Chris Timmermann obtained his PhD in 2020, at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London. He is currently a research fellow in the same university, where he leads the DMT Research Group, studying the mechanisms of action of the potent psychedelics N,N-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. His empirical and theoretical work employs an interdisciplinary approach to the neuroscience, psychiatry, psychology, and ethics of psychedelics, their relationship to consciousness and applications in mental health. The aim of his work is to explore altered states, such as psychedelics and meditation, to understand their contribution to the study of human consciousness and their impact on mental health. His work has been published in high-regarded scientific journals and covered by mass media outlets (BBC, CBC, Wired, The Times, New Scientist).
Colloquium Presentation: 18 October 2024 (WS 237 3.30-5pm)
A Middle Way Forward for Psychedelic Science and Practice: Between Experience and Biology
Abstract
Despite the promise of psychedelics to increase wellbeing and provide insights regarding the nature of the mind and brain, advances in the field appear to be halted by significant epistemological issues, evident following the recent rejection of the FDA for MDMA therapy. These issues relate to the status of experience (versus neuroplasticity) for explaining, predicting, and confounding the effects of these compounds in clinical and scientific practice. Experience also lies at the centre of the risks concerning psychedelic use, as psychedelics may induce false memories, as well as unhelpful/damaging insights. In this talk, I will present potential avenues to address these issues based on a middle-way approach, which takes into consideration the synergistic effects between experience and neuroplasticity, the intersubjective nature of psychedelic therapy, and neurophenomenology. The value of these approaches lies in a 2nd-person approach beyond 1st- and 3rd-person reductionisms.