingneuralfeedbackembedding
instinctualrhythmsintherapportbetweentwosubjectsorneuralcrossexpectations.Theoverlapofhormonal
response,brainwavecoupling,andproximitybetweensubjectswill,overtime,buildstrongsynapticconnections
whichbindtheseindividualstogether.
InformationalCapacitiesofBoundPartners
Whilethetelepathiccapacityofboundsubjectsislimited,aboundpartnercanstilltell,forinstance,whata
partneristhinkingjustbylookingattheirface.Thetelepathyisgenerallynotliteralandsymbolic,itisintuitive
andempathetic.Boundpartnerswillshareintuitiverhythmsofspeakingandinteractingsharingphrases,inside
jokes,andspecializedfacialexpressionsandwillspontaneouslyfallintotheserhythmswhenevertheyare
together,eveniftheyhavebeenseparatedforlongperiodsoftime.Thereisconstantanecdotalevidencethat
boundpartnersoftenspontaneouslythinkofeachotheratthesamemoment,causingonetocallorseekoutthe
otherjustastheotherthinksofdoingthesameorthatpetsintuitivelyknowwhentheirownersareontheway
home.2Moreintriguinglythereisevidenceindicatingthatboundpartnerscannonlocallysensewhentheotheris
surprised,startled,orindanger.3,4,5Bondedpairsbeingsynchedonanintuitivelevelmaynotbeliteraltelepathy,

butthiscandefinitelybeclassifiedaspsiwhichhasobvioussurvivaladvantages.
Thekeycapacityofbondedpairsisthattheycanthinkandmovefluidlyasapackandworkinstinctivelywith
eachotheronanintuitiveandnonverballevel.Thedemonstrablecapacityfororganismstobondintocollective
groupsemergesatthebacterialevelandbecomesmostobviousattheinsectorhivelevel.Throughthe
mechanisticmeansofpheromonesandreceptors,insectscancoalesceintoahivemindcapableofmany
coordinatedtasksthisisnonverbalcooperationbasedsolelyonencodedrulesofinstinctivebehavior.Fishform
schools,birdsformflocks,mammalsformpacks,humansformtribesandtownsandcities.Humanscanalsoform
psychicbondswithdomesticatedanimalssuchascatsanddogsandhorses,crossencodingverbalandnonverbal
communicationforsimplificationofeverydayneedsandroutines.Thereisalsoanecdotalevidenceofpeople
bondingwithplants.Thehormonalprocessforpsychicbondingisgeneticallyencodedandinstinctualincasesof
extendedcloseproximity,intimacy,andstressthesearetheexactvariablesneededforbreakingordomesticating
wildanimalsthesamevariablesneededforbrainwashingthesamevariablesneededforcultindoctrinationand
deprogramming.Thepsychicbondingprocessisaninstinctualevolutionarycapabilitywhichcanbeexploitedfor
positiveornegativepurposes,andthequalityofinformationpassedthroughpsychicbondscanbedescribedas
automatic,selfstabilizing,nonverbal,advantageous,andintuitive.
NotesandReferences
1.WikiPedia.org,StockholmSyndrome.InternetReference,2010.
2.SheldrakeR,ANewScienceofLife:TheHypothosisofMorphicResonance.ParkStreetPress,Vermont.
1995.
3.LukeD,PsivertsandPsychicPiracy:TheFutureofParapsychology.RealitySandwich,InternetReference,
7609.
4.RichardsTL,KozakL,JohnsonC,StandishLJ,Replicablefunctionalmagneticresonanceimagingevidence
ofcorrelatedbrainsignalsbetweenphysicallyisolatedsubjects.JournalofAlternativeandComplementary
Medicine,11,955963.
5.KittenisM.,CarylPG,StevensP,Distantpsychophysiologicalinteractioneffectsbetweenrelatedand
unrelatedparticipants.Association47thAnnualConvention:ProceedingsofPresentedPapers,Vienna(6776),
2004.

Chapter19:GroupMindandFluidTribalDynamics
Thephysicaltheoryofgroupmindbeginswithsomebasicassumptionsaboutoscillatorsandwavemechanics.If
themindisaresonantoscillatorforprocessinginformation,andtwooscillatingmindscanbesynchronized
throughharmonicorresonantwaveinterference,thentwomindsentrainedinasynchronizedstateshouldbeable
topassinformationfromonemindtotheother.Thistheorysoundslikepotentialtelepathy,buttherealityismore
subtleandcomplex.Theinformationthatcanbesharedbetweenoscillatorsisnonverbalandnonsymbolicit
existsintherealmoffrequencies,wavelengths,andamplitudes.Themostcommoninformationpassedbetween
entrainedoscillatorsissynchronytestinganderrorcorrection,selfcorrectingmechanismswhichmaintain
oscillatorstability.Intuitivesynchronytestinganderrorcorrectionbetweentwoormoremindscoupledinthe
samecircuitissubjectivelyperceivedasnonverbalcommunication,groupmind,intuition,telepathy,orpsi.
Examplesofsynchronytestinganderrorcorrectionexistinallformsofcommunication.Wheninformationis
flowingsmoothlybetweenoscillators,thedatatransferhashighspeedandsynchronywheninformationtransfer
fromoneoscillatorfluctuatesandbecomesambiguous,theotherinstantlycorrectstoresolvetheinstabilityand
regainsynchrony.Ifautomaticsynchronytestinganderrorcorrectiondidnotexist,anyfluctuationinsignal
fidelityacrossthecircuitwouldmaketheoscillatordecouple.Synchronytestinganderrorcorrectioncanhappen
inaverbalconversation,adigitalpackettransfer,acellularcodingsystem,theharmonicchimingofbells,andso
on.Synchronytestinganderrorcorrectionallowsentrainedoscillatorstoretainstabilitythroughmutualfeedback
control,conservingoramplifyingenergybyphaselockingintostableharmonicconfigurations.Individualsbound
inagroupactivityuseintuitivesynchronytestinganderrorcorrectiontomaintainharmonythroughbehavioral
coordinationandunitarycohesion.

GroupTranceandEntrainmentTechnology
Apracticingshamanmustbeamasterofatleastoneritualentrainmenttechnology,andmustbeamasterof
puttinghimselfandothersintoatargetedtrancestatethisisthebareminimum,theresthappensnaturally.Some
shamansimplyprovidetotalquietandletthemedicinedotheworksomeshamenputonelaborateshowswhich
includesinging,chanting,andlivemusicalperformance.Thejambandphenomenastartedbyadaptingthe
dynamicsofmedicinedrumcirclesto1960spsychedelicpartyculturehencetheGratefulDeadandthegrowthof
theRainbowFamily.Inthe1990stheshamanicentrainmentritualwasreducedtosomethingasmundaneas
playingrecordsonaloudstereosystemwithheavybass,andthismundanetaskblossomedintothecelebrityDJ
professionwhichfuelsmodernglobalpartyculture.Anyliveperformercantellyouthatthefeedbackcircuit
betweenmusicianandaudiencefuelstheenergyoftheperformance,culminatinginthemomentswhenthe
performerandaudienceallsingthesamechorusormovetothesamebeatinunison.Itisthesamewithchurches
itisthesamewithsportingeventsitisthesamewiththemilitary.Whentheaudienceparticipatesinthe
performance,eitherdancingorclappingorsinginginunison,itdrivestheamplitudeoftheentirecircuit.Thisis
spirituality,religion,andgrouptranscendencereducedtowavemechanics.
Therearetwostepstoentraininggroupmind.Youmustfirstdemandfocusofgroupattention,andthenyoumust
masterfullyapplytheentrainmenttechnologytheserulesareimmutableandarethesameforthehypnotherapist,
theshaman,themusician,thesalesman,thepolitician,theTVprogrammer,andsoon.Demandingtheattention
ofalargegroupofpeopleisperhapsthehardestpart,buttheritualentrainmenttechnologycanarguablybe
purchasedatretail.InaclubsettingthefocusofattentioniscommandedbytheDJ,whoappliesprefabricated
entrainmentrhythms(dancegrooves)tothecrowd.Whenthecrowdrespondsfavorablytoaspecificgrooveby
dancingwithexuberance,theDJrewardsthembyfindingmoregroovesthatfallintothesametempo,andthen
usesdynamicfilterstoisolateandboosttheresonantfrequenciesofthewallsintheroom,pushingthemusicover
thetopwithtremorsthatliterallyrattletheearth.WhentheDJestablishesastrongfeedbackcontrolcircuitwith
thecrowd,thereisphasetransitionwherethecrowdceasestobeindividualsandtheycohereintoasinglefluid
unit.Atthispointthecrowdbecomessynchronizedinaudiomotorsynesthesiawiththemusic,almostlike
puppets(Fig.25).Thephysicaldynamicsofagroupofpeopleengagedintrancedancingdefiesformalsocial
descriptionsandisbestdescribedasacoherentwaveinterferencepattern.
GroupMindandBehavioralPhaseTransitions
Thisspontaneousmovementofagroupofindividualsintoacoherentorganismcanbedescribedintermsofphase
transitionfromsolidstatetoaliquidstateofgroupdynamic.Inthesolidstatethereisego,language,etiquette,
socialhierarchy,andrulesofoneononeengagementthatkeepindividualidentityseparatedandsolidinthe
liquidstateindividualsdropsocialpretensesandmergeseamlesslyintotheflock,navigatinginstinctivelyvia
environmentalcuesandmutualfeedback.Whenagroupofindividualsmovesfromasolidtoaliquidstate,there
isasenseoftranscendencethatissubjectivelyperceivedasjoyful,cathartic,andspiritual.Subjectsinaliquid
groupstatefeelunity,love,andpurposeastheenergyofthecrowdflowsthroughthemlikeatransistorinan
electricalcircuit.
Asimilarexampleofsocialdynamicspassingfromsolidtoliquidstateoccursinflocksofbirds.Ontheground
birdsassumepeckingorderswhichcreatethedynamicformatingandnesting,intheairtheybecomeafluidunit
thatnavigatesasaseamlesswhole.Thissocialphasestatetransitionisobservable,repeatable,andmaybe
measuredgenerallyintermsofglobalpoweracrossalphabandsoftheentiregroup.Intheegodrivenbetastate
thesolidnormsofsocietyandhierarchyapply,butintherelaxedalphastatebehaviorsbecomemorefluidand
intuitive.Inthebetastatetheindividualisconcernedonlywithfulfillingtheirownrationalagendainthealpha
statetheindividualmovesseamlesslywiththeflow.Whenthetribeadoptsafluidsocialstateitbecomesa
temporaryautonomouszoneforinterpersonalexperimentation,identityplay,andotheregoblurringexperiences
thatreinforceintimacyandgrouployalty.
InformationalCapacityofGroupMind
Shamanicmythologytellsusthattribememberssynchronizedtogroupmindenteratelepathicdreamspace
wheretheycanallsharethoughtsandvisions.Thesensationofbondingandbecomingonewiththegroupisreal,
buttheleveloftelepathicabilityachievedingroupstatesisdebatable.Inagrouptrancetherationalegois
detachedandnonverbalintuitionisfullyengagedempathybondingishighandthehallucinogenicmedicineturns

groupintuitionintoconcretevisions.Thisenhancednonverbalintuitioncanbecalledtelepathy,psi,orashared
dreamspace,butitwouldbewrongtoassumethateachmemberofthetribeisautomaticallysharingthesame
thoughtsorvisionsjustbecausetheyareallsynchronizedtothesamehallucinogeniccontrolwaveorentrainment
frequency.
Theinformationalcapacitiesofgroupmindarelimitedinanumberofways.Mutualfeedbacksynchrony
betweenpeerscoupledingroupmindisnonverbal,local,andtimedependent.Atadistancepeerandgroup
couplingbecomesweaker,andthiscouplinggrowsweakerthelongerpeersareseparatedbydistance.Many
traditionalshamanicceremoniesrecurweekly,orperhapsmonthlywiththephasesofthemoon.Shamanic
ceremoniesoftenemploytheritualofthemedicinecircle,aliteralcircuitofindividualsboundintheceremony
forthedurationoftheceremony.Breakingthecircleinthemiddleoftheceremonyisstronglydiscouraged,
becauseenergysharedandamplifiedinthecirclecanescapeintotheetherinsteadofstayingwithinthegroup.
Creatingthesacredcircuitonarecurringbasisextendsthepowerofnonlocalpeercouplingovertheperiods
betweenceremonies,allowingforextendedsynchronyatadistanceaslongasthecircuitbindslocallyormeets
tosynchronizeatregularintervals.Recurringgroupcircuits,suchasshamanicceremonies,churchattendance,
weeklybusinessmeetings,socialclubs,andsoon,reinforceinstinctivebehavioralcohesionandcross
expectationsbetweengroupmembers.
Groupmindcanaccuratelybedescribedasaformofdistributedcognition,wheretheunitsofagroupare
coherentlyboundinalargerintegratedsystemorprocess.Fromadistributedstandpointgroupmindisnotliteral
telepathy,itisinsteadaformofcooperativethoughtemergingsimultaneouslyaspartofthecoherentgroup
process.Distributedfunctioningintheinsectkingdomiscommonplaceintheanimalkingdomittakestheformof
groupmovementslikeflocking,herding,andschooling,butsometimesemergesinmorecomplexactionslike
huntingandstalking.Theinformationsharedindistributedtaskingislimitedtointuitivecoherenceofmotor
behaviortofulfillspecifictasksandgroupfunctions.Behavioralcooperationandfunctionalstabilityingroup
mindstatesismediatedthroughintuitive,nonverbalsynchronytestinganderrorcorrectionbetweencoupled
peers.Inteamsportsandmilitaryoperation,thishighlyintuitivegroupstateissometimescalledbeinginthe
zone.

Chapter20:ShamanicSorcery
Shamanicsorceryisthecraftofmanipulatingthefabricofpsychedelicspaceforpersonalgainorvendetta.
Powersascribedtoshamanicsorceryincludeclairvoyance,spiritchanneling,shapeshifting,astraltravel,remote
viewing,curses,dreamprojection,magicaldarts,telepathy,mindcontrol,necromancy,andsoon.Theshamanic
ontology,orpsychedelicspiritspace,canbecynicallyviewedasasharednonphysical,nontemporaldelusion
accessibletoanyshamanaslongastheyaccepttherulesofthecentralontology.Inthiswaythesharedshamanic
ontologybecomesfluidthroughspaceandtime,andismagicallymanipulatedandreinforcedthroughritualuseof
psychedelicdrugs.Inasettingwheretheshamanicontologyisreadilyacceptedandreinforced,theshamanhas
greatpowerinreductivescientificsettingsthatrefutetheshamanicontology,theshamanappearstohavean
overactivegurucomplexanddelusionsofgrandeur.
WhilePITmayappeartodiscounttheclaimsofshamanicsorceryandspiritchanneling,veryfewscientific
studieshavebeendonetoeitherverifyorrefutetheefficacyofpsychedelicsorcery.Aclosereadingofthe
literatureonpsychedelicdiscoverybytheWestrevealsthatscientists,therapists,andacademicshaverushedto
exploitthepowerofnativevisionaryritualwithoutproperlyconsideringthecrossculturalpsychic
backlash.1,2,3,6Iftheshamanicspaceispurelydelusionalthenmodernadvocateshavenothingtofearby
exploitingtraditionalpsychedelicritualbutiftheshamanicspaceisatranspersonalinformationfieldthenit
shouldalsobeconsideredabattlefieldforwaginginformationwarfare.Modernadvocatescannotembracethe
entheogenicsideofpsychedelicspiritualcommunionwhilesimultaneouslyignoringthedarkeraspectsofatruly
transpersonalontology.Liketheinternet,whichallowspeerstocoupleinuniqueways,asharedshamanic
networkforsendingandreceivinginformationisalsoavectorforpotentialtreacheryandattack.
SorceryandNonlinearInfluence
Fromareductivestandpoint,theshamansmagicalinfluenceislimitedonlytohistribemembers,localneighbors,

orthosewithinhispersonalnetworkinfluencewithinthissphereiseasytoaccountforinpurelyphysicalterms.
Fromametaphysicalstandpoint,theshamanisalsosaidtobeboundnonlocallytoallspiritsandshameninthe
psychedelicspaceregardlessofphysicalortemporallocation.Theshamanisalsosaidtobeabletoenter
peoplesdreams,makingthedestabilizedworldoffleetingnocturnalvisionslikeaglobalriverfortheshamanto
navigate.Thesetranspersonalclaimsarehardertoaccountforinphysicalterms,andrecenttheoryhasattempted
totietheshamanicspacetoanonlocalAkashicormorphogeneticfieldwherenonphysicalspiritualorbiological
informationisstoredandtransmitted.4,5Asharedmorphogeneticfieldshouldinferevolutionaryadvantage,butit
alsoimpliesnonlocalvulnerability.Attacksorceryoftenrequiresaclippingofhair,afingernail,apersonalitem,
oratotemoftheattacktarget.Fromamorphologicalperspectivethesorcererusesthegenetictracesofthese
itemsasaresonatingantennatoattackthetargetdirectlythroughthemorphicfield.
Undertheinfluenceofpsychedelics,theshamancanhearthechatteringofnonverbalinformationcomingfrom
thejungle,thecity,theplants,theanimals,andcanintuitivelysensethenaturalrhythmsandcyclesrecedinginto
thepastandfuture.Theshamancanblowacurseintothepassingwind,oratapassinganimal,andsendmagic
dartsonconvolutedpathwaystowardsenemies.Fromanonlinearstandpointsorcerydoesnothavetomake
rationalsense.Theplaceboeffectisapositiveexampleofanonlinearresultthatdoesnotmakerationalsense
thesamecanbesaidforacursethatcausesanenemytosuddenlyfallill.Theseresultsonlymakesenseifyou
analyzethemfromalongitudinalperspectiveandfollowthesmallperiodicpermutationsofsystemvariablesas
theyproducedisproportionatelycomplexresultsthroughtimerecoveryinthecaseofplacebo,orsicknessand
deathinthecaseofacurse.
AccordingtothefundamentalsofPsychedelicInformationTheory,theinfluenceofshamanicsorcerycanbe
presumedtobenonlinear,whichmeanssmallperiodicperturbationsofsystemvariableswithinalarger
informationsystemcanproducedisproportionatelycomplexandchaoticresultsinanyotherpartofthesystem.In
thenonlinearpsychedelicspacetheshamanisachaosmagician,orthebutterflythatflapshiswingsinChinaand
createsahurricaneacrosstheocean.Thenonlinearaspectofpsychedelicsorcerymakesitbothaverysubtleart
formandsomethingthatescapesreductivescientificobservation,butalsomakesitverypronetofailureandlack
ofpropercontrol.Theweatherisfamouslynonlinear,andoneofthejobsoftheshamanisreadingandcontrolling
theweatherthisnotacoincidence.PITassumesthatthestudyandmasteryofnonlinearsystemsandemergent
longitudinalcomplexityisafundamentalpartofallpsychedelicshamanismandsorcery.
SynchronicityMagicandProbabilityCollapse
Subjectsinadestabilizednonlinearstateoftenreportenhancedsensationsofnonrandomcoincidence,or
synchronicity,thatappeartodefyallrationality.Accountsofhiddenforcesactinginconcerttosendmessages
throughnonrandomcoincidencearecommoninpsychosis,paranoia,schizophrenia,mania,bipolardisorder,and
psychedelicintoxication.Onpsychedelicsthisstateisdosedependentandincreasesincomplexitywithlarger
doses,untilitappearstheentirefabricofreality,downthesubatomiclevel,isspeakingdirectlytothesubject
withasingularnarrativemessage.Whileinthissynchronicityhole,nothingintheuniverseseemsrandomand
allcoincidenceisladenwithprofoundsubtextthatmakessenseonlytothesubject.Fromaclinicalstandpoint,the
synchronicityholerepresentsastateofdelusionalmegalomania,yetthisisexactlythekindoflogicweshould
expectfromanonlinearanalysisofreality.Linearanalysismayperceivetheleavesonatreeasarandom
distributionanonlinearanalysiswillseeasingularnonrandomfunctionunderlyingthegenesisofcomplexform.
Subjectiveaccountsofthesynchronicityholedescribeanimmediateprecognitiveinsightwhereprobability
appearstocollapseandthesubjectintuitivelyknowsexactlywhatisgoingtohappennext.Anothercommon
descriptionisthatpsychedelicsopenthemindtounlimitedpotentialpathwaysintothefuture,andthosepotentials
expandandcollapsethroughtimeindirectresponsetothebehaviorsandwilloftheshaman.Ashamaninthis
spaceissaidtobeabletolookforwardintimeintomanyprobablefutures,andcanchooseanyfuturesimplyby
steppingintothevisionandfollowingthepathwaythatleadshimthere.Byapplyingsynchronicitymagicand
selectingnonrandompathwaysintothefuture,theshamanexpandsandcollapsesprobabilityandsubtlyaltersthe
fabricofrealitybychoosinganewdestiny.Thisprocesscanbedescribedintermsofdeterministicchaosdriving
asuperpositioninsubjectiveidentity,leadingtoradicalidentitypotentiation,behavioralchange,andself
actualizationthroughdeterministicneuroplasticity.
SorceryandNegativeInformation

AccordingtoPIT,shamanismisthecraftofgeneratingpositiveorstabilizinginformationwithinalargermatrix
sorceryisthecraftofgeneratingnegativeordestabilizinginformationwithinalargerinformationmatrix.
Negativeinformationisanyinformationwhichseekstosubvertordestroypartsorallofthelargerinformation
matrix.Examplesofnegativeinformationatthebiologicalscaleincludeviruses,parasites,toxins,andcancersat
thepersonalscalenegativeinformationmayincludedoubt,fear,stress,depression,abuse,neglect,trauma,and
delusionatthetriballevelnegativeinformationmayincludedishonesty,distrust,withholding,disinformation,and
warfare.Whennegativeinformationisamplifiedwithpositivefeedback,itcangrowtodestroytheentiresystem.
Negativeinformationcanbecounteredwithnegativefeedback,ordampenedbypositiveinformationwhichseeks
tobringstabilitybacktothematrix.Whileashamanusespsychedelicsasamedicineorsacramenttohealand
maintaintribalstability,thesorcererusespsychedelicsasaweapontogainpoweroverpeersandattackenemies.
Ifshamanicsorceryisakindofnonlinearchaosmagic,itshouldalsobeconsideredtobesomewhat
unpredictable,uncontrollable,pronetohighratesoffailure,andpotentiallydangerous.Moreover,itisrighttobe
suspiciousofpeopleinterestedinsorcery,whichcanbeformallydefinedasnegativeinformationwarfarewaged
forpersonalgain.Commonwisdomdictatesthatwhenstudyingpsychedelicshamanismoneshouldlearnundera
Maestro,ormaster,whooffersspiritualprotectionagainstblackmagicandsorcery.3Whileitiseasytodismiss
theseclaimsassuperstition,theambiguitiesandtemptationsofpsychedelicsorceryhavenotbeenadequately
addressedinthecontextofmodernentheogenicritualandclinicalpsychedelictherapy.Anyoneexperimentingin
thefieldofpsychedelicshamanismshouldbecarefultoavoidthedangersandtemptationsofsorcery.
NotesandReferences
1.LetcherA,Shroom:ACulturalHistoryoftheMagicMushroom.Faber,GreatBritain,2006.
2.TindallR,TheJaguarThatRoamstheMind.ParkStreetPress,Vermont,2008.
3.Beyer,SV,SingingtothePlants:AGuidetoMestizoShamanismintheUpperAmazon.UniversityofNew
MexicoPress(October31,2009)
4.OrocJ,TryptaminePalace.ParkStreetPress,Vermont.2009.
5.SheldrakeR,ANewScienceofLife:TheHypothosisofMorphicResonance.ParkStreetPress,Vermont.
1995.
6.RussellD,DrugWar:CovertMoney,Power&Policy.DanRussell,19992000.

Chapter21:SpiritsandSpiritualCommunion
Spiritcontactisacentralpartofmanypsychedelicpractices.Whiletheautonomyofspiritentitiesisasubjectfor
endlessmetaphysicaldebate,thereportsofseeingspiritsundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicsarecommonenough
tomakesomegeneralizations.First,psychedelicentitiesareanthropomorphicinterfacesthroughwhich
psychedelicinformationisgeneratedortransmitted.Second,formalspirittypesrepresentidealizedversionsof
specificinformationmatrices:cellular,insect,plant,animal,ancestral,mythic,alien,pagan,machine,cosmic,
andsoon,andeachtypeofspiritrevealsdifferentinsightsintotheorderednatureoflifeandtheuniverse.Third,
psychedelicspiritsaretricksterstheyoftenspeakinriddles,communicateinvisualrebusandpantomime,and
typicallynevergiveastraightanswertoinquiries.Fromaninformationstandpointitdoesnotmatterifthespirits
arerealordelusion,theinformationtheygenerateisrealandcanbeanalyzedfromaformalperspective.
HabitsandCustomsoftheSpirits
Astudyoftheliteratureonshamanismandhelperspiritstellsusmanythingsabouttheirbehaviorsandhabits.
First,spiritsdonotgenerallylikelighttheywilloccasionallyappearinthedaytime,buttheyprefertoappearin
dimlight,atnight,inanareailluminatedonlybycandleorfirelight.Second,spiritsusuallycomeonlywhenyou
callthem,onlyafteryouhavecalledthem,inthelongmomentsofsilencefollowingtherequestforthemto
appear.Third,spiritsdonotlikeloudnoiseskeepingtheentirelocalareaperfectlyquietistheonlywayto
ensuretheywillfeelsafetoappear.Fourth,spiritsdonotlikefoulsmells,theyaredrawntotheperfumedscents
oftobaccosmokeandvarioustypesofincense,andarerepulsedbythesmellofmeateatinghumans,alcohol
drinkinghumans,andmenstruatingwomenfoulsmellsmayactuallysummonharmfulspiritsordemons.Finally,

somespiritsrequirethattheshamangrovel,chant,sing,andproduceofferingsbeforetheyappearthisisnot
alwaysrequiredbutiscommonenoughtobeconsideredtypical.Tocallinthespiritstheshamanmustrespectall
thesecustomswhiletakinglargeamountsofthepsychedelicmedicine.Thespiritswillonlycomeiftheshaman
callsthematthepropertimeandplace,afterhehasdietedandpurged,takenthemedicine,andthenburned
enoughtobaccoorincensetomakethescentoftheareameetstringentrequirements.1
Theritualforcallingthespiritsincludesmanytellingdetails.Fastingandalowsugar,lowproteindietimplies
physiologicaltuningfordestabilizingmetabolichomeostasis.Thedosesofhallucinogentakeninspiritcommunion
arehigh,typicallytwelveorthirteenpairsofpsilocybinmushroomsfortraditionalCentralAmericanceremonies.
Ritualintonationofcallinginthespirits,orrequestingforthemtoappearinchantorsong,setstheinitial
conditionsforthehallucinogenicexperiencewhichfollows.Stillness,lowlight,andsilenceoffersthebest
conditionsforacetylcholinemodulationofthemidbrainassociatedwithsleeponset,whichisknowntoproduce
dreamlikeimagery.Tobaccoexcitescholinergicmodulationofthemidbrain.Incenseexcitesolfactoryreward
centersinthemidbrainfoulsmellsexciteolfactoryanxietycentersandnaturallyproducevisionsthataremore
demonicthanangelic.Psychedelicsinterferewithsmoothmusclecontractionsrelatedtodigestionanduterine
cramping,makinghallucinogenusepotentiallyuncomfortableformenstruatingwomen,andpotentiallydangerous
forpregnantwomen.Thefinalelementintheritualishavingfaiththatthespiritswillappear,whichreinforces
theintonationandexpectationthattheywill.And,surprisinglyenough,ifyoufollowtheritualexactlyandhave
faith,thespiritswillappear.
InterfacingwithSpiritInformation
Iftheshamanfollowsritualprotocol,ingeststhepsychedelicmedicine,andmanagestosummonthespirits,he
shouldnotwastetimebotheringthemwithmundanequestions.Thespiritswilltypicallyansweronlyonequestion
orperformonlyonetask,andthattaskshouldbeconsideredurgentandworthyoftheirparticipationortheywill
promptlydismisstheshamanandwillnotappearagainfortherestofthesession,perhapsnotagainformany
weeksormonths.Spiritualdismissalisreportedoftenenoughtobeconsideredtypical,sotheformalspiritual
qualityofbeingoffendedbymundaneinquiriesshouldbenotedwhenattemptingtoaccessspiritintelligence.By
allaccounts,forgingreliablerelationshipswithspecificspiritentitiestakestimeandrequiresafairamountof
dedicationtolearningtheirhabitsandways.Theinformationinthespiritmatrixshouldnotbeconsidereda
databaseyousimplyplugintoandaccessliketheinternet,butmorelikeanetworkofindividualswhosetrustyou
mustgainandkeepoveralifetimeinordertosharetheirwisdom.Traditionalshamenreportthatoneoftheworst
thingsthatcanhappenisforthespiritstostopappearingbecausetheshamanhaslosthispoweroroffendedthem
insomeway.Stayingongoodworkingtermswiththespiritsisacorethemeofshamanismandretaining
shamanicpower.
Gnosis,theAllOne,andNonlinearCommunion
Subjectiveaccountsofpsychedelictranscendenceoftenincludereportsofacosmicconnectiontoasingleunified
force,aforcewhichsometimesspeakstoorthroughthesubject.Thisforcedoesnotappearphysicallyor
anthropomorphically,butinsteadappearstobeimbuedinthefabricofallthings.Typicallythesubjectis
meditating,islyingstill,isengagedinbreathingexercises,orhasasimilarlydetachedfocuswhenthevoice
beginstospeak.Whenthisforcespeaksitisthroughalayerednatteringandmurmuringarisingfromseemingly
randomandunrelatedbackgroundnoises.Inadestabilizedstate,theserandombackgroundnoisessynchronize
intoacoherentpatternoflinear,directedcommunicationfromonefundamentalsource.Whenthefundamental
sourceenergysensesthesubjectsheightenedawareness,itbeginstocoalesceandspeakthroughhisorhermind.
Thisvoicetypicallyintroducesitselfinthesubjectslanguagewiththeslowlyrepeatingphrase,IamtheAll
One,allthatis,was,andwilleverbe. 2
TheAllOneissubjectivelyperceivedasthemind,consciousness,will,andintentofthephysicaluniverse.There
isoftenasenseofreverence,love,acceptance,andunityinfusedwiththecontact.Formalaccountsof
communionwiththeAllOnedatebacktotheoriginsofHermeticismandGnosticism,anddepictapantheistic,
teleologicalviewoftheuniverseasthesacredphysicalbodyofaneverevolvingomniscientGod.Formal
accountsoftheAllOneclearlydepictthescaleoftimelessomnipresentomnisciencewewouldcometoexpect
fromGod.IfwearetotaketheformaldescriptionoftheAllOneliterally,itcanbeimpliedthatthevoiceofGod
isalwayspresent,constantlyrepeatingandspeakingthroughthesoundsandrhythmsofthenaturalworld.There
isonlyonerequirementforcommuningwiththeAllOnethevoiceisonlyaccessibletopeoplewhohave

destabilizedlinearperceptionandcanparseenvironmentaldatainnovel,nonlinearways.
Inaccountsofmysticismandmadness,Godonlyspeakstopeopleinstatesofheighteneddestabilization:
deprivation,psychosis,schizophrenia,stress,fever,dream,trance,andhallucination.Becauseofthisitiseasyto
assumethathearingthevoiceofGodisasymptomofinsanity.AccordingtoPIT,whenthebraindestabilizesdue
tohallucinogenicinterrupt,itwillnaturallyseekcoherencewiththestrongestlocalperiodicdriver.Insomecases
thestrongestlocaldrivermaybetheshaman,itmaybethejungle,itmaybetherefrigerator,itmaybethecity,it
maybethecroakingoffrogsandcrickets,itmaybeajaguarstalkinginthedistance,itmaybeGaia,oritmaybe
God.Anotherwaytolookatitisthis:GodisatimelessnonlinearbeinginordertohearGodsvoicewemustbe
abletoachievethestillnessandsilencenecessarytoperceiveandparselongitudinalnonlinearinput.Without
debatingthemetaphysicalexistenceofGod,theformaltechniquesforsubjectivelycommuningwiththeAllOne
arereliableandrepeatable,andcanbereadilyachievedthroughtemporary,reversibledestabilizationoflinear
perceptionviapsychedelicdrugs.
InformationCapacityofSpiritualCommunion
Acommonlyrepeatedthemeinspiritualshamanismisthatspiritsarefickleandtheirinformationshouldnot
alwaysbetrusted.Thisisperhapsametaphorforallpsychedelicinformation,orinformationrevealedinastate
ofnonlineardestabilization.Commonsensewoulddictatethatifspiritinformationisunreliableitshouldbe
uniformlydiscountedasdelusionorinsanity,butsubjectivereportsandclinicalstudiesshowthatpeoplefind
greatvalueandutilityintheinformationgeneratedinpsychedelicexperience.Commonsensealsodictatesthat
theinformationcapacityofspiritinformationcannotexceedtheexistingknowledgeofthesubject,butsubjective
reportsclaimthatpsychedelicvisionsrevealnewwisdomallthetime.Theoverallinformationvalueof
psychedelicshamanismisthusdebatable.
Sincenostudiesexisttovalidatetheauthenticityofpsychedelicspiritinformation,itisimpossibletoestimatethe
actualinformationvalue.Fromastatisticalanalysiswecanassumethatnonlinearpsychedelicinformation
emergesintoconsciousnessatspeedsfargreaterthanlinearinformation,generatingalargepoolofabstractideas
inaveryshortperiodoftime.Manyoftheideasgeneratedinapsychedelicsessionmaybedelusionalor
fantastical,butbecauseofthesheervolumeasmallpercentageofthemarealsodestinedtobeinsightfuland
genius.Withintheflowofpsychedelicinformationitisuptothesubjecttodecidewhichbitsareusefuland
whichbitsarenot,andthetrickofthisdisambiguationcomeswhenattemptingtotranslatenonlinearinsightto
linearconcepts,beliefs,andbehaviors.Ifnonlinearinsightscompresseasilytolinearconcepts,thenspirit
informationmaybeofhighvalueifnonlinearinsightsareconfusingordefyrationality,thenperhapsthespirits
areuptotheiroldtricksagain.Eitherway,spiritinformationshouldalwaysbecarefullyparsedandanalyzedfor
trickeryanddeceptionbeforebeingacteduponorintegratedintobelief.
NotesandReferences
1.AkersB,TheSacredMushroomsofMexico:AssortedTexts.UniversityPressofAmerica,October10,
2006.
2.Accountsofcommuningwithasingularuniversalforceundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicsaretakenfrom
subjectivereports.Directquotesareparaphrased.

Chapter22:InformationGenesisandComplexity
TheemergenceofnewinformationovertimewastheobsessionofpsychedelicphilosopherTerenceMcKenna,
andhepopularizedthetermNoveltyTheorytodescribethephenomenonofincreasinginformationcomplexityin
theuniversethroughtime.Inordertographtheemergenceofnoveltythroughtime,McKennacreatedanoccult
formulabasedonthehexagramsoftheIChing,andchartedajaggedlinethatstartsatzeroandtopsoutat
infinitywhathecalledTimewaveZero.McKennasobservationthatnoveltyappearedtobespeedingupledhim
tobelievethattimewasapproachingasingularitywhereallinformationtopsoutatinfinity,settooccuron
December12,2012.1TheinfinitecomplexityMcKennadescribesisactuallytheoppositeofasingularity(which
iszerocomplexity),butMcKennasobservationsaboutnoveltyspeedingupwereessentiallycorrect.Although
manypeoplehaveadoptedMcKennas2012singularitymeme,theoccultconstructionofhisTimewaveandother

aspectsofhis2012prophecyhaveleftmanyunconvinced.
PsychedelicInformationTheoryapproachesnoveltyandinformationgenesisfromadifferentperspectivethan
McKenna.McKennaviewednoveltyasatrendlinethatbeginswiththestartoftheuniverseandspeedsforward
fromzerountilinfinity,whichisaccuratebutisalsomisleadingatthesametime.McKennaalsodoesnot
differentiatebetweentypesofinformationandthecontextsinwhichnewinformationemergesthisisalsoa
problem.Byblendingallinformationtogetherintoasingletrendline,itwouldappearthatnoveltyisspeedingup
andwillsoontopoutatinfinity,butthistrendlineflattensoutifyouconsiderthatinformationexistsinvarious
states,andthateachstategeneratesinformationatamoreorlessconstantratedependingonstateenergydensity.
ToillustratethefundamentalsofenergydensityandinformationcomplexityIhavecreatedatablethatdelineates
theemergenceofquantumlevelsofinformationsystemsovertime,andthetypeofinformationeachsystem
generates(Table2).

Table2.Emergenceofinformationsystemsovertime:Informationemergesintotheuniversewithinformal
stages,eachstagemarkingaquantumleapinenergydensityandthespeedandcomplexityatwhichnew
informationisproduced.
Sinceinformationiscreatedbystatechangeovertime,Ihaveusedthesymbol(delta,asindeltaone,delta
two,etc.)todenotestagesofinformationcreation.Eachstageinthematrixrepresentsaquantumleapinthe
orderofenergydensityandcomplexityofinformationbeinggenerated,andnoveltycreationintheuniverse
accelerateswitheachofthesequantumleaps.Eachstagereliesontheinformationcreatedinthepreviousstate
tomoveforwardwithincreasingphysicaldensityandcomplexity.ThismodeltakesintoaccounttheBigBang
theoryandthebestguessesofmodernastrophysicsandcosmologyastowheneachnewinformationlevel
emerged,butthestoryofinformationgenesisintheuniversegoessomethinglikethis.
Startingat0wehavethepreBigBangsingularitywhereallinformationiscondensedintoasingleinfinitely
smallpoint.Thereisnostatechangeovertime,sothereisnoinformation.Aroundfifteenbillionyearsagothere
wasa1statechangewecalltheBigBang,inwhichtheuniformsingularitybreaksintothefundamentalforces
ofphysics:strongnuclearforce,electromagnetism,andgravity.AtthisstageGodsaysLettherebelight,and
wehavetheemergenceofcosmicradiationandnuclearfusionwhichallowssubatomicparticlestoform,leading

toa2statechangewheresimplehydrogenandheliumatomscanstabilizethefirstmattercreatedfrom
condensedparticlesofenergy.Thegravitydragonthisnewmassalloweda3statechangewhereglobular
cloudsofgassesclumpandthencollapsedinward,creatingspinninggalaxiesofexplodingstarsfueledbynuclear
fusion.Whenstarsbegintoexhausttheirenergyandcollapseinward,thereisa4statechangethatallowsfor
thecreationofallthedenserelementsontheperiodictablethatcanstoremorecosmicenergywithinasingle
point,oranatomicnucleus,whichiscomprisedofparticlesofcompressedenergy.
The4staterepresentsthegalacticpreconditionsnecessaryforlifeasweknowitthefirmamentandin
ordertocreatethedenseelementsneededforlifeyouneedthefundamentalforcesofphysics(1),anenergy
radiationsource(2),theformationofsimplegasses(3),andbillionsofyearsofnuclearfusion(4).Ateach
stageyouhaveamodestincreaseinthecomplexityofphysicalinteractionswhichallowsfornewinformation
genesis,butatthe4stagefollowingstarcollapsesandsupernovae,wefinallyhavetherawmaterialsfor
terrestrialformation:heavymetals.Aglobofheavymetalorbitedourlocalstar(thesun)andcooledtoforma
solidplanet.Asourplanetcooled,liquidwaterformedonthesurfaceandoxidizedthemetalontheoutercrust,
creatingthenutrientrichsaltwaterconditionsfora5stagechangeintheformationofcomplexmoleculesheld
togetheronstrandsofchargedhydrocarbons.Thismarksthebeginningoflife.
The0to4informationstatesarepreorganicandarethereforeonlyinterestingtophysicists,astrophysicists,
andmathematicians,butthe5informationmatrixisthematrixthatchemistsandmicrobiologistsstudyitisthe
studyoftheconditionsinwhichenergyisstoredandtransferredthroughmolecularbonds.Whenshamenand
mysticstapintotheweboflifeandtheprimalforcethatconnectsalllivingthings,theyaretappingintothe5
informationmatrix,whichissometimesdescribedasaninvisibleelectromagneticfieldwhichpermeatesall
creation,ortheinvisiblelandscape.Thevisualrepresentationofthislivingenergyfieldismostacuteunderthe
influenceoftryptaminehallucinogenssuchaspsilocybinandayahuasca(DMT),andthesourceofthisfieldis
oftenperceivedtobedivineinorigin,leadingtomanyinterestingspeculationsaboutspiritrealms,Akashicfields,
morphogeneticfields,andthelike.Whetherornottryptaminevisionsareaccuraterepresentationsofthe
electromagneticfieldisamatterforsomedebate,buttheoverwhelmingnumberofsubjectiveaccountsmakethe
appearanceofthisfielddifficulttodeny.
The5matrixisthematrixwhichsustainsourlifeitisatworkinourcellularfunctioningandmetabolismright
now.The5matrixallowsforthecreationofnewinformationataratethatfarexceedspreviousinformation
stages,andinformationgenesisatthisstagehappensatthelevelofnucleotides,DNA,RNA,enzymes,proteins,
andtheorganicchemistryofreplication,proliferation,mutation,andDarwinianselection.Lifeexcelsattaking
inertmatterandorganizingitintomorecomplexforms,andinafewbillionyearslifeevolvesfromsinglecelled
organismstocomplexanimals,representinga6statechangethatallowsforthedevelopmentofmotornervous
systemsandrudimentaryorganismconsciousness.The6matrixreliesonthe5organismmatrixforcellular
energyandnutritionalsupport,butitrepresentsastatechangebecausetheinformationstoredinthe6matrixis
neural,connective,andallowsforinternalstorageofexternalstateproperties(ormemory)attheorganismlevel.
Thesameconnectiveneuralnetworkneededtocontrolmusclebehaviorwhilenavigatingtheexternalworldis
adaptedtostorememoriesoftheexternalworldforlateruse,andthisinternalneuralstorageincreasesorganic
informationcomplexityfromsimplecellularorganizationintoconnectiverepresentationalandsymboliclogic.
The6statechangemarksthemostimportantquantumleapintheentireinformationchainbecauseat6
organismsbegintointernalizeexternaldataintopersonalconnectivenetworks.Withthedevelopmentofanimal
consciousness,theuniversebeginstomappropertiesofthephysicalworld(objectiveinformation)intoconnective
logicstoredinbrains(subjectivememory).Informationinthe6stateflowsintuitivelythroughanimalsinthe
alphastate,thetribemind,thehivemind,andthefluidpack.The6informationmatrixissemiconscious,
instinctual,androutineitiswherenonverbalintuition,habitualbehavior,andpsychicbondingoccur.
Afterhundredsofmillionsofyearsofanimallifethereisanotherstatechangebroughtaboutbyevolutionand
morphology,theearlyprimateadaptationofthefinefingerdexterityneededtousetools.Theabilityforan
organismtoincorporateanexternaltool(likearockorastick)andaspecializedskill(likethrowingorpounding)
intodailybehaviorheraldedtheageoftechnology,andwiththe7statechangecameacorrespondingshiftinthe
speedandcomplexityoftechnologicalinformationwhichgrowseverfasterandmorecomplextothisday.From
stickstofiretowheelsandalphabetsandmachinesandcomputers,hominidshaveexcelledatincorporating
informationintotheirbrains,rearrangingit,andusingittoexternalizenewinformationandtechnologies.The

storyof7informationgenesisisthestoryofhumancultureitself,theorganizedspreadandcontrolof
informationthroughhominidtribalgroupsleadingtopower,civilization,empire,andindustry.
The7informationmatrixrepresentsanotherquantumleapininformationgenesis,storage,andtransmission.The
logicnetworkscreatedbyinternalizingrealityintheneural6matrixareusedtocreatenewinformationwhich
isexternalizedintheformoftechnology,language,art,media,andinvention.The7informationstateisthe
realmoflanguage,logic,criticalthinking,science,andrationalanalysis.Modernculturecherishesthe7
informationspaceaboveallothers,thisisthespacewherethetoolsofmythology,religion,politics,and
mathematicsemerge.The7informationspaceoccupiesanegodriven,distracted,betastateofcriticalself
awareness.Likechargedparticlesseekingtofindelectromagneticbalance,thehumaninthe7statewillseekto
correctorimproveperceivedproblemswithexternalrealityviasubjectivelycontrolledingenuity.Totalmastery
overthesubjectivemanipulationofmatterandenergyistheultimategoalofthe7informationstate,thestate
humanshavealmostperfected.Nowthatwehavetheinternet,supercolliders,nanotech,andatomicbombs,allof
thesetechnologiesseemtoheraldanotherquantuminformationstatechangeinthenearfuture.
TheSingularityandPostTechnologicalMatrices
The8informationstatecanbecalledtheposttechnologystate,andmuchlikeMcKennasTimewaveZero,the
technological7informationmatrixmusteventuallytopoutwiththeendofscienceandthecompleteintegration
ofallphysicalforcesintohumantechnology.Thisseemslikeitishappeningquickly,butgoingbytrendsin
previousstatechangesthesingularityisntlikelytohappenforanotherfewhundredthousandtoamillionyears
fromnow.Thoughitiscurrentlyimpossibletoimaginewhata8informationspacemightbelike,subjective
controlovertheveryfabricofspaceandtimemaybecomepossible,allowingsomethinglikepersonalaccessto
spacetravel,timetravel,alternatetimestreams,and/oraninfinitenumberofparalleldimensions.Fromthe
perspectiveofa7informationstate,a8statechangewouldlooklikesubjectivehumaninformationtoppingout
atinfinity8consciousnesswillhaveinstantaccesstoeverythingthereistoknowabouthumans,technology,the
universe,andwhateverliesbeyond.Ibelievethis8statetransitioniswhatMcKennaperceivedinhisnovelty
waveastheendofinformation.
Ifwearetofollowthepermutationsofinformationcomplexitytodate,itislogicaltoassumethatthetechnology
createdinthe7matrixwilldirectlycontributetothefundamentalstatevariablesneededfora8statechange.
Thiscanbeinterpretedtomeanthatmachinecodeisthenextlevelofinformationenergydensityandcomputers
willdrivecomplexityandinformationgenesisintothe8state.Perhapsthistransitionisalreadyunderway,andis
approachingaquantumleapintechnologywherecomputersbegingeneratinginformationandcomplexityfortheir
ownpurposes.Onlytimewilltellifthisisthecase,butinafewhundredthousandyearsitisconceivablethat
machineintelligencewillbeubiquitousthroughoutthegalaxy,andtheendpointofourtechnologywillbecome
theinitialconditionsneededfortheevolutionofamoredurableandcomplexmatrix.
ShamanismandInformationMatrices
Whenashamanentersthetrancestateandsearchesfornewinformation,therearespecificlevelsofknowledge
whicharemorehelpfulthanothers.Forinstance,whenenteringgroupmindwiththetribe,theshamanwillwant
toaccessapretechnology6informationmatrixwhereprimalanimalconsciousness,nonverbalcommunication,
andpackbondinginstinctsarestrongest.Iftheshamanwantstocommunewithplantintelligencehewillenter
intoa5matrixofcellularmetabolismandgeneticexpressionthisisalsowheretheshamanwilldiagnose
diseaseandattempthealingbyvisualizinganddivertingtheflowofmetabolicenergythroughthepatientscells
withbodyworkandsound.Someshamanmayalsocommunewiththemorecosmiclevelsofawareness,but
shamanismisessentiallya7technologyusedby6organismstoaccessinformationavailablein05matrices
informationwhichisalwayspresentbutisnormallyinvisibleorbeyondthelimitsofhumanperception.
NotesandReferences
1.McKennaT,TheInvisibleLandscape.Harper,SanFrancisco,1993.

Appendix01:ConclusionsandDiscussion
Conclusions

TheprimarytenetsofPsychedelicInformationTheorydictatethathallucinogensgenerateinformationby
destabilizinglinearperceptiontopromotenonlinearstatesofconsciousnessthatthesestatesamplifyinitial
conditionsprovidedbysetandsettingthatthesestatesincreaseinnonlinearcomplexityinresponsetodoseof
hallucinogen,durationofeffect,andstrengthofsensorystimulationandthatthedepthorcomplexityof
psychedelichallucinationcanbecontrolledthroughpitchtimed,rhythmic,orperiodicsensoryfeedback
stimulation.
ThetenetsoftheControlInterruptModeldictatethattopdownfeedbackcontrolofmultisensoryperceptionmust
bedestabilizedbeforeconsciousnesscanbifurcate,becomenonlinear,andgeneratehallucinationthatthe
destabilizinginterruptofanyhallucinogencanbefeltsubjectivelyasaperiodicpulsationorinterferencepattern
intherangeofhumansensorytemporalaliasingthatsensorycomplexityoranimatedprogressionofhallucination
iteratesalongthefrequencyoftheperiodicinterruptthateachhallucinogenhasadistinctsensoryinterrupt
frequencyandADSRenvelopebasedonitsaffinityandselectiveagonisminsensorybindingpathwaysandthat
theuniqueinterruptandADSRenvelopecreatedbyeachmoleculeisresponsibleforitsuniquehallucinogenic
patternsandmultisensorysignatures.
ThetenetsofShamanismintheAgeofReason,orPhysicalShamanism,dictatethatashamancanintuitively
sensetheinterruptfrequencyandADSRenvelopeofanyhallucinogensimplybyingestingasmallamountofthe
substanceandpayingcloseattentiontotheinterferencepatternscreatedinperceptionthatshamanicicarosor
standingvocalizationsuseharmonicinterferencetodriveordampentheamplitudeofhallucinogenicinterrupt
thatdrivingtheamplitudeofhallucinogenicinterruptincreasesdepthofiterationandcomplexityinnonlinear
informationorganizationthatshamanicdietingandpurgingisaprecursortodestabilizingmetabolichomeostasis
necessaryforholisticnonlinearremodulationthatbodilytranscendencereliesonfullnonlinearamplification
alongallcellularsignalingpathways,fromtheguttothecortexandthatfullnonlinearbreakthroughs,or
psychedelicpeakexperiences,areonlyachievedoncetopdownhomeostasisisfullyinterruptedandthesubject
releasesallinhibitoryfeedbackcontrolovertheresultingemergentprocess.
ThebasicconclusionstakenfromthetenetsofPsychedelicInformationTheory,theControlInterruptModel,and
PhysicalShamanismareasfollows.
1. Psychedelicsgenerateinformationinthehumanorganismvianonlinearfeedbackamplificationofboth
intercellular(neural)andintracellular(cytoplasmic)signalingmechanisms.
2. Thenonlinearamplificationofsensationexploitsexcitatoryfeedbackmechanismsusedtocreatelasting
emotionalattachmentstosalientsensorypatternsinthewakeofstrongincomingstimulus.
3. Psychedelichallucinationandexpandedstatesofconsciousnessrepresentnonlinearamplificationofinitial
conditionsofbiology,perception,memory,behavior,andlocation,otherwiseknownassetandsetting.
4. Nonlinearamplificationofsensationpromotesneuroplasticityandcellularregenerationviahormonaland
stressbasedmechanismsrelatedtocellproliferationandlongtermmemoryconsolidation.
5. Periodsofchaotictransitionbetweenmultistablestatesofconsciousnessaresubjectivelyperceivedas
disorienting,confusing,anduncomfortable.Periodswherechaotictransitionsapproachstrangeattractors
andphaselockintomultistabilityaresubjectivelyperceivedasecstatic,beautiful,spiritual,insightful,
cleansing,healing,andtranscendent.
6. Extendedperiodsofiteratingcomplexityincellularnetworksleadstostatesofconsciousnessperceivedas
enlightening,mystical,infinite,godlike,timeless,Gnostic,andomniscient.
7. Resistancetononlineardestabilizationundertheinfluenceofpsychedelicsresultsinanxietyspirals,panic,
andpotentiallyparanoidandpsychoticstates.
8. Thereisanoptimaldoserangeforanyhallucinogenwherestatesofnonlinearorganizationandstrange
attractorsspontaneouslyemerge.Movingbeyondtheoptimaldoserangeresultsinhighlyunpredictable,
uncontrollable,andproblematicstatesofconsciousnessresemblingpsychosisandschizophrenia.
9. Statesofnonlinearorganizationinneuralnetworkscanbestabilizedthroughenergeticperiodicdrivers,
suchasmusic,singing,chanting,anddancingmakingpsychedelicconsciousnessmultistablealonga
rangeofcomplexoutput.

10. Throughentrainmentandmutualfeedback,nonlinearstatesofcellularsignalingcantranscendindividuals
topromotepackmind,groupmind,peerbonding,matebonding,andspontaneousnonverbalorganizationof
tribalorfamilialstructures.
11. Shamanichealing,entheogenictranscendence,andpsychedeliccreativityallutilizenonlinearamplification
togeneratenoveltyintheformofspontaneousenergeticorganizationincellularsignalingsystems.
12. Becausepsychedelicsproduceuniquelynonlinearstatesofconsciousness,anyartwhichevokes
recurrence,chaos,andnonlinearformswillbeimmediatelyrecognizableaspsychedelic.
13. Nonlinearformsareperceivedtobeinherentlybeautifulandspiritualbecausetheyareisomorphicof
orderedcomplexityinthegenerativeprocessesofbiologyandnaturethuspsychedelichallucinationis
perceivedasinherentlybeautifulandspiritual.
Discussion
ThefundamentalsofPITwereassembledthroughformalanalysisofhallucinogenicstates,shamanicritual,and
subjectivereportsofexpandedconsciousness.PITisageneraltheory,whichmeansitseekstomodelan
approximationofpsychedelicinformationcomplexityemergingintohumanconsciousnessandculturalmemory.
PITappliesexistingphysicalmodelsandmathematicalconceptslikewavemechanics,coupledoscillators,and
deterministicchaostotheprocessesofperceptionandconsciousness.SomecomponentsofPITsgeneraltheory
canbeeasilymodeledwithmathematicalormechanicalcounterpartsothercomponentsareassumedor
presumedfromobservationandpublishedresearchandothercomponentsarepurespeculationorareleft
purposelyvagueduetolackofpropercorroboratingresearch.Someoftheseassumptions,speculations,and
missingpiecesarediscussedhere.
Firstandforemost,PITassumesthatthehumanbrainactsasaresonantoscillator,andthatconsciousnessisthe
resultoftimesynchronizedinterferencepatternsofrecurrentneuralspiketrainscascadingthroughtheneocortex.
Thisisnotaradicalmodel,itisbasedonthefundamentalsofneuraloscillators,periodicdrivers,wave
entrainment,resonance,andcoherence.Entrainmentisthecapacityforoneoscillatortosynchronizethe
frequencyofagroupofoscillatorsresonanceisthecapacityforoneoscillatortodrivetheamplitudeofanother
oscillatorcoherenceiswhentwooscillatorsphaselockintostableresonantorharmonicinterferencepatternsto
conserveoramplifyenergy.Classicalwavemechanicsandthebehaviorsoffeedbackcoupledharmonic
oscillatorsarethestartingpointforalmosteverynewconceptintroducedinPIT.
TheControlInterruptModelandPhysicalShamanismbothinvokeresonantwaveinterferenceasameansof
producingcoherentpatternsofnonlinearorganizationinoscillatingsystems.Usingsoundorvibrationtoproduce
spontaneousorganizationofmatterisalsoknownascymatics,whichcanbedemonstratedwithsandona
vibratingsteelplate.Asthesteelplatevibratesatvariousresonantfrequencies,thesandwillspontaneouslymove
fromchaotictoorganizedpatterns,alsoknownasChladnipatternsornodalpatterns(Fig.31).Cymaticsisan
exampleofoscillatingsystemsfindingstabilityatnormalmodes.Modalvibrationcanbecharacterizedbyperiod
doublingorhalvingasystemsfundamentalfrequencytocreateharmonicinterferenceatoneofmanypossible
resonantfrequencies.Thisisamathematicalconceptthatappliestomusic,coupledoscillators,modaltheory,
quantumtheory,standingwaves,andsoon.
Analyzingthebrain,perception,andconsciousnessasasinglestandingwaveorresonantoscillatorisavery
crudesimplificationofmuchmorecomplexsensoryprocess,butthegeneralmodelsoffeedbackcontrol,
destabilization,andchaosapplyuniversallyinalloscillatingsystems.Framingthediscussionofpsychedelicsand
shamanismintermsofthenonlineardynamicsofresonantoscillatorsmaynotshinelightontheentire
psychedelicexperience,butitprovidesacomprehensiveandsuccinctformalapproximationofperceptual
complexitygeneratedinexpandedstatesofconsciousness,whichistheultimategoalofPIT.
Byinvokingstabilityandchaosinperceptualnetworks,PITalsoassumestherearespecificorganizedchaotic
statesofpsychedelicconsciousnessthatactasstrangeattractorstopullperceptiontowardsmultistable
convergencepoints.PITalsoimpliesthatresonantperiodicdrivers,suchasshamanicsingingordrumming,can
entrain,stabilize,andamplifyconvergentmultistablepsychedelicstates,orequilibriumstates,toinducehealing,
transcendence,andgroupmind.However,PIToffersnospecificdescriptionsofpreciseshamanicfrequenciesor
equilibriumstatesaspracticalevidenceofthistheory.Becausethepublishedresearchinthefieldofpsychedelic

brainscanningislimited,theassertionsofshamanicentrainmentandmultistatephaselockingarespeculative
andbasedsolelyonsubjectivereportsandobservationofthedynamicsofshamanicritual.PITprovidesnoformal
definitionforwhatamultistablepsychedelicstatelookslikeonascanningdevicecomparedtoanormalstateof
consciousness,nordoesitsaywhereorhowoneshouldscanforthebeststatisticalindicatorsofsuchstates.This
isanissuethatcanonlyberesolvedthroughstatisticalanalysisofmanycontrolledpsychedelicscanningsessions
inthepresenceoflivemusicorshamanicceremonycomparedagainstsessionsofmeditationortrancedancing.It
maybedecadesbeforesuchresearchbecomesavailable,andevenwhenitisavailablethereisnoguaranteeit
willbeconclusiveenoughtodistinctlytargetspecificmysticalstates.
Becausepsychedelicsarenonspecificamplifiersandcanproducemultipleoutcomesbasedoninitialconditions
ofdose,set,andsetting,theconceptofscanningbrainstoprovideasingleunifieddefinitionofanexpandedstate
ofconsciousnessmaybeinherentlyflawed.Psychedelicscaninducetrance,catatonia,hallucination,psychosis,
paranoia,mania,hysteria,andeuphoriaallinresponsetounobservableconditionsindose,set,andsetting,so
theyaredemonstrablycapableofinducingmanycomplexstatesofalteredconsciousness.Psychedelic
amplificationofperceptionisobservablynonlinearintheformoffractalhallucinations,andthenonlinear
amplificationofperceptionisobservablytiedtosizeofdoseofhallucinogenandstrengthofincomingstimulus.A
modelwherestrongsensorydriverscanentrainmultistablestatesofnonlinearpsychedelicconsciousnessisa
smallextrapolationofthesesimpleobservations.Technically,anysongorchantproducedbyashamanshould
entrainanorganizedpsychedelicstatealongarangeofchaotic,stable,andmultistableoutput.Studyingthe
biofeedbackequilibriumeffectsofspontaneousshamanicvocalization(icaros)inalivegroupsettingmaybethe
beststartingplaceforexaminingtonesandfrequenciesfordrivingattractorstatesforeachhallucinogenateach
doserange.Isolatingwhichsongsarebestforproducingwhichstatesatwhichdoserangemayultimatelybe
moreofanartthanscience,relyinglessonstatisticalresearchandmoreontheshamansintuitivegraspofallthe
slidingstatevariablesuniquetoeachpsychedelicsession.
TheconclusionofPITisthatattractors,ormultistableconvergencepointsinexpandedconsciousness,doexist,
thattheyarephysicalinnature,andthatwhenasubjectlocksintothesestatestheyarenothinglessthanmagical.
Findingthesweetspotsinneuraloscillatorcoherencewhereconsciousnessdivergesandbecomesexponentially
complexmaybeelusive,ormayinvolvedifferentindicatorsforeachindividual.Generalnonlineardynamics
suggeststhatexpandedstatesofconsciousnessmaybeachievedbyentraininglimitcyclesofperceptioninto
perioddoubledbifurcationsofnormaloutput,witheachperioddoublingprecededbysomecriticalsensory
stimulusorspikingactivityrequiredtodrivethephasetransition.Thisdrivingactionalsodescribesthedynamics
ofentrainingstableorselfsustaininglimitcyclesinaforcedVanderPoloscillator,whichisoneofthesimplest
andearliestdemonstrationsofdeterministicchaosinphysicalsystems.Althoughfirstappliedtoelectrical
circuits,theVanderPolequationcanalsobeappliedtosocialandtheoreticalconstructs,likespecies
reproductionorthedynamiceffectsofrepetitivemarketingonbrandgoodwill.Modelockingintoperioddoubled
orreverseperioddoubledstabilityisthegeneralmodelofstatebifurcationindynamicalsystems(Fig.30),though
applyingasimplenonlinearcircuitmodeltoperceptionraisessomeprocessingquestions.Ifperceptioncanjump
limitcyclesandbifurcateintoanalyzingmultiplesimultaneousframesalongtheorderof3to4times,moving
fromaliasing2framesto4,andthento8,andthento16simultaneousframes,wheredoestheextraframe
aliasingpowercomefrom?

Figure30.Perioddoublingbifurcationsinthelogisticsmapxn+1=rxn(1xn).Theformrecedeswithself
similarityasperiodsofchaosarefollowedbyperiodsofconvergenceandstability.FromWikiPedia,Bifurcation
Diagram.
TheFrameStackingModelassumesthatperiodicdoublingofframecomplexitydoesnotnecessarilyrequireafull
lineardoublingofenergyinput,butisinsteadistheresultofiteratedmapping,ornonlinearfeedback
amplificationdrivingnovelreorganization,orphasetransitions,throughstatesofchaoticinterferenceand
harmonicconvergence.Forinstance,avideocamerafallingintoachaoticfeedbackloopdoesnotrequireextra
energyforthetransitiontostackingmultiplerecedingframes,butthefeedbackprocessquicklyoverwhelmsthe
camerasdetailrenderingasrecedingframesover16layersdeepbegintosmoothtogetherinstableinterference
patterns,orstrangeattractors,convergingonarchetypalimagesoffractalcurves,kaleidoscopes,concentric
mandalas,galacticvortexes,infinitetunnels,DNAspirals,ascendingstaircases,andsoon(Fig.24).
Whereandhowthesenonlinearphasetransitionsoccurinhumanconsciousnessisstillamatterforsome
speculation.Thebestevidenceindicatesthatpsychedelicspromotesensorysaturationattheapicaldendrite
columnsoftheneocortex,leadingtodestabilizationinrecurrentthalamocorticalandcorticocorticalbinding
pathways.Framestackingmayalsoberelatedtorecedingframedetailbeingsustainedandloopedthrough
recurrentcircuitsbetweenthePFC,basalforebrain,andmidbrain.Delayingneutralizationorperioddoubling
saturationintensityintheserecurrentmidbraincircuitscouldleadtoframefeedbackorsustainedframeecho
withhighperceivedsalience.Itmayseemlogicalthatpsychedelicactionislocalizedinthebrain,butgiventhe
distributionof5HTreceptorsandtheindiscriminatenatureofligandbinding,itisreasonabletoassumethat
psychedelicamplificationincellularsignalingnetworksisbothglobalandgloballycoherent.Trackingthe
physiologyoftemporalframealiasing,frameneutralization,framerepetition,andhowthesesensorymechanisms
areexploitedbyworkingmemory,learning,dreaming,andpsychedelicsisanarearipeforfurtherexploration.
Finally,theframemodelofperceptionforwardedinPITisonlyanapproximationofactualperception.Whilethe
framemodelallowsustoputadistinctlimitontherateofhumantemporalaliasing(roughly15framesper
second),thereisevidencethathumanscantrackmultiplemovinglayersinanysingleframe.Insteadofupdating
inperfectframeslikeafilmreel,perceptionismorelikeacompressedMPEGvideoorananimationthatupdates
afullkeyframewhenevertheeyesblinkormove,andonlymakesminorlayeringchangesinbetweeneach
keyframe.Forinstance,ifyouarestandinginagrassymeadowwatchingabirdflythroughtheair,yourbrain
doesnotneedtoupdatetheentireframeofthemeadowtotrackthebird,itonlyneedstoupdatethelayerwiththe
motionofthebird.Inthiswaythebrainconservesenergyandsavesstateinformationforthoseareasthatdonot
needconstantupdating,andonlyupdatestheentiremultisensoryframeeveryfewsecondsorso,suchaswhen
youblinkorshiftyourfocus.Thismotionsensitiveupdatingofnonessentialbackgroundnoiseismostevidentin
Troxlersfadingillusion(Fig.5).
TrackingmultiplelayersforeachframeaddsanotherlevelofcomplexitytothesimplifiedFrameStackingModel,

andmaysuggesthowpsychedelicperceptioncanbecomekaleidoscopicasradialsectionsinthevisualfield
mirrorthemselves,stack,drift,andmergetogether.Becausetheupdateandreleaseofperceptuallayersinboth
multilayeredorradialframefillingmethodsstillfallsundertheclassificationoftemporalaliasingandfilling,the
generalmodelsofPITwouldstillapplyregardlessofthemorphologicalorgeometricnatureoftheperceptual
bifurcation.TheControlInterruptandFrameStackingmodelsareprovidedasverygeneralmetalevel
descriptionsofhowpsychedelicsmaysubverttemporalaliasingandfillingtoproducenonlinearfeedbackand
selfsustaininghallucination.WhilePIThasbeenfocusedprimarilyonvisualsensorynetworks,thesemodelscan
beappliedtothelayeringandsplinteringofanysubjectivesensationofselforreality.Thespecific
pharmacologicalandneuralmodelsunderlyingthesegeneralconceptsaremorecomplexthancanbedetailedin
thistext,butaresufficientlywellunderstoodtomakegoodapproximationssupportingPITsclaims.SincePIT
wasdesignedtobegeneraltheory,evenasourunderstandingofperceptionandpharmacologychanges,the
generalassumptionsforwardedhereshouldstillapplytoallknowntypesofhallucinogenicexperience.

Figure31.Chladnifiguresforasquaresteelplate(top)andacircularplate(bottom)demonstratethevarietyof
standingwavepatternsgeneratedinsimpleresonatingsystems.Examiningthephysicalpropertiesofstanding
wavesinresonantsystemsisalsocalledcymatics.Archetypalformsgeneratedinbothrectangularandcircular
platesareisomorphicofflickerphosphenesseenatvariousfrequenciesoflightpulsestimulation,andhavebeen
reproducedintextilepatterns,ceramics,andsacredmandalassinceroughly10,000BCE.FromLehar,2010.

Appendix02:InformalDiscussionofTopics
ThefollowingisaninterviewstylediscussionoftopicspresentedinPsychedelicInformationTheorywiththe
author,providedasasummaryandgeneraloverviewoftheoryforthenonscientificlayperson.
WhatisPsychedelicInformationTheory?
ThegeneraltheoryunderlyingallofPITisthatpsychedelicscreateinformationwhenintroducedtohumanneural
networks.Thespontaneouscreationofnewinformationistheessentialfunctionofpsychedelicactivation,and
thisnewinformationisimprintedintomemoryandreproducedasmusic,art,orstoriessharedwithotherpeople.
Morespecifically,PITpresentsphysicalmodelswhichdescribethisgenerativeprocess,andthedynamicsof
variouspsychedelicphenomenalikecomplexhallucination,shamanism,andgroupmind.
HowdoesPITdescribepsychedelicaction?
OnewaytovisualizewhatImdescribinginPITisthroughwhatIcallthePondandthePumpHouse
metaphor.Imagineaperfectlyroundpondwithperfectlystillwater,withasmallpumphousesittingonanisland
inthecenter.Whenthepumphouseisturnedonitsendsoutperfectlycircularripplesthroughthewaterthat,over
time,createaneatlyorderedstandingwaveofactivity.Inthismetaphorthepondisthesurfaceoftheneocortex
thepumphouseisthebody,heartbeat,andrespirationandtheripplesarewavesofsensoryperceptionseeninan
EEGreadingofcorticalactivity.Whenthepumpisonandmovingatdifferentspeeds,theripplesonthesurface
ofthepondareactiveandtakeondifferentcoherentpatternswhenthepumpisturnedofftheripplesfadeand
thepondbecomesstillandquiet.Thesearemetaphorsforconsciousnessmovingfromwakingtosleepingstates.
Nowimagineweaddapsychedelictothismodel.PITproposesthatpsychedelicsalterthewavepatternsof
consciousnessbycreatingatinytremorunderthepondthatvibratestheentirestructure.Addingthepsychedelic
tothesystemcreatesacompetingstandingwavethatcanbeseenimmediatelyintheripplesonthesurface.The
pumpkeepspumping,creatingitsusualstandingwaves,butbecauseofthetremorthereisanewlayerof
complexitytotheripplepatterns.Thetremoraddsenergytothesystem,andasitdoesthestandingwavesinthe
pondbecomemorechaotic.Insteadofsimplecoherentripplepatterns,youbegintoseeoverlappingpatternsand
fasttransitionsbetweenmultiplestandingwavestates.Thecomplexinterferencepatternsoverlaponthemselves
andexhibittheformalqualitiesofnonlinearfeedbacksystem,suchasfractalsorcellularautomata.
TheinterferencepatternintheripplesoftheponddescribedhereishowPITmodelsacompetingtryptamine
agonist(ahallucinogen)inthefinelytimedaminergicsystemofperception,modulatedbyserotoninand
dopamine.ThiscomplexinterferencepatterniswhatIamdescribingwiththeControlInterruptModelof
psychedelicaction.AccordingtoPIT,eachhallucinogencreatesaslightlydifferenttremororvibrationinthe
signalingpathwaysofmultisensoryawareness,whichinturncreatesauniqueanddistinctinterferencepatternin
thestandingwavesofperception.Somehallucinogenictremorsmaybebigandrolling,othersmaybequietand
subtle,othersmaybesharpanddisruptive.Thedifferenceintremorspeedandfeelcreatedbyeachpsychedelic
moleculewouldbeaccountedforbythedifferingreceptoraffinitiesandmetabolicpathwaysforeach
hallucinogen.
Howdopsychedelicinterferencepatternsrelatetothetechniquesofshamanismandpsychedelictherapy?
Letsgobacktoourpondmetaphor.Assumetherearesanddunescreatedattheedgesofthepondthat
correspondtothelongtermmemoryofthestandingwavepatternscreatedbythepumphouse.Ifyoucheckthese
dunesaftereachpsychedelictremoryoumightfindnewtinyfractals,spirals,curves,cracks,andfiligreed
patternsetchedintothesand.Thesesandetchingscorrespondtothememoryofthepsychedelicexperiencenow
embeddedinthepatternsoftheneuralnetwork,andthesememorypatternstheninformbehavior,changebeliefs,
andarepresentedoverandoveragaininart,music,andphilosophy.Thatisametaphorfortransformative
psychedelictherapy.
Nowletsassumethereisatribeofpeoplelivingattheshoresofthispond,andthispsychedelictremorhitsonce
aweek.Itwouldbeperfectlyreasonabletoassumethatthesepeoplewouldadoptthepsychedelicsandpatterns
asakindoftribalidentity,andembedthosepatternsintotheirclothes,tattoos,facepaints,pottery,andsoon.
Thisisexactlywhattribeswhotakepsychedelicsdotheyembedthecolorfulfractalpatternscreatedonthe

surfaceoftheirbrainsontothesurfacesoftheirbodies,theirartwork,theirwalls,andtheirworld.Thephysical
spillingoverofcomplexpsychedelicpatternsfromasingleunderlyingrippleeffectisthefoundationofPIT.
PsychedelicInformationTheorystudiesthemovementofcomplexinformationfromthegenesisofinitial
hallucinogenicinterferencepatterntotheoutwardorganizingeffectonbelief,personality,behavior,andtribal
structure.
Now,togoonestepfurther,assumethatwheneverthepsychedelictremorstrikes,thetribeofpeoplelivingatthe
shoresallgatherinacircleandbegintosing,orstamptheirfeet,orbeatlargedrumsinunison.Thesongs
producedbythetribewillnaturallyfallintoharmonywiththetremorandbegintoshapetheripplesinthepond
throughharmonicinterference.Overtime,ifthetribesingsloudenough,theywillproduceastandinginterference
pattern,orgrouphallucination,intheripplesofthepond.Thiscanbedescribedasasharedstateof
consciousnesslockedthroughastandingresonantfeedbackwave.Shapinginterferencepatternsinconsciousness
throughsingingorresonantfeedbackdescribesthebasicritualtechniquesofpsychedelicshamanism.Through
resonantfeedbacktheshamanandthetribecanmasterthenonlineardynamicsoftheinterferencepatterntowork
variousformsofmagiconthesurfaceofthepond.
TheControlInterruptModelreduceshallucinogenicactiontoahighspeedsensoryattackanddecay
envelope.Whydidyoudecideonthatmodel?
Whilestudyingtheeffectsofvarioushallucinogens,Iwouldalwaysnoticeacarrierwave,orahighpitched
frequency,orapulsing,orathrobbing,oratingling,orsomekindofstableinterferencethatwasfamiliartothat
substance.Andafterstudyingvarioustripreportsforvarioussubstances,IrealizedIwasnotaloneinrecording
thesesimpleobservations.Thisstableinterferenceisoftenreportedtopermeateallsensationtouch,hearing,
vision,theentirebody.Ibegantomeasurethefrequenciesofthesepulsesandtinglesfordifferenthallucinogens
andrealizedthattheyallfellintoalphaandbetastatesofconsciousness,between4to30pulsespersecond,and
eachdrughadaslightlydifferenttimingandfeeltothewaythepulsescameonandinterruptedconsciousness.
Theslowertheinterruption,themoreofathrobbingorstutteringIfeltthefastertheinterruption,themoreofa
tingling,vibration,orhighpitchedtremorIfelt.
Atsomepointinmyanalysisofdifferentdrugs,Iwouldalwayssay,Thatstableinterruptfrequencyis
interesting,Ishouldtakeacloserlookatthat,or,IsntitweirdthatIalwaysfeelthisthrobbingonthisspecific
drug,whichfeelsverysimilartothepulsingInoticedonthisotherdrug.AndthenasIbegananalyzingthatone
simplepulseinteraction,Iwonderedifpulseinterruptioninframeperceptionwasallthatwasneededtoproduce
hallucination.Mindmachinesproducephospheneswithinasmallrangeoflightpulsefrequencies,sowhatif
hallucinogensdidsomethingsimilarinthesamepulserange?Whatifthosepulseswerethedrugsonlyaction,
andthethrobbingwastheperceptualaggregateofmodulatoryinterferenceatsensorybindingjunctions?During
theprocessofformallydescribingtheactionofthesepulses,itbecameobviousthatthepulsinginterferencewas
acarrierwaveforhallucination,liketheflickeringframerateofananimationreel.Thepulsescreatedan
overlappinghallucinogenicflicker,oranoverlappingmodulatoryripple,inmultisensoryawareness,thatcreates
thechaoticsubstrateforcomplexhallucination.Itwasanextrapolationofpsychedelicpharmacologythatscaled
uptomakesenseingrossperception,whichwastheexactkindofmodelIwaslookingfor.
ThemoreIanalyzedthevariouspropertiesoftheflickerorpulsationforeachdrug,themoreIrealizedthatthis
specificpulsingfunctionwasthethingthatcausedeachdrugtoproduceuniquegeometrichallucinations,like
Chladiformstakingondifferentstandingwavepatternsonsteelplatesresonatingatdifferentfrequencies.Ithen
realizedthateachhallucinogencouldbemodeledwithauniqueinterruptfrequencyandpropertiesofsaturation
attack,decay,sustain,andrelease(ADSR)todescribetheonsetandfeelofdistincthallucinations.AnADSR
envelopeisawavemodelingtechniqueusedinelectronicsynthesizerstoshapethetonesandsoundsofvarious
musicalinstruments,butcanbeusedtomodelthevoiceforanystandingwave.TheADSRenvelopeforeach
hallucinogencorrespondstoreceptoragonismandaffinity,whichnaturallyshapesthetoneandfeelofeach
hallucinogensuniquesensorypatterns.Afterreducinghallucinogenicactiontoafunctionofwaveinterferencein
perception,itwasthenonlynaturaltoextrapolatehallucinationasacascadingeventthatstartswithasmall,
stable,perturbationinperceptualfeedbackthatgrowsinamplitudeovertimetoentrainthefunctionaloutputof
theentiresystem.Thismodeldoesnotrelyonanythingotherthantargetedreceptoragonismtodrivetheresulting
emergentprocess.
Whyisawavemodelofpsychedelicactionbetterthantraditionalshamanicmodels?

Oneofthecoreconceptsofphysicsandscienceisthateveryphysicalinteractioncanbemodeledindiscrete
packetsofenergytransfer,andthesediscretepacketscanbestatisticallyinterpretedaswavesthathaveformal
characteristicsofamplitude,frequency,coherence,decay,andsoon.Thisallowsasystemtobedescribedby
predictivephysicalormathematicalmodels.Onceyoubreakanyphysicalinteractiondowntoaformalwave
model,youveessentiallydescribedthefunctionalityofthesystemandcanmakeaccuratepredictions.
Traditionalshamanicmodelsarenotinterestedinthislevelofreductiveanalysis,butmodernscienceis.PITfills
insomeoftheformalpiecesneededtoplacetechniquesoftraditionalshamanismwithinthedomainsofphysics
andmathematics.
Doesntreductiveanalysistakethemysteryorartistryoutofentheogenictranscendenceandshamanism?
Therehasbeenaschisminshamanicthoughtwherethedrugshavebeenstudiedwithareductive
pharmacologicalparadigm,yetthetechnologyofshamanismisstillstuckinanthropologicalorspiritual
paradigms.WhatIamtryingtosaywithPITisthatthereisnoschismpsychedelicactionandshamanismare
bothfieldsofphysics,theycanbothbedescribedbyphysics.Thisisnotareductivemodel,itisaunifyingmodel
thatknitsthefieldsofpharmacologyandshamanismtogetherthroughclassicalwavemechanicsandharmonic
theory.
Asimilarwaytolookatitmightbethis.Imagineyouwereaguitarmaker,andyouknewpreciselyhowlongthe
neckoftheguitarshouldbe,andhowtighteachstringmustbe,andwhereeachfretmustgo,andwhatshapethe
bodyshouldbe,alltoproducethebestandmostresonantmusicalsound.Thisisanengineeringtaskthatcanbe
describedbymathematicsandharmonicwavetheory.However,pickinguptheinstrumentandusingittoplay
musicthatmovespeopletojoyortearsisaprocesswillalwaysbemysteriousandartistic.Nothinghasbeen
takenawayfromtheartistryofthemusicianbydescribingtheharmonictheoryatthefoundationofthe
instrument.Ifanything,theharmonictheoryallowstheguitarmakertoproduceabetterinstrumentandthe
musiciantoattainbettermastery.
HowdopsiphenomenonliketelepathyandgroupmindtieintoPITsharmonicwavemodel?
Youcanthinkofnonverbalcommunicationbetweenstribesofhumansintermsofgroupcoherence,likethe
swarmingofinsects,schoolingoffish,orflockingofbirds.Formostdailyinteractionswekeepourselves
separatedasindividuals,butforcertainactivitieswedropintoacooperativemodewhereidentityisless
importantthanfluidorharmonicmovementwithinthepack.Inhumansthiscanbeseeninteamsportslikesoccer
orbasketball,inthecoordinatedmovementsofmilitarysquads,ingroupdancing,orintheintuitiverhythmsof
lovemaking.Lockingintoharmoniccoherencewithanotherhumanorgroupofhumansissubjectivelyfeltas
nonverbalcommunicationorpsi,sometimesreachingtheleveloftelepathy,orinstantlyknowingwhattheother
personisthinking.Again,thiskindofprocessshouldnotbeanalyzedwithinthefieldsofparapsychologyor
mysticism.Whenyouretalkingaboutpsiandnonverbalcommunication,youaretalkingaboutsynchronyand
entrainmentbetweenresonantoscillators.Thatisnotmetaphysics,itisharmonictheoryandphysics.
Canyoudescribearesonantoscillator?Howdoesharmonicresonanceapplytothebrain?
Anoscillatorisjustanothertermforawaveorvibration,soanysystemthathasacyclingfrequency,whichis
justabouteverything,isanoscillator.Whentwooscillatorsneareachotherarevibratingnearthesamefrequency
theybegintohaveoverlappingwavepatterns,orinterferencepatterns,thatcanbemodeledintermsof
complimentarysynchrony,harmony,phasedifferentials,andsoon.Iftwooscillatorshavecomplimentary
interferencepatternstheyaresaidtobeharmonic,meaningtheydonotdampeneachotherspoweroramplitude.
Ifthetwooscillatorsinterfereinawaythatdrivesbothoftheiramplitudes,maximizingthepotentialenergyof
thecircuit,thentheyaresaidtobeinresonantcoherence.Whenanoscillatingsystemphaselocksintoresonant
coherencewithanotheroscillator,energyisamplifiedandthephaselockedsystembecomesselfstabilizingand
difficulttodampenorperturbevenwithacompetinginterferencewave.
Harmonicandresonantfeedbackareatthecenterofallselfstabilizingoscillatingsystems,orselfoscillators.
Harmonicwaveinterferenceconservesenergyandisperceivedasbeautifultohumansinboththeartsandthe
sciences.Lossofharmonicfeedbackincoupledoscillatorsdriveschaosandchaoticoutputresonantfeedback
andentrainmentcreatesstableattractorsandconvergenceinchaoticsystems.Thesearethefundamentalsofall
physicalsystemsthatoscillateandtradeenergyovertime.IfyouexamineEEGreadingsitisobviousthatthe
brainisanoscillatorwithdistinctwavepatternsforeachstateofconsciousness,andeachneuronisatiny

oscillatorpassingwavesofinformationthroughanintricatelycouplednetwork.Soapplyingthedynamicsof
resonantoscillatorsandharmonicwaveinterferencetohumanperceptionandexpandedstatesofconsciousnessis
notaradicalorfringeidea,itisanaturalextensionofexistingphysicaltheory.
Soshamanicsingingisaformofresonantfeedbackforstabilizingconsciousnessinchaoticpsychedelic
states?
ThatisthetheoryofPhysicalShamanisminanutshell.Ifyoucanunderstandthatyoucanunderstandalmost
everythingIammodelingwithPIT.Theinteractionstartsatthecellularlevelwithasimplepharmacological
interferencepattern,theneruptsintoachaoticrippleacrossthesurfaceoftheneocortex,whichthenbleedsover
intolongtermmemory,informsbehavioralchanges,andultimatelyaffectsthevaluesofthelargertribeand
culture.Thechaotic,highinformationrippleextendsoutwardovertimeandgoesbeyondtheconfinesofthe
usersmind,expandingintoartandmediaandscienceandreligionandculturaltrends.Idontthinkanyonehas
everattemptedtodeconstructtheentirepsychedelicinformationchainbefore,letaloneattempttofititintosome
kindofphysicaltheory.Itistotallynewterritory.
Clearly,whensomeonediscoversthepsychedelicexperiencetheydonotkeepittothemselves.Thereisan
inherentneedtochangebehaviorsandsharetheexperiencewithothers,andthatsharedexperiencebounces
aroundthecultureandcreatesresonantinterferencepatternswithsharedartworkandreportsfromother
psychedelicexperiences,andtheamountofdetailandspontaneousculturalandtribalorganizationemergingfrom
thisprocessisenormous.Whenyouattempttomodelthepsychedelicprocesswithsomekindoflongitudinal
culturalanalysis,youseewearedealingwithaselfsustainingnonlinearinformationsystemthatisfeedingback
onitselfthroughtimeandproducingadisproportionatelylargeamountofoutputinresponsetoaverysmall
amountofinput,whichisliterallyasinglepinchofwhitepowderpersubject.Somehow,addingthatlittlepinch
ofwhitepowderendsupchangingtheworld.
DoesPITpresentahallucinogenicscale,liketheShulginscale,whichrateshallucinationorexpanded
consciousnessalongsomemetric?
TheFrameStackingModeldescribesdegreesofdepthandcomplexitytohallucination,andproposesthatdepthof
hallucinationisequaltopotencyofsubstancetimesdoseofsubstance,saturatingandfeedingbackonitselfover
durationofeffect(whichisthenonlinearcomponent),modifiedbytherateofmetabolismforthatsubstance.You
couldwritethisdescriptionasamathematicalformula,butwhatitisattemptingtoexplainisthatthereisa
criticaldoserangeforeachdrugwherethedepthofhallucinationbecomesselfsustainingandnaturallydrives
towardsafullyanimatedframerateofabout816stackedframespersecond,likeanattractorpullingyou
towardsapeakingstate.Ifthedoseofpsychedelicistoosmalloryoumetabolizeittooquickly,youonlygeta
slightlyspeedyorjitterysensationcorrespondingtointerferenceinperceptionnopeakingstate.Butonceyou
findtherightdoserangeandachieveselfsustaininghallucination,youlockintothisexpandedstatewhereyou
beginstackingprogressivelyanimatedframesuntilyoutopoutaround16recedingframesdeep.Anythingover16
stackedframesoftemporaldepthconvergestowardsinfinityandoverwhelmshumanperception.
YoucouldbreaktheShulginscaledownbydepthofhallucinogenicframecomplexityifyouwantedto,butthe
modelPITsuggestsisverygeneric,likeascreensaveralgorithmorstackedvideofeedbackloop.TheShulgin
scaledoesnotattempttomodelthiskindofcomplexityinhallucination,norshouldit.PITisattemptingtomodel
amoregranularlevelofsensorydetail.
Yousayexpandedconsciousnesstopsoutat16stackedframes?Why16frames?
Thenumber16seemsabitarbitrary,butitwasthenumberproposedbythepersonwhofirstdescribedtheFrame
StackingModeltome,andthisframedepthwasupheldtosomedegreebymyownexperimentationwith
mechanicalvideofeedbackaswellasavarietyofhallucinogenicsubstances.Theframestackingmodelisan
attempttoquantifythefastrateofprogressiveanimationcreatedbyhallucination,andtoformalizetherateat
whichsensationsaturates,echoes,stacks,regresses,smears,oroverlapsintothesubsequentperceptualframe.
Thisisamorphologicalapproachtostudyingthedynamicsofprogressivehallucination,andyoucanmeasurethe
liquidityorstretchinessofanyhallucinationbasedonthismetricofseamlesssmoothingoraliasingbetween
overlappingstackedframes.Afterabout16framesofdepth,thingstendtotrailoffandblurtogetherintoinfinitely
recedingmist.

Withtheframestackingmodelyoucanstepbackandanalyzeyourownhallucinationandaskisitflickeringand
pulsinglikeastrobelight,orisitoozingslowlywithahighdegreeoffinedetail?Themoremotiontrailsyouare
seeing,themoreechoesyourehearing,themoreliquidandfluidthehallucinationseems,allofthatcorresponds
tothenumberofsimultaneousframesyouarestacking.Afterabout16layersoftemporalframeregression,
perceptionbeginstosaturateandmeltandconvergedownthiswhitespiralortunnelintoinfinity.Experiencing
thisvortexortunnel,likeyourmindbeingsuckedoutofyourbody,isacommonsensationonlargedosesof
psychedelics.Itmaybecalledegodeath,orpeaking,orwhitingout,oraneardeathexperience,butitisvery
muchlikepassingoutandgoingunconsciousandleavingyourbody.Itisnearlyimpossibletohaveanycontrol
overthought,action,memory,orbehaviorpastthisperceptualcapacity.Atthispointmostpeopleliedownandgo
astral.
HowdoyouthinkPITwillbeperceivedinthefuture?
Mostpsychedelictheoryisbuiltaroundculturalnotionsofselfandspirituality,andbecauseofthismosttheories
typicallyhaveashelflifeofafewdecades.Insteadofusingmetaphors,PITwasbuiltaroundphysicalmodels
andthebestunderstandingofthephysiologyofthebrainandperception.ThisgivesPITamuchlongershelflife
thanpreviouspsychedelictheory.AndsincePITavoidsspiritualmetaphoritisalsoapplicableacrossallcultures.
PITisnotthefinalwordinthefieldofpsychedelicshamanism,butitprovidesaneatgeneralframeworkforthe
studyofexpandedconsciousness.Itismyhopethatfuturegenerationsofexplorerswillreadthistextandbe
inspiredtoevaluatepsychedelicphenomenawithamorecriticalscientificeye.
WhatexperimentscanbedonetotestthevariousmodelspresentedinPIT?
PITisalreadyaworkingtheory.Theprocessandoutcomesofshamanismandpsychedelicexperimentationhave
alreadybeenformalizedandtested.FurthertestingcannotdisprovePIT,butitcanhelprefinethelevelofdetail
intheproposedmodels.PITwasinformedbyexistingresearchfromhundredsifnotthousandsofdifferent
sources,includingbothpublishedscientificliterature,traditionalshamanicritual,andundergroundresearchfrom
anonymouspsychedelicexplorers.PITdoesnotseektoundoresearchorsuggestfurtheravenuesforresearch,but
insteadproposesaphysicalmodelthatcantieallexistingresearchtogether.
AllofthemodelsproposedbyPITcomedirectlyfromstudyingsubjectivereportsofpsychedelicexperienceand
shamanicritual,andthenoverlayingthesereportswiththemostcurrentresearchonpsychedelicreceptor
interactionalongvariousperceptualpathways.Allofthemodels,methods,andtechniquesdescribedinPIThave
beentestedinhumansandareaccurate.Shamanismisalreadyincommonpracticewithonlycrudespiritmodels
orpsychologicalmodelstoworkwith.Theonlythinglefttodoisrefineourunderstandingofthebrain,andasour
understandinggrowswecanlookbackattheexistingshamanicmodelandask,Isitstillaccurate?Andifthe
answerisno,thenweneedtorefinethemodelandmakeitmoreaccurate.Thatstheongoinglaborofscience.

Appendix03:AboutPsychedelicInformationTheory
PsychedelicInformationTheory(PIT)beganin2004asanextendedessayentitledTheCaseAgainstDMT
Elves,whichwasaresponsetoawebarticleentitledDMT,Moses,andtheQuestforTranscendenceby
CliffordPickover.TheCaseAgainstDMTElveswasmeanttobeanantithesistothespiritworldmodelsof
DMTpopularizedbyTerenceMcKennaandRickStrassmaninthe1990s,andassuchitreceivedsomesupport
fortakingamoreformalapproachtoexamininghallucination.WhenIrealizedthatthephysiologicalcasefor
complexhallucinationhadneverbeensufficientlycompiled,Icollectedsomenotesandpreviouswritingsand
begantoassemblethePITAlphaversiononthetripzine.comwebsite,whichalsoincludesanarchiveofmaterial
fromTripMagazine,ajournalofpsychedelicculturewhichIpublishedfrom1995through2005.
TheprocessofputtingthePITAlphaversiontogethertookoverayearandincludedthehelpofmanypeople
sendingdonations,proofreading,andprovidingvaluablefeedbackonthetext.PITAlphabeganasanattemptto
reducepsychedelicphenomenologyfromapurelyconnectiveandpharmacologicalperspective.Sometimeinlate
2005,halfwaythroughthetextofPITAlpha,Icompletelyabandonedthisapproach.In2006Iadoptedacircuit
modelofpsychedelicactivationIdubbedSignalTheory,whichemphasizedtheroleofrecurrentexcitationin
corticalnetworksasthesourceofhallucinogenesis.Asummaryofthistheorywaspresentedatthe2006Toward
aScienceofConsciousnessconferenceinTucson,AZ.OveraperiodoftwoyearsSignalTheoryevolvedinto

whatIcalledtheMultiStateTheoryofpsychedelicaction,whichwasthefirsttimeIconsideredthefull
implicationsofpsychedelicsascatalystsformultistablestatesofnonlinearconsciousness.
AfterreleasingareviewversionoftheMultiStateTheoryonline,Ireceivedsomeinterestingfeedbackthat
helpedfocusmythinking,someofitcomingfromananonymousCanadianresearcherwhosharedhisunique
theoryofhallucinogenicframestackingtosimplifymytheoryofrecurrentfeedback.Thisledmetostudythe
variousnonlineareffectsproducedbyacompetingmodulatorinapreciselytimedsequentialframeprocessing
system.Byextrapolatingthevariousoverlappingpharmacological,circuit,andnetworkmodelsofpsychedelic
action,IsettledupontheControlInterruptModel,whichpositsthatallhallucinationbeginswithahighfrequency
periodicinterruptionofmultisensoryframestabilitythatcouldbedescribedasawaveinterferencepattern.Once
theControlInterruptModelfellintoplace,PsychedelicInformationTheorysuddenlymadesenseagain,andthe
entiretextwasrewrittenfromthisnewperspective.
Afterthesixyeareffortonthisproject,IcanproudlysaythatPITisthemodelofhallucinogenesisand
psychedelicactionIwasalwaysseekingtoproduce.IbelievePITshedsauniquelightontheprocessesofhuman
consciousnessandthecapacityofthehumanimagination,andwillservepsychedelicresearchandalteredstate
explorationformanyyears.Isincerelythankallofthepeoplewhosentdonations,feedback,andsubtlereminders
overtheyears.Manythankstoallthepeoplewhofollowedmyworkandkeptmefocusedonfinishing,Icould
nothavedoneitwithouttheconsistentsupportencouragement.
Sincerely,
JamesL.Kent

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Appendix05:AbouttheAuthor
JamesL.KentisawriterandprogrammerlivinginSeattle,Washington,andhasstudiedhallucinogensand
perceptionforovertwentyyears.HeistheformerEditorofPsychedelicIlluminationsMagazine,theformer
PublisherofTripMagazine:TheJournalofPsychedelicCulture.andthecreatorandcoeditorof
DoseNation.com,aweblogfordrugnews,media,culture,andhumor.Heisalsoacontributingneuroscience
columnistforh+Magazine.
Tocontacttheauthorortoprovidefeedbacktothistext,pleasevisithttp://psychedelicinformationtheory.com.