A recent study by researchers from the University of Cambridge found that mindfulness training can lead to participants experiencing “disembodiment and unity” and altered states of consciousness.
“Mindfulness practice can induce altered states of consciousness, such as deep states of relaxation, insight, and clarity, which can profoundly transform how we experience ourselves and the world,” said Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, founder of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program.
The American Psychological Association defines mindfulness as having an awareness of one’s internal state and surroundings. Mindfulness can help people avoid destructive or automatic habits and responses by observing their thoughts, emotions, and other present-moment experiences without judging or reacting to them.
Mindfulness-based programs have surged in popularity in recent years. A survey of UK adults indicated that 15 percent had learned some form of mindfulness throughout their lives, and 45-55 percent of Americans meditate weekly, according to meditation statistics in 2024. Commonly used to reduce stress and manage depression or anxiety, testimonial evidence suggests that mindfulness can change the perception of self and boundaries, mimicking effects induced by psychotropic drugs.
In studies between September 2015 and January 2016, researchers with the University of Cambridge led by Dr. Julieta Galante from its Department of Psychiatry performed random controlled trials to review and assess the effectiveness of mindfulness training, as well as ways to deal with stress during student exams. They found that such practices could help students at risk of mental health problems.
“There’s been anecdotal evidence that people who practice mindfulness experience changes in how they perceive themselves and the world around them, but it’s difficult to know whether these experiences are a result of mindfulness practice or whether people who are more prone to such experiences are also more likely to practice mindfulness,” Galante said.
“Because we’d been running a randomized trial of mindfulness practice with several hundred students at Cambridge, we realized this offered us an opportunity to explore this question further,” she added.
A year after the participants participated in the study, the team followed up with each individual to find out if they had experienced any form of altered states. In total, 670 participants joined the randomized trial, and one-third of the mindfulness and control groups completed the questionnaire about their experiences involving altered states of consciousness.
For the second part of the study, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire consisting of 11 “dimensions,” as a researcher classified guidelines. Some areas considered were spiritual experiences, a blissful state, and feelings of unity where participants felt a sense of dissolved borders and time perceived in an “integrated way.” The researchers also examined feelings of disembodiment, a sensation of floating or a dissolution of body boundaries, which may facilitate intense unity experiences.
The study indicated that people with past mindfulness training were twice as likely to experience unity and disembodiment as those in the control group.
Dr. Galante, who practices mindfulness herself, says she has personally experienced these various altered states of consciousness. “Although we can’t say definitively, our results at least suggest the possibility that mindfulness training causes these experiences of unity and disembodiment. It aligns with other studies showing that people who practice mindfulness training are more likely to describe experiencing a sense of relaxed self-boundaries and broadening their spatial awareness beyond the physical body.”
The researchers found that the more hours people spent practicing formal mindfulness, the more likely they were to experience unity, disembodiment, or a blissful state.
People who individually reported having meditated 6 months before the study were surveyed to determine whether they had any forms of altered state of consciousness during meditation. In this sub-sample of 73 participants, 43 percent reported unity experiences during meditation, 47 percent experienced blissful states, 29 percent had disembodiment experiences, and 25 percent reported insightful experiences.
While many altered states of consciousness are often characterized as pleasant experiences, this isn’t always true. Dr. Galante emphasizes the importance of teachers and students being aware of these experiences and feeling open to discussing them. However, she noted that the most common and intense experiences usually lack unpleasant characteristics, with bliss being described as delightful, whereas experiences like disembodiment or altered self-perception can be perceived as unpleasant or startling, especially if unexpected.
“It’s crucial for those practicing mindfulness to be informed about the possibility of encountering such experiences. This way, if they occur, individuals won’t feel unsettled,” Galante said.
“Their experiences may be perfectly normal, but it’s helpful to check in with their mindfulness teacher, and if any experience feels negative, they should consider discussing it with their doctor.”
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on The Debrief’s YouTube Channel. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton and at chrissynewton.com.