The Psychedelic Podcast Brian Tierney, Ph.D. - Visionary Somatics: Psychedelics, Trauma & the Dreaming Body
Sep 1, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Brian Tierney, a licensed somatic psychologist and neuroscience professor, explores the fascinating merger of somatics and neuroscience. He explains how trauma disrupts brain network coordination and emphasizes the importance of body work in healing. The conversation dives into the dangers of spiritual bypassing, the role of imagination in recovery, and reflects on the balance needed to navigate transformative psychedelic experiences. Tierney also shares insights on the intriguing connections between psychedelics, extraterrestrial archetypes, and personal transformation.
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Brain As Interconnected Networks
- The brain is best understood as interconnected networks, not isolated regions.
- The default mode, salience, and task networks coordinate attention, memory, and action.
Default Mode As Waking Dream
- The default mode network supports mental time travel and self-narratives.
- It functions as a neural correlate of the ego and our waking dream.
Salience Network Directs Attention
- The salience network directs attention to internal and external signals via hubs like the insula.
- The task network activates for focused activity and opposes the default mode.
