How do you measure a hallucination? 🧠🌈 We investigate the science of Altered States of Consciousness (ASC). We break down the tools researchers use to quantify the ineffable, moving beyond "tripping" to rigorous data points that map the territory of the human mind.

1. The "OAV" Standard: We analyze the ruler. We explore the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV), which divides the psychedelic experience into three measurable dimensions: Oceanic Boundlessness (bliss/unity), Dread of Ego Dissolution (anxiety/loss of self), and Visionary Restructuralization (hallucinations). We explain how this turns "meeting God" into a data set.

2. The "n-Dimensional" Map: It’s not a straight line. We expose the geometry of the mind. Researchers are mapping consciousness not as a ladder (high vs. low) but as a Multidimensional Space. We discuss how they plot different states—from dreaming and meditation to psilocybin and schizophrenia—on a graph to find the "coordinates" of reality.

3. The "Ineffability" Paradox: Can data capture the feeling? We discuss the limits of science. While we can measure the intensity of a visual, we struggle to measure the meaning. We ask: does reducing a spiritual epiphany to a "score" on a graph destroy its value, or is it the only way to integrate these experiences into modern medicine?.

The full list of sources used to create this episode can be found on our Patreon under https://www.patreon.com/c/Morgrain