Signal Theory - an explanation of the behaviors of psychedelics

[sekio]

http://www.tripzine.com/pit/signal_theory.htm

Signal Theory presents a new model for objectively measuring expanded states of consciousness based on neural firing rate, synchrony of neural spiking, and intensity of signal feedback recursion occurring within the sensory processing circuits of neocortex. Signal Theory also proposes methodologies for mathematically modeling the action of psychedelic 5-HT2A receptor agonists in the production of diminished, amplified, and standing sensory feedback loops in simple neural circuits. Using the basic tenets of Signal Theory, we can define an empirical model of perceptual action in which both normal waking consciousness and expanded psychedelic consciousness can be defined. This document is intended to be a brief overview of the basics of Signal Theory, and is for general public review as well as scientific peer review in the hopes of moving towards a more refined model of consciousness and psychedelic action in the human brain.

After reading this paper through (and most of the accompanying book, Psychedelic Information Theory, I found myself thinking that "this man has hit the nail on the head", at least in terms of psychedelics sharing the 5-HT2a pathway for their mode of action.

In short, it's a proposal that the "psychedelic experience" of perceptual distortions, ego/boundary loss, form constants, synesthetia and such, is a consequence of increased signal gain inside recurrent circuits in your noggin'.
Like turning the brightness and contrast way up on a videocamera pointed at a screen and then setting off fireworks, psychedelics drive the signal from our "sensors" into extreme distortion.

Even if this isn't a complete and total model of every psychedelic, or indeed all the effects of the "classical" hallucinogens, I believe that it's an excellent read for anyone who is interested at what goes on in your brain at an electrical level when you munch down on mushrooms.

 

[AfterGlow]

In short, it's a proposal that the "psychedelic experience" of perceptual distortions, ego/boundary loss, form constants, synesthetia and such, is a consequence of increased signal gain inside recurrent circuits in your noggin'.
Like turning the brightness and contrast way up on a videocamera pointed at a screen and then setting off fireworks, psychedelics drive the signal from our "sensors" into extreme distortion.

This is news? I think it's been said with many of the same and similar words over and over again.

 

[✰hyperobjects✰]

Hmm. I really like the writings of James Kent. He provides a really critical approach in a scene that is rapidly being appropriated by Western New Age alien conspiracy "theorists" who are all too ready to steal the sacred plants [iboga, cubensis, Caapi/ayahuasca] of indigenous people, claim them as their own, and re-write their mythos.

That being sad though, I think his ideas in regards to the nature of psychedelic visuals reflects the views put forth in classical neuroanthropological literature which chalked the visual experiences of psychedelics off to being entopic phenomena . Many people, Terrence Mckenna et al, talk about the marvel of the DMT flash is not the solid state nature of the hallucinations, but the visual complexity surpasses the ability of the mind to recognize it as it's own creation, this is where the sense of otherness stems from with organic tryptamines in my opinion. Not everyone sees fractals, or the way McKenna repudiated entoptic phenomena, not everyone sees circles or dots, etc.

Also, the way in which Kent talks about how DMT produced visions as unstable. I'm pretty certain he has only worked with smoked DMT and not Ayahuasca where people report more solid-state hallucinations. although, anecdotally in Pikhal Shulgin recounts how the person who named banisteriopsis caapi reported nothing but squiggly lines when he tried aya.