Floatation & Meditation Research
·5 min read
Overview
This research compared alterations to self-consciousness during mindfulness meditation and Flotation-REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique), drawing comparisons with psychedelic experiences. The project was conducted as part of Dr Jane Aspell's Self & Body Lab at Anglia Ruskin University.
Key Findings
Results showed that both floating and meditation led to greater ego-dissolution than ego-inflation, with mystical experiences comparable to low-to-medium dose psilocybin. The study contributed to understanding how non-pharmacological altered states compare with psychedelic experiences in terms of their effects on self-consciousness.
The research explored:
- Alterations to self-consciousness and ego-dissolution during flotation
- Mindfulness meditation as a pathway to altered states
- Comparative phenomenology across flotation, meditation, and psychedelic experiences
- Predictive processing perspectives on consciousness and self
Publication
This project formed the basis of an MSc thesis:
Research Team
- Research Lead: Matt Gwyther (Anglia Ruskin University)
- Supervisor: Dr Jane Aspell (Anglia Ruskin University)