Ego Dissolution When the DMN Shuts Off

Accidentally discovered in 2001, the DMN made its debut when Marcus Raichle, using cutting-edge Functional MRI (fMRI) equipment, imaged the cerebral cortex. That same technology, paired with magnetoencephalography, or MEG imaging, was used by the team at Imperial College on subjects under the influence of psychedelics. It was also used by Judson Brewer at the UMass Medical School to image the brain activity of deep meditation states.

Both teams found that when these states were induced and ego dissolution was experienced, the DMN shut down. The dissolution of the ego is an event reported by psychedelic drug users and experienced meditators, so it wasn’t necessarily a surprise when MEG and fMRI scans showed that egoic brain activity correlates directly with DMN activity.

“It appears that when activity in the DMN falls off precipitously, the ego temporarily vanishes, and the usual boundaries we experience between self and world, subject and object, all melt away,” Pollan said.

Buddhists often refer to it as the monkey mind – the internal chatter that leads our thoughts astray when we try to silence the interminable flow of opinions and thoughts in our head. And the monkey mind… you guessed it, that’s probably the DMN flaring when the brain has nothing better to do, defaulting to thoughts about a petty argument you had with your significant other a year ago.

For many, it takes years, or even decades to silence the inner dialogue, but for those who succeed, the fruits of labor are profound. But if one doesn’t have the patience, willpower, or time to devote to a life of meditation, recent research has found that the psychedelic experience, under clinical supervision and the right circumstances, can create the same effect, allowing for new connections to be made within the brain.

Another facet of Carhart-Harris’ theory is that our individual mental states fall somewhere along a scale of entropy. Entropy, in this case, is a measure toward a state of randomness or disorganization. On Carhart-Harris’ scale, high-entropy mental states include those experienced on psychedelics; infant consciousness; early psychosis; and creative or divergent thinking. The low-entropy end includes such states as narrow or rigid thinking; addiction; OCD; depression; and coma.

As we age, the brain forms ‘tenser’ connections based on a slower drip from the reduction valve of perception. Carhart-Harris believes this can lead to states of depression, as the valve shuts out various possibilities, closing us off and increasing introspection. The ego eventually turns on itself and “gradually shades out reality.”

A psychedelic experience increases entropy in the brain, loosening those bonds and opening the mind to a deluge of possibilities, many of which can be confusing or bizarre, hence the hallucinations and strange thoughts. But this could explain why recent studies have found that psilocybin from magic mushrooms can cure depression and act as a reset mechanism in the brain, or that potent doses of Ayahuasca or Ibogaine can cure heroin and cocaine addicts of a lifetime of addiction.

An inundation of new mental states and potential realities can not only free subjects from depression, but it can also spark creative thought and innovation. One of the biggest hindrances to creativity is a close-minded perspective and the immediate rejection of seemingly fantastical ideas. But it’s not your fault, you can blame it on the DMN.

That’s why Silicon Valley CEOs have touted the creative genius found in the psychedelic experience since Steve Jobs credited LSD for his success in founding Apple.

It should be noted, however, that psychedelics are nothing to take lightly. It’s no coincidence that Carhart-Harris’ entropic brain scale includes early-stage psychosis on the same end as psychedelics. Used improperly and carelessly, psychedelics can devastate the mind, leading to long term psychological damage in rare instances. Albert Hoffman, who discovered LSD, even expressed occasional regret in his life for the damage caused by its unfettered use.

But if we view these substances as tools or medicine, rather than recreational drugs, we can use them to our advantage. And as science continues to dissect and understand the ways they affect our cognitive function, discoveries of networks such as the DMN will undoubtedly lead to a better understanding of our minds and the ability to lead enlightened lives.

Learn how to integrate the learnings of the psychedelic experience into your life on this episode of Psychedelica: