ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Psychol.
Sec. Consciousness Research
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1498677
Hypnagogia, Psychedelics and Sensory Deprivation: The Mythic Structure of Dream-like Experiences
Provisionally accepted
- 1Schwerelos Sensory Isolation Laboratory, Vienna, Austria, Vienna, Austria
- 2Karlstad University, Karlstad, Värmland, Sweden
- 3Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany
- 4Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
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Dreams-like and psychedelic experiences often exhibit illogical internal structures. Recent theories suggest these phenomena as "spontaneous offline simulations" linked to brain processes. This study explores the hypothesis that such illogicality stems from a resemblance to premodern, "mythic" cognition. We tested this by inducing dream-like states in 31 participants through four 90- minute flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (REST) sessions. Participants then completed the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI) and questions assessing characteristics aligned with premodern cognition. Results revealed significant shifts towards mythic-like experiences, supporting the idea that the perceived illogicality arises from a distinct cognitive framework rather than deficits. This suggests that dream-like states may align with premodern cognitive schemas, highlighting the continuum between modern and mythic perspectives in understanding consciousness.
Keywords: dreaming, dream-like experience, Hypnagogia, psychedelics, Sensory Deprivation, Flotation-REST, ontology, mythic cognition
Received: 19 Sep 2024; Accepted: 24 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Huber-Soulier, Kjellgren and Passie. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Andreas Huber-Soulier, Schwerelos Sensory Isolation Laboratory, Vienna, Austria, Vienna, Austria
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