Electrodynamics of the Psychedelic Experience

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Abstract

Electromagnetic field theories of consciousness propose that consciousness emerges from resonant electromagnetic field interactions rather than purely computational neural processes. This paper examines how psychedelic substances—LSD, psilocybin, ketamine, and 5-MeO-DMT—modulate consciousness through their effects on brain electromagnetic fields, as measured by EEG, ECoG, and local field potential recordings. We present evidence that psychedelics act as "field resonance enhancers," expanding consciousness by increasing electromagnetic field coherence, cross-frequency coupling, and epistemic depth. Our analysis reveals substance-specific field signatures: LSD produces sustained coherence enhancement across frequency bands; psilocybin increases oscillatory flexibility and field entropy; ketamine causes dissociative field fragmentation through NMDA-mediated disruption; and 5-MeO-DMT induces rapid field boundary dissolution. We propose that psychedelics' molecular mechanisms—primarily through 5-HT2A and NMDA receptor modulation—serve as energetic inputs that tune electromagnetic field computation rather than directly encode information. This field-centric perspective offers novel insights into psychedelic phenomenology, including ego dissolution, enhanced creativity, and therapeutic efficacy. The framework predicts specific, testable relationships between receptor activation patterns, field dynamics, and conscious experience, suggesting new approaches for optimizing psychedelic therapy through targeted field modulation.

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