Psychotherapy combined with psychedelic drugs (PsiDs) has shown positive outcomes due to the ability of PsiDs to induce mystical-type experiences (MTEs). Virtual reality (VR) can also be considered a form of psychedelic technology. To test this hypothesis, researchers designed and evaluated "Isness," a multi-person VR journey where participants experience the collective emergence, fluctuation, and dissipation of their bodies as energetic essences. A study involving 57 participants showed that Isness participants had MTEs comparable to those reported in double-blind clinical studies after high doses of psilocybin and LSD. Within a supportive setting and conceptual framework, VR phenomenology can create the conditions for MTEs from which participants derive insight and meaning. In addition, there have been several published studies investigating the effects of moderate to large doses of psilocybin on meditation and spiritual practice. Seven studies involved administering moderate to large doses (20-42 mg) of psilocybin, while 16 studies were less intense, including baseline studies with placebos or sub-perceptual doses (1-3 mg) of psilocybin given to participants in programs offering meditation and spiritual practice support. Ten drug-administration studies investigated MDMA, methylphenidate, ketamine, dextromethorphan, psilocybin, and LSD. Participant responses in Isness revealed themes such as radiating light under pressure; feeling moved and touched with difficulty expressing words due to being brought into one's body/heart/energetic being; experiencing joyous innocence reminiscent of childhood exploration without judgment or control issues when playing with energetic threads. The study suggests that VR phenomenology may offer an alternative approach for inducing MTEs within a supportive setting that could provide insight into oneself.
Psychotherapy with psychedelic drugs can help people have positive experiences that feel mystical. Virtual reality is a type of technology that can also create similar experiences. Researchers made a virtual reality journey called "Isness" where people feel like their bodies are energy. A study showed that Isness gave people similar experiences to taking drugs like psilocybin and LSD. Virtual reality can create conditions for these experiences in a safe way, and it may help people learn more about themselves.
Definitions
- Psychotherapy: therapy or treatment for mental health problems
- Psychedelic drugs (PsiDs): drugs that cause changes in perception, mood, and thought
- Mystical-type experiences (MTEs): experiences that feel spiritual or transcendent
- Virtual reality (VR): technology that creates an artificial environment
- Phenomenology: the study of subjective experience and consciousness
Psychedelic Technology and Mystical-Type Experiences: Exploring the Potential of Virtual Reality
The use of psychedelic drugs (PsiDs) in psychotherapy has been gaining traction in recent years, due to their ability to induce mystical-type experiences (MTEs). While PsiDs are typically administered through oral or intravenous routes, virtual reality (VR) technology can also be used as a form of psychedelic technology. To test this hypothesis, researchers designed and evaluated “Isness” – a multi-person VR journey where participants experience the collective emergence, fluctuation, and dissipation of their bodies as energetic essences.
Study Design
A study involving 57 participants was conducted to evaluate Isness. The study revealed that Isness participants had MTEs comparable to those reported in double-blind clinical studies after high doses of psilocybin and LSD. Furthermore, within a supportive setting and conceptual framework, VR phenomenology created conditions for MTEs from which participants derived insight and meaning.
Additional Studies Investigating Psychedelics & Meditation/Spiritual Practice
In addition to the study on Isness, there have been several published studies investigating the effects of moderate to large doses of psilocybin on meditation and spiritual practice. Seven studies involved administering moderate to large doses (20-42 mg) of psilocybin while 16 studies were less intense including baseline studies with placebos or sub-perceptual doses (1-3 mg) given to participants in programs offering meditation and spiritual practice support. Ten drug administration studies investigated MDMA, methylphenidate, ketamine dextromethorphan psilocybin and LSD.
Participant Responses Reveal Themes Such As...
Participant responses in Isness revealed themes such as radiating light under pressure; feeling moved and touched with difficulty expressing words due to being brought into one's body/heart/energetic being; experiencing joyous innocence reminiscent of childhood exploration without judgment or control issues when playing with energetic threads.
Conclusion
The study suggests that VR phenomenology may offer an alternative approach for inducing MTEs within a supportive setting that could provide insight into oneself. Psychedelic technology combined with psychotherapy has shown positive outcomes due its potential for creating meaningful experiences from which individuals can gain insight into themselves – something that is especially important during times like these when many people are struggling emotionally due to isolation caused by COVID-19 restrictions around the world.
Studies combining psychotherapy with psychedelic drugs (PsiDs) have demonstrated positive outcomes that are often associated with PsiDs' ability to induce 'mystical-type' experiences (MTEs) - i.e., subjective experiences whose characteristics include a sense of connectedness, transcendence, and ineffability. We suggest that both PsiDs and virtual reality can be situated on a broader spectrum of psychedelic technologies. To test this hypothesis, we used concepts, methods, and analysis strategies from PsiD research to design and evaluate 'Isness', a multi-person VR journey where participants experience the collective emergence, fluctuation, and dissipation of their bodies as energetic essences. A study (N=57) analyzing participant responses to a commonly used PsiD experience questionnaire (MEQ30) indicates that Isness participants had MTEs comparable to those reported in double-blind clinical studies after high doses of psilocybin & LSD. Within a supportive setting and conceptual framework, VR phenomenology can create the conditions for MTEs from which participants derive insight and meaning.
