16 posts tagged timothy leary

The 8-Circuit Model of Consciousness is a theory about the levels of consciousness first proposed by psychologist Timothy Leary. It models the mind as a collection of 8 “circuits”, with each circuit representing a higher stage of evolution than the one before it.

Leary constructed the model based on the lateralization of brain function. The first four levels, which Leary presumed to reside in the left lobe of the cerebrum, are concerned with the survival of organisms on earth; the other four, which Leary suggested are found in the right lobe, are for use in the future evolution of humans, and remain dormant in the majority of human beings; however, according to Leary, they can be activated by psychedelic drugs or meditation.

1. The Biosurvival Circuit (Consciousness)
Imprinted in infancy, concerned with suckling, nourishment, cuddling, bio-security etc. The imprinting of this circuit sets up the basic attitude of trust or suspicion which will last for life. First activated when a human being is born, and programs perception onto an either-or grid, divided into nurturing-helpful and noxious-dangerous (approach/accept vs. flight/flee). Leary thinks that this circuit is stimulated in adults by opioid drugs. This circuit is said to have appeared in the earliest evolution of invertebrate brain. This circuit begins with 1 spatial dimension, forward/back.

Winner Script: I will live forever, or die trying Loser Script: I don’t know how to defend myself.

2. The Emotional-Territorial Circuit (Ego)
Imprinted in the toddling stage, concerned with emotions, domination and submission strategies, territory etc. The first imprint on this circuit identifies the stimuli which will automatically trigger dominant, aggressive behavior or submissive, co-operative behavior. This circuit is activated with abundant quantities of alcohol. This circuit appeared first in territorial vertebrate animals. This circuit introduces a 2nd dimension; up/down.

Winner Script: I’m better than all of you and I’ll fight to prove it Loser Script: They all intimidate me.

3. The Symbolic (Semantic Dexterity) Circuit (Rational Mind)
Imprinted by human artifacts and symbol systems. Concerned with handling the environment, invention, calculation, prediction, building a “map” of the universe etc. It is associated with physical dexterity and Caffeine, speed, cocaine and a high protein diet activate this circuit. This circuit supposedly appeared first when hominids started differentiating from the rest of the primates.

4. The Domestic (Socio-Sexual) Circuit (Adult Personality)
Imprinted by the first orgasm-mating experiences and tribal “morals”. Concerned with sexual pleasure, (instead of sexual reproduction) local definitions of “moral” and “immoral”, reproduction, nurture of the young etc. This circuit is basically concerned with operating within social networks and the transmission of culture across time. This circuit is said to have first appeared with the development of tribes.

5. The Neurosomatic Circuit (Zen Mind)
Concerned with neurological-somatic feedbacks, feeling high, somatic reprogramming etc. The fifth circuit, according to Leary, is consciousness of the body. There is a marked shift from linear visual space to an all-encompassing aesthetic sensory space. A hedonic turn-on occurs, a rapturous amusement, a detachment from the previously compulsive mechanism of the first four circuits. This circuit is stimulated by ecstatic experiences via physiological effects of marijuana and MDMA, yoga, tantra (Leary’s name for tantra was hedonic engineering), Zen meditation and free fall. Leary describes that this circuit first appeared in the upper classes with the development of leisure-class civilizations around 2000 BC.

6. The Neuroelectric (Metaprogramming) Circuit (Psionic Mind)
Concerned with re-imprinting and re-programming all earlier circuits, relativity of “realities” perceived, cybernetic consciousness, so-called PSI/magical powers, etc. The sixth circuit consists of the nervous system becoming aware of itself. Leary says this circuit enables telepathic communication and associates it with peyote, psilocybin, MDA and yage, as well as being associated with computer games. This circuit is traced by Leary back to 500 BC and he associates it with the Silk Road.

7. The Neurogenetic (Morphogenetic) Circuit (Buddha Mind)
Concerned with evolutionary consciousness (past and future), DNA-RNA-brain feedbacks, Jung’s “Collective unconscious” etc. The first to achieve this mutation spoke of “memories of past lives”, “reincarnation”, “immortality” etc. This circuit is stimulated by LSD, Raja Yoga etc. The circuit first appeared among the Hindus in the early first millennium and later reappeared among the Sufi sects.

8. The Psychoatomic (Quantum Non-Local) Circuit (Overmind)
Concerned with quantum consciousness, non-local awareness (information from beyond ordinary space-time awareness which is limited by the speed of light), illumination, out-of-body experiences, astral projection, contact with alien entities (which does not necessarily specifically refer to only materially based creatures from outer space, but rather all beings, including e.g. angels) or with a galactic Overmind etc. Some of the ways this circuit can get activated are the awakening of kundalini, shock, near-death experience etc. This circuit has even been compared to the Buddhist concept of Indra’s net from the Avatamsaka Sutra. Leary associated large doses of LSD (1,000 mcg), Ketamine and DMT with this circuit.

via bluelight