The Science of Altered States

Mapping the phenomenology of entity encounters in clinical psychedelic research.

Entity Encounters by Psychedelic Compound

Modern clinical surveys and post-session interviews reveal distinct patterns of entity encounters tied directly to specific psychedelic compounds. Explore the archetypes associated with each substance:

The Johns Hopkins DMT Entity Survey

In the largest study of its kind (n=2,561), the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine mapped the phenomenology of DMT entity encounters.

  • Entity Phenotypes: Feminine phenotype (24.2%), deities (17.0%), aliens (16.3%), creature-based entities like reptilian/insectoid beings (9.2%), mythological beings including "machine elves" (8.4%), and jesters (6.5%).
  • Valence/Tone: The vast majority of encounters were overwhelmingly positive. 78% were described as benevolent/sacred, and most interactions were categorized as positive/benevolent (34.9%) or guide/companion-type (32.4%).
  • Negative Tone: Only 16% were negatively judgmental, and 11% were perceived as malicious/demons/monsters.
📄 Read the Johns Hopkins Survey (Journal of Psychopharmacology) →

Key Academic Literature & Studies

Our approach is informed by a growing body of rigorous academic literature mapping the intersection of altered states and autonomous entities.

Neuroscience of Consciousness (2026) - Sanders et al.

Micro-phenomenology of immersion and perceived presences under DMT. Analyzed data from 23 participants receiving IV DMT while undergoing fMRI-EEG.

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Frontiers in Psychology (2021) - Michael & Luke

Analyzed 36 post-DMT interviews — 94% included encounters with "beings," and 100% described emerging into other "worlds."

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Content Analysis of Trip Reports (Lyke, 2019)

An analysis of online DMT trip-reports yielded 180 entity encounters, finding intelligent, communicative entities in 66.5% of "hyperspace" settings.

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SAGE Study (Davis et al., 2020)

Concludes DMT entity encounters share strong similarities with non-drug entity encounters — religious experiences, alien abduction accounts, and near-death experiences.

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Encounters with Negative Entities

Data on the 2015 survey by Fountonglou & Freimoser (800 psychonauts) regarding the breakdown of entity encounter rates by substance.

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What are Psychedelic Entities? (Noema Mag)

Exploration of entity types by substance, including Peyote (Huichol tradition) and Iboga.

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