How are DMT experiences neurologically different to hallucinations? How does DMT alter the world modelling of our brains? What evidence is there that the brain is receiving information on DMT rather than modelling it?

In this episode we have the extraordinary neuroscience of DMT to discuss, one of the most powerful mind altering substances on the planet. We discuss the history of research into its effects; relevant neuroscience; research into the mystical experiences it induces; the statistical significance of repeated, highly specific yet unearthly places and entities reported by experiencers across eras and cultures; experiments that extend the DMT experience for longer periods of time; the metaphysical implications if any; and finally we consider the mind bending possibility that the otherworldly creatures and realities experiencers repeatedly encounter could be actual realities connecting with our brains via DMT.

Fortunately to navigate these mysterious results and ideas, we have chemist, computational neuroscientist and author Andrew Gallimore as our guide. Gallimore has written 16 scientific papers and three books including, “Reality Switch Technologies: Psychedelics as Tools for the Discovery and Exploration of New Worlds”, “Alien Information Theory: Psychedelic Drug Technologies and the Cosmic Game”, and his brand new book, “Death By Astonishment, confronting the mystery of the world’s strangest drug” which we’ll be focussing on in this episode.

What we discuss:

00:00 Intro.

08:30 How DMT binds to the brain.

09:50 Receptors are like a cell’s perception organs.

14:25 The cascading of electrical patterns across neurones.

16:50 The big differences between DMT and 5meoDMT.

18:50 Hierarchical structure of model processing. Wilder Penfield, 1950’s.

26:20 Primary visual cortex stimulated even with eyes closed - fMRI DMT research.

32:20 Hallucinating schizophrenics don’t have the same activity in the primary visual cortex.

34:25 Evidence that DMT users are accessing information rather than hallucinating.

42:50 DMT forms and entities are not like the terrestrial biosphere.

50:00 High DMT levels in neo-natal rats.

52:30 Sasha Shulgin - Chemist inventor of 230 psychedelics.

59:30 Mystical experiences and their effects.

01:09:00 The default mode network and self/other distinction.

01:14:00 Extended state DMT intravenously - experiments.

01:19.00 Mental health applications of DMT.

01:25:30 Is DMT a communication technology?

01:28:26 The science of ayahuasca brew recipes.

01:32:30 The possibility that non-human intelligence is the source of these experiences.

01:38:00 Common messages and themes in DMT experiences.

01:40:00 Similarities between DMT and non-human entity experiences?

01:48:00 A cosmic game - Andrew’s metaphysical model.

01:53:00 Can we test these information theoretic approaches?

References:

Andrew Gallimore, “Death by Astonishment, Confronting the Mystery of the World's Strangest Drug”.

Andrea Alamia, Chris Timmermann et al, “DMT alters cortical travelling waves"

Jordi Riba et al.- “Effects of the South American psychoactive beverage ayahuasca on regional brain electrical activity”

David Lawrence - DMT Entity quantitive study, CC interview.

Stephen Szára - Hungarian chemist DMT experiments

David Foulkes - Children’s dreams evolve in complexity as they get older.

Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin - Chemist, inventor of 230 psychedelics.

Mystical Experience and improved mental health meta analysis

Extended State DMTx - Noonautics

Psychelic retreat centre - Eleusis