Dr Jack Allocca is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne, Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health. He studies altered states of consciousness using pharmacology, neuroimaging, and computational neuroscience. In 2019, he founded Somnivore Pty Ltd, a machine learning data analytics company serving neuroscience laboratories. His current projects span psychedelic pharmacology, sleep science, and consciousness research in wild species, including bears, seals, and birds.

The Evolution of Rave Technologies and Psychedelic Science

This session explores how cutting-edge rave technologies, from immersive sound systems to AI-generated visuals, intersect with contemporary psychedelic research. Raves, with their multi-sensory intensity and polydrug environments, challenge traditional lab-based, single-substance approaches. Crucially, we may be witnessing the emergence of a transformative force we only partially understand and may not be able to control. Contrasting these dynamic, real-world contexts with the controlled conditions of clinical studies, this session emphasises the need for new methodologies capturing the complex interplay of culture, technology, and consciousness. Attendees will discover how these evolving elements expand and potentially redefine psychedelic science and its real-world significance.