5-MeO-DMT and N,N-DMT: Insight Molecules, Endogenous Psychedelics, and Deconstructing Consciousness

This panel explores how endogenous and exogenous psychedelics—specifically N,N-DMT and 5-MeO-DMT—can deepen our understanding of consciousness, insight, and selfhood.Jon Dean will discuss recent findings on N,N-DMT as a naturally occurring compound in the mammalian brain, with concentrations comparable to major neurotransmitters. His work explores the possibility of an endogenous psychedelic system and its potential role in altered states such as dreaming, near-death experiences, flow, and meditation. Dean will share current research on DMT’s neurobiological activity and its speculative involvement in transformative moments of insight.Chris Timmerman will cover experimental work with exogenous DMT and 5-MeO-DMT as tools for deconstructing consciousness. His studies demonstrate how 5-MeO-DMT can induce states marked by a loss of self, perception, and narrative—all while preserving wakefulness—and how these changes are reflected in shifts in alpha/beta rhythms and brain entropy. He’ll also share findings on “presence encounters” under DMT, and comparisons with advanced meditation states, highlighting shared neural and experiential markers.Together, these perspectives offer a multidisciplinary window into how psychedelics—both produced within and introduced to the brain—may inform future models of consciousness, insight, and mental health.