The Mystery

Despite their presence in the human pharmacopeia for millennia, we have yet to resolve the biochemical mechanisms by which the hallucinogens (psychedelics) so dramatically alter perception and consciousness. It is the only class of compounds that efficiently and specifically does so. For that matter, we do not fully understand the biochemistry of perception itself or how we live such a vivid and complex internal life in the absence of external stimulation. We do not understand the basic biochemical mechanisms of some of our most common experiences, such as the many human aspects of creativity, imagination or dream states. This is also true for extraordinary states of consciousness such as 'visions' or spontaneous hallucinations or phenomena such as near-death experiences (NDE). And it is troubling that we have not sufficiently turned the scientific method on these latter subjects despite the profound role they have played in the evolution of our science, philosophy, psychology ...

There's a symphony of sensory information coursing through us at every moment. From the warmth of the sun's rays to the echo of a distant conversation, our brains are ceaselessly bombarded with stimuli. But how do we make sense of this chaos? How does the brain translate these countless data points into a coherent experience? The answer lies in the incredible conceptual tools at our disposal. Our concepts are not merely academic constructs; they are the very lenses through which we view and navigate the world. Consider concepts such as brushes in the hands of an artist. Just as brushes bring a canvas to life, concepts draw meaning from the raw sensations we encounter. When we perceive a familiar scent, our brain doesn't just register it as a set of olfactory signals; it conjures up the concept of, say, 'freshly baked bread' and all the associated memories and emotions. Our concepts work tirelessly behind the scenes, categorizing and interpreting sensory inputs. They...

Lisa Feldman Barrett's theory of constructed emotion proposes that emotions are not innate, fixed responses but rather dynamic constructions that the brain creates based on various inputs. According to Barrett, emotions are not hardwired into our brains; instead, they are constructed in the moment based on sensory input, past experiences, and contextual information. Barrett's theory is rooted in predictive coding, a concept from neuroscience that suggests that the brain is constantly making predictions about what is happening in the world and updating these predictions based on new information. In this framework, emotions are predictions that the brain constructs to make sense of sensory inputs and prepare the body for action. Core Concepts of Constructed Emotion 1. Conceptual Act Theory: Barrett's theory is often referred to as the Conceptual Act Theory. It posits that emotions are constructed through the interplay of core affect (basic feelings of pleasure or displeasure,...

People are often surprised that a brain surgeon, who spent time growing neurons in a lab, would have an opinion on lucid dreaming. Initially, I too thought the concept might be fringe or 'woo-woo'—more metaphysical than neuroscientific. However, as I delved deeper, dedicating two of the nine chapters in my book to this subject, I discovered many of my assumptions about dreams were incorrect. Indeed, some aspects of dreaming are surprisingly well-supported by science, while others remain as elusive as dreams themselves should be. Lucid dreaming has been discussed for millennia, even by Aristotle about 2000 years ago. The topic gained significant traction in the neuroscience community in the 1970s and 80s when it was first proven to be possible. How was this proven? Let me walk you through the experiment because the details are crucial. We use electrodes to detect brain activity, including the specific patterns known as sleep spindles. Initially, I was skeptical, suspecting peopl...