Current research spans both pharmacological and non-pharmacological contexts, with a focus on altered states associated with 5-MeO-DMT and Freediving, treated as complementary domains for studying altered states, regulation, adaptation, and human response under intensity.
Current research projects
Research Programme I) 5-MeO-DMT: Physiological States and Longitudinal Outcomes
Why do some 5-MeO-DMT experiences catalyse lasting integration and wellbeing, while others tip into dysregulation or adverse outcomes? This programme is built around that divergence. Rather than assuming a uniform psychedelic effect, it traces how individual trajectories unfold over time, from acute experience to longer-term recovery and adaptation. Using a longitudinal, observational framework, the research examines how bodyset, acute physiological transitions (conceptualised as Pivotal Physical States), and post-experience recovery dynamics interact to shape outcomes. The experience is not approached as a purely psychological phenomenon; instead, the nervous system and underlying physiology are treated as central drivers of both immediate effects and enduring change.
Research Programme II) Altered States Under Extreme Physiology
Freediving, diving without breathing apparatus, has been shown to alter consciousness, giving rise to perceptual, cognitive, and affective states that in some cases closely resemble those reported under psychedelics. The mechanisms underlying these experiences remain poorly understood. While explanations centred on hypoxia, hypercapnia, and narcosis are plausible, they do not seem fully account for the phenomenology reported by divers. This research programme explores the possibility that extreme breath-hold states engage endogenous neurochemical processes, including the hypothesised release of DMT, and examines how these naturally induced states compare to pharmacologically induced psychedelic experiences.
Funding and Support
The research programmes described here are active and ongoing. The research team is currently open for aligned funding support to advance this work, including extended data collection, longitudinal follow-up, and analysis. Individuals, organizations and foundations interested in supporting rigorous, field-building research in altered states and human adaptation are welcome to get in touch.