In a groundbreaking convergence of neuroscience, mathematics, and consciousness research, two pioneering organizations—Noonautics and the Trace Institute—have embarked on a collaborative initiative to mathematically model the human psychedelic experience, focusing on the enigmatic compound N,N-dimethyl tryptamine (DMT). This project represents a bold step toward unraveling the complex neural and experiential architecture underlying one of the most profound altered states known to humanity. By combining experimental pharmacokinetics with rigorous theoretical modeling, the collaboration seeks not only to systematize the phenomenology of DMT but also to establish a new scientific framework for understanding consciousness itself.
Psychedelic experiences, particularly those induced by substances such as DMT, have long captivated human imagination and shamanic traditions due to their vivid sensory phenomena, including kaleidoscopic visuals, entity encounters, and disruptions of normal spatiotemporal perception. Despite their richness, these states have eluded quantitative scientific characterization. The joint effort between Noonautics, helmed by neurobiologist Dr. Andrew Gallimore, and the Trace Institute, led by cognitive scientist Professor Emeritus Donald Hoffman, aims to transcend anecdotal and qualitative accounts by applying mathematical models to the subjective reports and experimental data gathered under controlled conditions.
Central to this study is the DMTx protocol developed by Noonautics, a pioneering method that extends the duration of the traditionally brief DMT experience from mere minutes to several hours. This pharmacokinetic innovation enables trained scientists and selected experts—formally termed ‘observers’—to enter and navigate the DMT state with enhanced temporal resolution for precise observation and experimental manipulation. This extended access to the psychedelic realm lays the groundwork for systematic data acquisition that is critical for meaningful theoretical analysis.
On the theoretical front, Professor Hoffman and his team at the Trace Institute bring their expertise in conscious realism and trace logic—mathematical frameworks that conceive consciousness not as a mere by-product of neural processes but as the fundamental basis of reality. Their approach reframes perception as an interface shaped by evolutionary pressures rather than a veridical window to the physical world. Integrating this framework with empirical findings from the DMTx experiments, they aim to produce a quantitative model that can interpret and predict the nuanced phenomenology of the psychedelic state.
This interdisciplinary synthesis promises transformative implications. By providing a precise mathematical characterization of how psychoactive substances like DMT perturb the structure and function of spacetime as experienced by conscious agents, the research could redefine our understanding of both mind and reality. According to Hoffman, the project will “provide a new framework for exploring the effects of psychoactive substances such as DMT on the structure and function of spacetime,” highlighting the profound ontological questions at stake.
Equally, Gallimore sees the collaboration as establishing a foundational theory for altered states of consciousness, enabling empirically testable hypotheses. This experimental-theoretical feedback loop represents a novel paradigm in psychedelic science, moving away from purely phenomenological or neurochemical perspectives toward a rigorous integration of mathematical logic, pharmacokinetics, and first-person experiential data.
The broader vision articulated by the two investigators envisions the emergence of a ‘mathematics of altered states,’ which could ultimately facilitate the engineering of perceptual interfaces to expand human cognition and consciousness. Such advances might unlock new modalities of human experience and understanding, with profound implications for psychology, philosophy, and potentially even quantum physics.
Public engagement with this groundbreaking research is planned through a live conversation between Gallimore and Hoffman on June 13, 2026, at the Lighthouse, a creative venue located in the historic Venice Beach Post Office. This event will be recorded and made widely accessible via YouTube, signaling the teams’ commitment to transparency and broader dissemination of their scientific insights.
Noonautics operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization dedicated to public-facing investigations into the mind’s structure and the nuances of non-ordinary experience. Its director, Dr. Andrew R. Gallimore, is renowned for his contributions to DMT research, including the co-invention of the DMT extended-state pharmacokinetic framework known as DMTx. His base at the Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology positions him at the nexus of cutting-edge neuropharmacological research.
The Trace Institute similarly functions as a non-profit entity, committed to developing a mathematically grounded science of reality centered on conscious observers. Its founder, Donald D. Hoffman, is known for foundational theories such as the interface theory of perception, conscious agent theory, and trace logic, all contributing to an observer-centric model of nature that challenges conventional physicalist assumptions.
The research preprint, entitled “Traces of the Other – Are DMT Entities Real? DMT Phenomenology in the Framework of Conscious Realism,” authored by Gallimore, Hoffman, and Hermansson, is available on PsyArXiv. This work comprehensively discusses the phenomenological intricacies of DMT-induced experiences in the context of conscious realism, constructing a novel interpretative lens grounded in both qualitative and quantitative dimensions.
Through this collaboration, the traditionally fringe subject of psychedelic experience is being subjected to the rigor of formal scientific scrutiny, promising to bring about a paradigm shift not only in psychedelic research but in consciousness studies broadly. By leveraging mathematical models, extended experiential protocols, and interdisciplinary dialogue, these researchers are charting an unprecedented course toward decoding the perennial mysteries of the human mind and its interface with the fabric of reality.
The potential repercussions of this research extend beyond academia, potentially informing new approaches in mental health therapies, cognitive enhancement technologies, and our conceptual frameworks concerning the mind-world relationship. As science increasingly embraces altered states of consciousness as legitimate domains of inquiry, initiatives like this will likely catalyze innovative methodologies and theoretical breakthroughs.
As humanity ventures deeper into the exploration of subjective experience, this pioneering work underscores the vital importance of bridging first-person phenomenology with third-person scientific analysis. The collaboration between Noonautics and the Trace Institute embodies this integrative vision, pioneering a frontier that not only seeks to map altered states but also to redefine our understanding of consciousness and reality itself.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: Mathematical Modeling of the Human Psychedelic Experience
News Publication Date: Not specified
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/8qvgy_v2
References: Gallimore, A.R., Hoffman, D.D., Hermansson, N., “Traces of the Other – Are DMT Entities Real? DMT Phenomenology in the Framework of Conscious Realism,” PsyArXiv, DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/8qvgy_v2
Image Credits: Not specified
Keywords: Neuroscience, Mathematics, Modeling, Neuropsychology, Pharmaceuticals
