Simulating the phenomena of altered states of consciousness using virtual reality

Author: Jakub Hlusička
Supervisor: Ing. Josef Kortan

Abstract

In this thesis, I explore contemporary attempts at the replication of various aspects of psychedelic-induced altered states of consciousness (ASCs) via software; primarily, the phenomena related to visual perception. Then, I describe my implementation of a replication, which simulates select aspects of a low-dose ASC induced by classical, serotonergic psychedelics, using immersive virtual reality (VR). I describe a study, which I have conducted in order to measure the impact of the resulting implementation on the results of psychometric questionnaires (5D-ASC, 11-ASC) typically used in the evaluation of subjective effects in clinical studies of psychedelics.

Read

Latest Version: PDF
Original Version: PDF
Original Publication: http://hdl.handle.net/10467/101443
Access the VR Application: SimR on GitLab

Building

Prerequisites

• Install the Technika font available on the website of the Czech Technical University.

$ sudo apt install texlive-xetex texlive-bibtex-extra biber texlive-science
$ sudo pip3 install pygments

Rendering

$ git clone git@github.com:Limeth/master-thesis
$ make
$ open build/main.pdf

License

The template is adapted from Tim Baccaert's master's thesis. Files in ctu/logos are copyrighted by the Czech Technical University in Prague and details about their license can be found here. Files in img/reused are copyrighted by their respective owners, as documented in the rendered document. The rest of the thesis is provided under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC-BY-4.0).