An international collective of researchers has ascertained that the psychedelic substance 5-MeO-DMT triggers cerebral alterations akin to profound states of contemplation. An investigation involving a Tibetan lama reveals how this compound influences self-awareness and sentience.
An international assembly of scientists has documented a noteworthy neurobiological event: the effect of the potent psychedelic, 5-MeO-DMT, on the brain engenders modifications nearly equivalent to states attained through prolonged meditative practices. The investigation, carried out involving a seasoned Tibetan lama, offers novel insights into how chemical agents might impact the subjective feeling of “self” and the fabric of awareness. This is pointed out in the NewScientist article, according to UNN.
Details
For the undertaking, the scientists enlisted a highly regarded Tibetan Buddhist instructor who had devoted over 15 years to honing methodologies for quieting the ego and reaching a “non-dual state” – a distinctive practice wherein the division between the individual and the external environment diminishes. Brain scans demonstrated that upon receiving a modest quantity of 5-MeO-DMT, the subject activated analogous neural pathways as during profound meditation.
“Evidently, with such a minimal dosage (psychedelics – ed.) there is a substantial intersection in cerebral activity with what transpires in a non-dual meditative condition.” This implies that the substance possesses the capacity to fleetingly “deactivate” the typical modes of brain function that govern the generation of a sense of personhood, mirroring the actions of accomplished masters of spiritual exercises
– stated Christopher Timmermann from University College London.
New frontiers for neurobiology and therapy
The results enable scientists to more thoroughly grasp the neurological consequences of psychedelics, which are increasingly recognized as prospective interventions for despondency and worry. The aptitude of 5-MeO-DMT to elicit particular shifts in the brain’s cognitive framework absent extensive training could be crucial for formulating innovative therapeutic approaches.
Concurrently, scientists underscore that while psychedelics emulate certain activity patterns, they do not substitute the sustained rigor of meditation, but merely accentuate shared biological processes of consciousness metamorphosis. Subsequent investigations will concentrate on scrutinizing the protracted influence of such conditions on psychological fortitude and affective well-being of individuals in the context of contemporary strains of 2026.