Speaker Bio
James W. Sanders is a cognitive neuroscientist and phenomenologist working with the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London. His research concerns the scientific measurement and description of psychedelic experience, with a focus on micro-phenomenology, neurophenomenology, and psychedelic psychometrics. As a micro-phenomenologist in the DMT research group headed by Dr. Chris Timmermann, James works primarily with short acting tryptamines, notably 5-MeO-DMT, N,N-DMT, and extended state DMT. He is involved in the development of the micro-phenomenological analysis method for altered and non-ordinary states of consciousness, and also the development of new, more precise methods to study the meaning making and integration processes that surround those states.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
Phenomenology of extended state DMT
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is utilised in lab-based consciousness research due to its physiological safety profile and profound yet relatively brief effects on subjective experience. Phenomenological, neurobiological, and neurophenomenological studies have been carried out since the psychoactivity of the isolated DMT molecule was established in the 1950’s, however only recently has an extended peak of DMT experience been achieved using a continuous infusion method that stabilises plasma concentration over extended periods. The present study leverages this technology to explore the phenomenology of extended state DMT experiences.
Methods
26 participants were given a bolus injection of DMT fumarate followed by constant-rate infusion in a lab setting. Upon return to baseline, the micro-phenomenological interview method was used to gather rich and systematic descriptions of extended state DMT experiences. A combination of micro-phenomenological analysis and thematic analysis was used.
Results
Participants commonly describe experiencing immersion into an emergent space, variably inhabited by interactive, perceived presences. A taxonomy of phenomenological categories is given, clustering mainly around the themes of emergent space, presence encounter, ways of being and relating, and the dynamic properties of the experience. A conceptual distinction between phenomenology and appraisal is drawn, with categories marking content and structure of the extended state DMT experience.
Discussion
This phenomenological study of the extended DMT state expands our knowledge of the DMT state space and the varieties of psychedelic consciousness. The results described here will inform subsequent neurophenomenological research into the brain effects of extended state DMT, with phenomenological findings validated against neurobiological data.