The Hyperbolic Geometry of DMT Experiences (@Harvard Science of Psychedelics Club)

Andrés Gómez Emilsson from the Qualia Research Institute (https://qri.org) presents about the Hyperbolic Geometry of DMT Experiences.

At a high-level, this video presents an algorithmic reduction of DMT phenomenology which imports concepts from hyperbolic geometry and dynamic systems theory in order to explain the "weirder than weird" hallucinations one can have on this drug. Andrés describes what different levels of DMT intoxication feel like in light of a model in which experience has both variable geometric curvature and information content. The benefit of this model cashes out in a novel approach to design DMT experiences in order to maximize specific desired benefits.

See original article: https://qualiacomputing.com/2016/12/1...

And the ELI5 version: https://qualiacomputing.com/2017/05/2...


Presentation outline:

Thermometers of Experience
The Leaf Metaphor
Introduction to Hyperbolic Geometry
DMT Levels
Level 1: Threshold (& Symmetry Hotel)
Level 2: Chrysanthemum
Level 3: Magic Eye (& Crystal Worlds)
Level 4: Waiting Room
Level 5: Breakthrough
Level 6: Amnesia
Energy - Complexity Landscape
Dynamic Systems
Fixed Point
Limit Cycles
Chaos
Noise Driven Structures
Turbulence
Conclusion
Super-Shulgin Academy
Atman Retreat
Wrap-Up


About the speaker: Andrés studied Symbolic Systems at Stanford (and has a masters in Computational Psychology, also from Stanford). He has professional experience in data science engineering, machine learning, and affective science. His research at the Qualia Research Institute ranges from algorithm design, to psychedelic theory, to neurotechnology development, to mapping and studying the computational properties of consciousness. Andrés blogs at qualiacomputing.com.

The Qualia Research Institute (QRI) is a non-profit based in the Bay Area close to San Francisco which seeks to discover the computational properties of experience. QRI has a "full-stack approach" to the science of consciousness which incorporates philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and neurotechnology. For more information see: qualiaresearchinstitute.org

The Harvard Science of Psychedelics Club hosts events on psychedelic research, meditation, neuroscience, students sharing their own experiences, and much more.


Credits:

Wallpaper group 632 rotating along each symmetry element - Nick Xu

Many of the images are by Paul Nylander: http://bugman123.com/

The Hyperbolic Honeycomb images and 3D prints are by Henry Segerman, who also has an awesome Youtube channel where he shows 3D printed math. We used his design to print the Honeycombs we were passing around during the lecture:    / henryseg  

Space-Time Dynamics in Video Feedback: Jim Crutchfield, Entropy Productions, Santa Cruz (1984):    • Space-Time Dynamics in Video Feedback  

Many thanks to Andrew Zuckerman and Kenneth Shinozuka for helping organize this event. And thanks to David Pearce, Michael Johnson, Romeo Stevens, Quintin Frerichs, the anonymous trippers, and many others for making this work real.