It is well known that most forms of meditation like T.M., bodyscan or vipassana meditation, tend to lower brainwave frequencies. These forms of meditation are also known to have many, very positive effects on the body as well as the mind.
I think that for this reason, many people associate lower brainwave frequencies with higher/deeper states of mind.
And i have read posts on this forum where people have been linking psychedelic states of mind, to the lower frequencies like alpha, theta and delta.
Recent studies however, have found that LSD, beside slightly increasing alpha and theta frequencies, also causes a significant increase of higher, gamma frequencies (i believe it was endlessness who posted a link to that study on this site).
And i believe that these higher frequencies are actually much more characteristic for the psychedelic experience, than the lower frequencies:
-Many people find that there are simmilarities between the dream-state and the psychedelic state, but during REM sleep, beta and gamma frequencies are increased in the higher regions of the brain. Lower frequencies only tend to persist in the parts of the brain that control bodily functions.
-Many peope would, if they had to choose between the two, rather describe substances as LSD, mescaline, psilocin or DMT as stimulants, than as sedatives. This is not realy consistent with lower brain frequencies that tend to be associated with deep sleep or states of deep relaxation.
-GABA-ergics, wich tend to lower brain frequencies, also tend to decrease the effects of psychedelics, rather than increasing them.
-Most people describe the psychedelic state as a state of 'hyper-awareness' and the DMT world as 'hyper-real'. Lower brain frequencies however, are typically associated with states of lower awareness: how many times, for instance, have you counsciously experienced the process of falling asleep?
-LSD and other psychedelics do not cause syncronisation of the left and right brain hemnispheres, but rather a desyncronisation. But lower brainwave frequencies tend to automatically lead to syncronisation.
-I've found that fear tends to increase the strenghth of a psychedelic experience. Fear activates higher frequencies. It doesn't exactly lead to a state of calmness and relaxation.
-And wouldn't very rich and detailed experiences, require higher resolution signals between neurons, rather than lower? And wouldnt it be logical to associate higher resolution signals, with higher frequencies rather than lower frequencies?
On top of all these arguments, i personally have experienced that when i've taken a moderate dose of a classic hallucinogen, i can meditate myself to a state of almost normal counsciousness.
When i start meditating, there initially is an increase in effects, but then after a minute or so, the effects suddenly and rapidly diminish. I think the initial increase is caused by the 'change of scenery', and not by meditation itself.
I think that for this reason, many people associate lower brainwave frequencies with higher/deeper states of mind.
And i have read posts on this forum where people have been linking psychedelic states of mind, to the lower frequencies like alpha, theta and delta.
Recent studies however, have found that LSD, beside slightly increasing alpha and theta frequencies, also causes a significant increase of higher, gamma frequencies (i believe it was endlessness who posted a link to that study on this site).
And i believe that these higher frequencies are actually much more characteristic for the psychedelic experience, than the lower frequencies:
-Many people find that there are simmilarities between the dream-state and the psychedelic state, but during REM sleep, beta and gamma frequencies are increased in the higher regions of the brain. Lower frequencies only tend to persist in the parts of the brain that control bodily functions.
-Many peope would, if they had to choose between the two, rather describe substances as LSD, mescaline, psilocin or DMT as stimulants, than as sedatives. This is not realy consistent with lower brain frequencies that tend to be associated with deep sleep or states of deep relaxation.
-GABA-ergics, wich tend to lower brain frequencies, also tend to decrease the effects of psychedelics, rather than increasing them.
-Most people describe the psychedelic state as a state of 'hyper-awareness' and the DMT world as 'hyper-real'. Lower brain frequencies however, are typically associated with states of lower awareness: how many times, for instance, have you counsciously experienced the process of falling asleep?
-LSD and other psychedelics do not cause syncronisation of the left and right brain hemnispheres, but rather a desyncronisation. But lower brainwave frequencies tend to automatically lead to syncronisation.
-I've found that fear tends to increase the strenghth of a psychedelic experience. Fear activates higher frequencies. It doesn't exactly lead to a state of calmness and relaxation.
-And wouldn't very rich and detailed experiences, require higher resolution signals between neurons, rather than lower? And wouldnt it be logical to associate higher resolution signals, with higher frequencies rather than lower frequencies?
On top of all these arguments, i personally have experienced that when i've taken a moderate dose of a classic hallucinogen, i can meditate myself to a state of almost normal counsciousness.
When i start meditating, there initially is an increase in effects, but then after a minute or so, the effects suddenly and rapidly diminish. I think the initial increase is caused by the 'change of scenery', and not by meditation itself.