Alterations to self consciousness during mindfulness meditation and Flotation REST a comparative study

Flotation-Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) and mindfulness meditation (MM) are known to induce altered states of consciousness (ASC) and self-consciousness. In this study, we use a phenomenological and predictive processing (PP) framework to compare the interventions alongside the psychedelic experience. Ego-dissolution scores were greater than ego-inflation scores in both groups and Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ30) scores lay between those elicited by low and high dose psilocybin. The weakening of perceived body boundaries was predictive of increased ego-dissolution and MEQ_Total score in the MM group only. Having an existing meditation practice was associated with increased ASC in the MM group. Past psychedelic use did not predict the degree of ASC, but ‘openness to experience’ did. Our findings suggest that a combination of validated measures and phenomenological analysis proves illuminating in describing the rich phenomenological space occasioned by MM and flotation-REST, and for exploring the relationship between different aspects of consciousness.