Eight-circuit model of consciousness

This article is about Timothy Leary's model of consciousness. For other models of consciousness, see Models of consciousness.

The eight-circuit model of consciousness is a holistic model originally presented as psychological philosophy (abbreviated "psy-phi") by Timothy Leary. The model posits eight circuits, or eight systems or "brains", as referred by other authors, which operate within the human nervous system. Each corresponds to its own imprint and subjective experience of reality.

The theory was introduced by Leary in books including Neurologic (1973) and Exo-Psychology (1977), later expanded on by Robert Anton Wilson in his books Cosmic Trigger (1977) and Prometheus Rising (1983), and by Antero Alli in his books Angel Tech (1985) and The Eight-Circuit Brain (2009), that suggests "eight periods [circuits]" within the model. Leary and Alli include three stages for each circuit, detailing developmental points for each level of consciousness.

Although the model has been previously criticized as lacking scientific credibility and had been largely been ignored in academia since psychedelic drugs were criminalized in 1970, the model is gaining attention for its practical applications for working with non-ordinary states of consciousness as academic and clinical interest in the potential of psychedelic medicine resurges.


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