Psychedelics and the science of self-experience

Matthew M Nour; Robin L Carhart-Harris

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.116.194738

Psychedelics and the science of self-experience

Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Mar;210(3):177-179. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.116.194738.

Authors

Matthew M Nour¹, Robin L Carhart-Harris²

Affiliations

¹ Matthew M. Nour, BA, BM BCh, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London; Robin L. Carhart-Harris, BSc, MA, PhD, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK matthew.nour@kcl.ac.uk.
² Matthew M. Nour, BA, BM BCh, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London; Robin L. Carhart-Harris, BSc, MA, PhD, Centre for Neuropsychopharmacology, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.

PMID: 28249943
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.116.194738

Abstract

Altered self-experiences arise in certain psychiatric conditions, and may be induced by psychoactive drugs and spiritual/religious practices. Recently, a neuroscience of self-experience has begun to crystallise, drawing upon findings from functional neuroimaging and altered states of consciousness occasioned by psychedelic drugs. This advance may be of great importance for psychiatry.

Publication types

Editorial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Consciousness / drug effects*
Hallucinogens / pharmacology*
Humans
Neurosciences / methods

Substances

Hallucinogens