Discussion 4: Mechanisms of Hallucinations
The similarity of the psychedelic and kundalini experiences suggests common, or at least overlapping mechanisms of action in both these ACS. Aside from the phenomenological evidence that these two states are qualitatively similar, is there any other evidence in support of the similarity of these two states? Consider the following evidence:
1. Hallucinogens alter neurotransmission at the brainstem. As stated in the Psychedelics Background Section, psychedelic drugs resemble specific neurotransmitters. The nerve cells which release these neurotransmitters are located in the brainstem and basal forebrain. These nerve cells have widespread and diffuse projections through the entire neuraxis. It seems reasonable to postulate that, in general, psychedelics alter these brainstem neurons in a very drastic fashion, which in turn alters the entire nervous system. This is not an unheard of possibility in that it happens each night when we sleep. Sleep is caused by changes in the behavior of the brainstem and basal forebrain cells and it is a drastic alteration in human consciousness.
2. It is also known that kundalini yoga is based primarily on breathing exercises. The centers that regulate breathing (pneumotaxic and apneustic centers) are also located in the brain stem in areas intimately involved with widely projecting systems mentioned above [7]. In particular, there is a region called the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), which is a central control region for the autonomic nervous system. The involvement of the NTS may account for the very similar autonomic changes occurring with both psychedelics and kundalini awakening.
3. It is a relatively common experience amongst psychedelic users to feel sensations of pressure at the back of the neck during the drug experience.
4. From the survey, 92.7% +/-7% of respondents reported the inability to fall asleep when on psychedelics, as well as other unusual autonomic nervous system activity, thus further implicating brain stem functional alterations.
All of this points to something of great relevance going on in the brain stem. The "trigger" region in the nervous system for both the exercises of kundalini yoga and for generating psychedelic effects appears to be clusters of nuclei closely linked in circuits in the brain stem. Changes occur in the brain stem and propagate throughout the entire nervous system, leading to the drastic alterations in consciousness characterized by these two ACS.
It is known that brain stem arousal pathways form diffuse connections to the higher brain centers, and the activity of these pathways is widely believed to be responsible for the sleep/wake cycle. It may be that both psychedelics and kundalini refer to a state of hyperactivation of these brain stem pathways leading to a hyperactivation of higher brain centers. In other words, the psychedelic state and the state of awakened kundalini may refer to a state of hyper-awakeness as determined by increased brain stem activation of higher brain centers. Such a state may actually trigger off the same mechanisms that lead to dream formation yet under conditions where the rest of the brain is fully awake and active. It is probably fair to say that the ASC produced by both psychedelics and kundalini awakening is a third major state of consciousness, distinct both from normal sleep and normal waking consciousness.
References for Discussion Section
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[10] Zaehner R.C. Zen, Drugs & Mysticism. New York Pantheon Books, 1972.
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[12] Leadbeater, C.W. Man Visible And Invisible. Wheaton, IL: Quest, 3rd Quest printing, abridged, 1980.