George is a PhD student in the Ecological Brain at UCL. With a background in molecular pharmacology, he is interested in how causal perturbations, like drugs, can be used to generate a multiscale understanding of the human brain. Broadly, his work aims to reveal the structure and dynamics of distributed computation in the brain, and how emergent macroscopic processes support conscious states. In doing so, trying to advance theory-driven markers of consciousness, as well as data-driven approaches that guide new theory.

A Collaborative Approach to 5-MeO-DMT Research: Context and Neuroscience

5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) is a psychedelic drug known for its uniquely profound effects on subjective experience, reliably eradicating the perception of time, space, and the self. However, little is known about how this drug alters large-scale brain activity. This talk presents findings from a collaborative naturalistic study conducted by UCL/Imperial College London in partnership with F.I.V.E/Tandava Retreats in Mexico, in which EEG data were collected from 29 participants before and after inhaling 12 mg of vaporised synthetic 5-MeO-DMT. We show that 5-MeO-DMT profoundly reorganises low-frequency cortical activity and alters the brain’s dynamical landscape, giving rise to slower, more stable, low-dimensional global dynamics. These findings offer the first detailed characterisation of 5-MeO-DMT’s effects on human brain function. This presentation focuses on the study design and EEG results, with subsequent talks in the session exploring other arms of the study.