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. 2022 May 24;12:8562. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-11999-8

Table 3.

Content of imagery and visualizations of the N, N-DMT experiences and changes to visual perception.

Coded units and themes Documented in experience, n (%)
All experiences (n = 3778) Experiences with no reported concomitant psychoactive substance use (n = 3242)
Content of imagery and visualizations
Fractals, shapes, or patterns 1231 (32.6) 1017 (31.4)
 Fractals or geometric shapes 1218 (32.2) 1004 (31)
 Kaleidoscope 85 (2.2) 65 (2.0)
 Mandala 44 (1.2) 44 (1.4)
 Chrysanthemum 32 (0.8) 21 (0.6)
 Sacred geometry 22 (0.6) 19 (0.6)
 Patterns NOS 325 (8.6) 262 (8.1)
Colours: Vivid, novel, neon, beautiful, hyperintense 953 (25.2) 780 (24.1)
Open eye visuals (OEVs) 499 (13.2) 499 (15.4)
 Room and wall distortion (dissolving/melting/warping/breathing) 175 (4.6) 148 (4.6)
 Pixilation 39 (1.0) 31 (1.0)
 Tracers and halos 20 (0.5) 15 (0.5)
 OEVs NOS 463 (12.3) 383 (11.8)
 Visual distortion NOS 121 (3.2) 104 (3.2)
Cartoon visuals 113 (3.0) 84 (2.6)
Faces or eyes 90 (2.4) 75 (2.3)
Ancient and/or cultural-based imagery 80 (2.1) 65 (2.0)
 "Aztec" or "Mayan" visuals 38 (1.0) 33 (1.0)
 Egyptian visuals 33 (0.9) 24 (0.7)
 Othera 9 (0.2) 8 (0.2)
Visions of past experiences or relatives (dead or alive) 75 (2.0) 60 (1.9)
Writing, symbols, scripture, or hieroglyphs 73 (1.9) 66 (2.0)
Webs or grids 50 (1.3) 41 (1.3)
Visions of previous lives 31 (0.8) 25 (0.8)
Digital or alien visuals 30 (0.8) 27 (0.8)
Flower(s) or lotus 28 (0.7) 25 (0.8)
Tentacles 23 (0.6) 21 (0.6)
Visuals folding-in on themselves 21 (0.6) 18 (0.6)
Animal visuals 17 (0.4) 12 (0.4)
Skulls, skeletons, or other human anatomy 13 (0.3) 10 (0.3)
Satanic visuals 12 (0.3) 12 (0.4)
Closed eye visuals (CEVs) NOS 352 (9.3) 262 (8.1)
Changes to visual perception
Shaky or vibrating vision 139 (3.7) 120 (3.7)
Visual clarity 66 (1.7) 62 (1.9)
Visual field expansion, seeing with eyes closed or with third eye 65 (1.7) 50 (1.5)
Veil or curtain lifting/falling 26 (0.7) 24 (0.7)

aIncluding Islamic, Hindu, Tibetan, North American Indigenous, tribal NOS.

NOS not otherwise specified.