Doctoral Researcher at UKF and IGPP
M.Sc. Philosophy–Neurosciences–Cognition
Doctoral Researcher at UKF and IGPP
M.Sc. Philosophy–Neurosciences–Cognition
I am a doctoral researcher at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg (UKF) and the Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP), both in Freiburg, Germany, working under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Stefan Schmidt and Dr. Dr. habil. Marc Wittmann. I have an interdisciplinary background in biology, psychology, and philosophy, having studied at universities in Germany and the USA, including Berkeley, Greifswald, Heidelberg, Konstanz, and Magdeburg. My research focuses on the theoretical and empirical exploration of consciousness, particularly its altered states induced by meditation, psychedelics, and floatation. I am specifically interested in the phenomenology and neurophysiology of minimal phenomenal experience (MPE). As a member of the MPE Project, led by Prof. Dr. em. Thomas Metzinger, I contribute to the development of a minimal model of conscious experience. Alongside my basic research, I am interested in promoting a secular consciousness culture. In this regard, for example, I have co-founded the MIND Foundation and co-initiated the Contemplative Lab (ConLab).
Support open science by donating to CIRCE e.V., a German non-profit organisation dedicated to interdisciplinary research into human consciousness that I co-founded. Donate now.
My empirical and philosophical research focuses on three key areas:
Triangulation of minimal phenomenal experience (MPE) (Costines et al., 2021; Gamma & Metzinger, 2021; Metzinger, 2020, 2024)
Mapping of phenomenal state-space (PSS) (Schmidt, 2023),
Institutionalization of a secular consciousness culture (Metzinger, 2023; Costines, 2025)
In this context, I have a particular interest in altered states of consciousness (ASCs) induced by:
2024-03 – present
Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP), Freiburg, Germany
Section Psychological Counseling Research (Head: Wolfgang Fach)
Phenomenological research on exceptional expierences (ExE)
2023-03 – present
Medical Center – University of Freiburg (UKF), Germany
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
Section Systemic Health Research (Head: Stefan Schmidt)
Neurophenomenological research on minimal phenomenal experience (MPE) and non-dual meditation
2023-03 – present
Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP), Freiburg, Germany
Section Natural Sciences and Experimental Research
Research Group Time Consciousness and Time Perception (Head: Marc Wittmann)
Neurophenomenological research on minimal phenomenal experience (MPE) and floatation-REST
2021-04 – 2022-03
Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz (JGU), Mainz, Germany
Department of Philosophy
Institute of Theoretical Philosophy (Head: Thomas Metzinger)
Philosophical research on minimal phenomenal experience (MPE) and consciousness culture [Bewusstseinskultur]
2013-10 – 2014-06
Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald (EMAU), Germany
Department of Psychology
Chair of Physiological and Clinical Psychology / Psychotherapy (Head: Alfons Hamm)
fMRI research on the neurocognitive mechanisms of active and passive coping with threats
2011-08 – 2012-07
University of California, Berkeley (UCB), CA, USA
Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute (HWNI)
Cognitive Neuroscience Lab (Head: Marc D'Esposito)
fMRI research on the neurocognitive mechanisms of sustained attention
2009-02 – 2009-06
Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI), Mannheim, Germany
Institute of Psychopharmacology
Behavioral Genetics Lab (Head: Rainer Spanagel)
Behavioral, genetic, and neurochemical research on the influence of circadian clock genes on cocaine addiction
Costines, C. & Trautwein, F.-M. (2025). Contemplative Lab: Vom inneren Forschungslabor zur partizipativen Bewusstseinsforschung. Bewusstseinswissenschaften, Transpersonale Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 31(2), 89–90. [PDF]
Costines, C. (2025). Des blinden Flecks Strahlkraft: Phänomenologie non-dualen Gewahrseins im alltagsweltlichen Geschehen – aus der „Nullte-Person-Perspektive“ eines Praktizierenden der Karma-Kagyü-Tradition. Bewusstseinswissenschaften, Transpersonale Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 31(2), 17–33. [HTML]
Fort, L. D., Costines, C., Wittmann, M., Demertzi, A., & Schmidt, T. T. (2025). Classification schemes of altered states of consciousness. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 175, 106178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106178. [PDF]
Costines, C. & Schmidt, T.T. (2024). Phenomenology of Psychedelic Experiences and Psychedelic-Associated Distressing Effects: Quantifying Subjective Experiences. In T. Majić (Ed.), Psychedelic Harm Reduction, Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2024_562. [PDF]
Egan, M. K., Costines, C., D’Esposito, M., & Sadaghiani, S. (2024). Endogenous preparatory control is associated with increased interaction between default mode and dorsal attention networks. Imaging Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1162/imag_a_00124. [PDF]
Schmidt, T.T., Costines, C., Tagliazucchi, E., Millière, R., Garrido, J.M., & Cuiule, J.I. (2023). The Altered Xperience Project (AXP): Quantitative and Qualitative Data from a Citizen Science Initiative on the Subjective Experience of Altered States of Consciousness [Preprint]. PsyArXiv. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/45z7w. [PDF]
Prugger, J., Derdiyok, E., Dinkelacker, J., Costines, C., & Schmidt, T.T. (2022). The Altered States Database: Psychometric data from a systematic literature review. Scientific Data, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01822-4. [PDF]
Costines, C., Borghardt, T.L., & Wittmann, M. (2021). The Phenomenology of “Pure” Consciousness as Reported by an Experienced Meditator of the Tibetan Buddhist Karma Kagyu Tradition. Analysis of Interview Content Concerning Different Meditative States. Philosophies, 6(2), 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies6020050. [PDF]
Schmidt, T.T., Costines, C. (2026, Jul.). Accumulating Big Data on Altered States Experiences. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association of Scientific Studies of Consciousness (ASSC29), Santiago, Chile.
Costines, C., Wittmann, M., Trautwein, F.-M., Schmidt, S. (2025, Jul.) Nondual Floating: A Novel Approach to Studying Minimal Phenomenal Experience? Poster presented at the Mind & Life Europe: European Summer Research Institute (ESRI), Scharnstein, Austria.
Costines, C., Wittmann, M., Trautwein, F.-M., Schmidt, S. (2025, Jun.) Nondual Floating: A Novel Approach to Studying Minimal Phenomenal Experience? Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association of Scientific Studies of Consciousness (ASSC28), Heraklion, Greece.
Costines, C., Schmidt, T.T. (2024, Jul.). Phenomenomics and Citizen Science: Mapping the Phenomenology of Altered States of Consciousness. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association of Scientific Studies of Consciousness (ASSC27), Tokyo, Japan.
Costines, C., Wittmann, M., Trautwein, F.-M., Schmidt, S. (2024, Jun.) Exploring the Induction of Deep Non-Dual States through Floatation-REST: A Phenomenological Pilot Study. Poster to be presented at the annual conference of the International Society for Contemplative Research (ISCR), Padua, Italy.
Costines, C., Schmidt, T.T. (2023, Mar.). Exploring Altered States of Consciousness: A Pilot Study of Phenomenomics Using Citizen Science. Poster presented at the 10th MindBrainBody Symposium (MBB10), Berlin, Germany.
Costines, C., Schmidt, T.T. (2022, Jul.). A Specification of the Consciousness State-Space: Let's Split it!. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Association of Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC25), Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Egan, M., Costines, C., D'Esposito, M., Sadaghiani, S. (2019, Jun.). Knowing ‘when’ and knowing ‘what’: The impact of cue information on intrinsic top-down control. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Rome, Italy.
Wendt, J., Costines, C., Lindner, K., Pfannmöller, J., Hamm, A., Löw, A. (2014, Jun.). Time course of periaqueductal gray activation during active and passive coping with threat. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping, Hamburg, Germany.
2026-11 (upcoming)
Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP), Freiburg, Germany
IGPP Colloquium
Das andere Erleben: Non-duales Gewahrsein zwischen meditativem Versenkungszustand und alltagsweltlichem Erfahrungsmodus
Talk in German
2026-08
Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP), Freiburg, Germany
Symposium Beyond self, time, and space: Exploring Ontological Perspectives on the Nature of Mystical, Spiritual and Transcendental Experiences
The Study of Non-Dual, Non-Egoic Experience: Phenomenological Rigor, Ontological Restraint, and Epistemic Humility
Talk in English
2025-09
Schwendihaus Amden, Switzerland
Transdisciplinary Workshop of the Society for Mind-Matter Research (Flourishing)
On How Altered Consciousness Fuels Mental Flourishing
Talk in English
2025-05
dbb forum, Berlin
Congress Meditation & Wissenschaft [Meditation & Science]
Erleuchtung ohne Meditation? Floatation-REST als Induktionsmethode für Minimale Phänomenale Erfahrungen (MPE) [Slides; Video]
Science Slam in German
2024-10
University of Bamberg, Germany
Congress Models of Consciousness (MoC5) & Minimal Phenomenal Experience (MPE3)
Inducing MPE Using Floatation-REST: A Phenomenological Pilot Study
Talk in English
2024-07
University of Tokyo, Japan
Annual Meeting of the Association of Scientific Study of Consciousness (ASSC27)
The Empirical Study of Altered States of Consciousness: Recommendations for Standards in the Psychometric Assessment [Slides]
Tutorial in English, together with Timo Torsten Schmidt and Larry Fort
2023-11
Institute for Frontier Areas of Psychology and Mental Health (IGPP), Freiburg, Germany
IGPP Colloquium
Phenomenomics: Induction of Altered Experience as a Tool for Consciousness Research
Talk in German, together with Timo Torsten Schmidt
2022-06
Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen, Germany
Tübinger Forum for Science and Humanitities
Interdisziplinäres Studienkolleg: Religion und Weltanschauung im wissenschaftlichen Zeitalter
Reines Bewusstsein und Säkulare Bewusstseinskultur [Pure Consciousness and Secular Consciousness Culture]
Invited talk in German
2021-11
Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany
Berlin School of Mind and Brain
DFG Research Training Group 2386 Extrospection
Interdisciplinary Virtual Workshop: Accessing Mental States
Phenomenomics: Mapping the Phenomenal State-Space
Talk in English, together with Timo Torsten Schmidt
2021-10
Charité – Berlin University of Medicine, Berlin, Germany
Psychedelic Substances Research Group (PSRG)
Phenomenomics: Mapping the Phenomenal State-Space
Talk in English, together with Timo Torsten Schmidt
2021-07
University of Vilnius, Lithuania
International Conference on Time Perspectives (ICTP5)
What Is It Like to Experience Emptiness?
Talk in English
2020-10
Charité – Berlin University of Medicine, Berlin, Germany
Psychedelic Substances Research Group (PSRG)
On How the MPE Project and the Phenomenomics Project Complement Each Other
Talk in German
2020-10
Charité – Berlin University of Medicine, Germany
Psychedelic Substances Research Group (PSRG)
Philosophy-Informed Consciousness Research
Talk in German
2026-12 (upcoming)
University of Freiburg, Germany
Course on Veränderte Bewusstseinszustände, Extrem- und Verkörperungserfahrungen in ihrer sprachlichen Realisierung
Lecture on Entgrenzt erlebt, grenzenlos beredt: Vom Selbstverlust zum Selbstbericht
#Invited #German
2025-11
University of Freiburg, Germany
University College Freiburg (UCF)
Course on The Psychophysical Problem and Exceptional Experiences
Lecture on Mental Representation and the Self-Model Theory of Subjectivity
#Invited #English
2020-02
Eberhard-Karl University of Tübingen, Germany
Center for Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Studies (CIIS)
2-Day workshop on Introduction to Psychedelic Science and Secular Consciousness Culture
#Invited #English
2017-04 – 2017-07
Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg, Germany
Semester course on Theory and Practice of Zen Meditation
#German
2024-05 – present
Collaboration for Interdisciplinary Research on Conscious Expierence (CIRCE e.V.)
Non-profit association conducting and supporting consciousness research
Co-founder [together with Timo Torsten Schmidt, Tim Hirschfeld, and Sascha Krüger]
2016-11 – 2019-10
MIND European Foundation for Psychedelic Research (MIND Foundation gGmbH)
Non-profit limited liability company promoting psychedelic research and psychedelic therapy
Co-founder, member of the executive board, director of science outreach (MIND Academy)
2024-12
€59,000 from the BIAL Foundation
for a research project on floatation-REST and meditation (Project 379)
at Medical Center – University of Freiburg (UKF), Germany, from 2025–2027
2018-03
€410 from the German Informatics Society
for participation in the Spring School Interdisciplinary College (IK)
in Guenne, Germany, in 2019
2016-11
€2,400 from the Udo Keller Foundation
for organizing and hosting a lecture series on the self (Wer ist dieser Ich?)
at Otto von Guericke University (OvGU) in Magdeburg, Germany, in 2017
2025-11
Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Gemeinsam eine Bewusstseinskultur entstehen lassen
Kick-off event for the ConLab citizen science initiative
Co-organiser, co-host, and moderator [together with Fynn-Mathis Trautwein]
2021-11
Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS), Frankfurt, Germany
Minimal Phenomenal Expierence 2
International interdisciplinary workshop on the scientific study of minimal phenomenal experience (MPE)
Co-organizator, and co-host [together with Thomas Metzinger]
2019-09
Charité – Berlin University of Medicine, Berlin, Germany
International interdisciplinary conference on the scientific study and application of psychedelic states
INSIGHT
Co-initiator, co-organizator, and co-host
2018-06 – 2019-10
MIND European Foundation for Psychedelic Research, Berlin, Germany
Educational platform for talks and workshops on topics related to altered states of consciousness
MIND Academy
Co-initiator, director, co-organizator, and co-host
2017-04 – 2017-07
Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg (OvGU), Germany
Interdisciplinary and intercultural lecture series on the self (funded by Udo Keller Foundation)
Wer ist dieser Ich?
Initiator, co-organizator, and co-host
2026-02
Ad-hoc review for the journal Neuroscience of Consciousness
2025-11
Ad-hoc review for the journal Mind and Matter
2024-03
Ad-hoc review for the book Psychedelic Harm Reduction, as part of the series Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
2026-05 – present
Altered X Project (AXP) (relaunch powered by CIRCE e.V.)
International citizen science initiative with the aim of mapping the phenomenal state-space
Co-initiator [together with Timo Torsten Schmidt]
2024-08 – present
Contemplative Lab (ConLab)
Local citizen science initiative aimed at advancing contemplative research and promoting a secular consciousness culture
Co-initiator [together with Fynn-MathisTrautwein]
2022-10 – 2023-10
Altered X Project (AXP)
International citizen science initiative with the aim of mapping the phenomenal state-space
Co-initiator [together with Timo Torsten Schmidt, Enzo Tagliazucchi and Raphaël Millière]
2027-09 (upcoming)
Benediktushof – Zentrum für Meditation und Achtsamkeit, Holzkirchen, Germany
Symposium on Psychoaktive Wirkstoffe in Psychotherapie und Spiritualität
(a) Talk on Im Sog psychedelischer McBewusstseinskultur: zwischen fetischisierter Selbstentgrenzung und hieratischem Habitus
(b) Workshop on Bewusstseinsethisches Dilemma psychedelischer Therapie: zwischen tröstlicher Illusion und epistemischer Würde
#Invited #German
2026-10 (upcoming)
Messe Freiburg, Germany
Congress on Leben & Tod [Life & death]
Talk on Sterben lernen: Psychedelika, Meditation und Floatation als Werkzeuge einer säkularen Endlichkeitskultur?
#Invited #German
2025-11
University of Freiburg (UKF), Germany
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy
Talk and panel on Kontemplation als inneres Labor: Gemeinsam eine Bewusstseinskultur entstehen lassen
Together with Tatsudo Nicole Baden Roshi, HolgerYeshe, PD Dr. Prisca Bauer, Dr. Fynn-Mathis Trautwein
#German
2022-09
lehrreich Wilmersdorf, Berlin, Germany
Talk on Schulische Bewusstseinskultur [Consciousness Culture in School]
#German
2022-06
Zen Center Altbäckersmühle, Singhofen, Germany
Workshop on Philosophy, Science & Culture of Consciousness + Meditation
Together with HoKai Österle
#Invited #German
2022-02
lehrreich Wilmersdorf, Berlin, Germany
Talk on Schulische Bewusstseinskultur [Consciousness Culture in School]
#German
2018-06
MIND European Foundation for Psychedelic Research, Berlin, Germany
Talk on Thomas Metzinger’s Concept of Minimal Phenomenal Experience
#German
Costines, C. (upcoming). [Article], moment by moment – Das Magazin für Achtsamkeit.
Hortz, H. (2025, Jan.). Contemplative Lab: Gemeinsam eine Bewusstseinskultur entstehen lassen [Article], Ursache\Wirkung Magazin. [HTML]
Costines, C. (2025, Aug.). Die Drogen langweilen uns mit ihrem Paradies [Article], Ursache\Wirkung Magazin, 133, 22–24. [PDF]
Costines, C. (2025, May). Floating: Schwebend in die Stille [Newspaper article], Die Furche, 22, 4. [PDF & HTML]
Costines, C. (2024, Dec.). Ein Ort für das Bewusstsein [Article], Ursache\Wirkung Magazin, 130. [PDF & HTML]
Böttinger, L., & Kech, F. (Hosts). (2024, Feb.). Was bringt Fasten – für den Körper und den Kopf? [Audio podcast episode]. In BZ am Ohr. Badische Zeitung. [HTML & MP3]
Costines, C. (2023, Sep.). Gehirn, Geist, Gedanken und Emotionen [Interview], Ursache\Wirkung Magazin, 125, 42–45. [PDF]
Costines, C. (2023, Mar.). [Buchbesprechung zu Bewusstseinskultur. Spiritualität, intellektuelle Redlichkeit und die planetare Krise von Thomas Metzinger], Tattva Viveka, 94, 105–106. [HTML]
Costines, C. (2022, Aug.). Was ist ein guter Bewusstseinszustand? [Interview], Ursache\Wirkung Magazin, 121, 82–85. [PDF]
Costines, C. (2021, Jan.). 50 Sekunden im freien Fall [Kindgerechter phänomenologischer Bericht über verändertes Erleben beim Fallschirmspringen], dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur. [PDF & HTML]
Explorative introspection: Over the past decade, I have experimented with various pharmacological and non-pharmacological consciousness-modifying techniques (e.g. meditation), both to increase my mental autonomy and to inform my academic research into consciousness heuristically by improving my ability to describe and analyse my own phenomenal state-space systematically and comprehensively.
Graceful simplification: Over the past decade, I have experimented with various lifestyles (e.g. voluntary homelessness) to determine what is necessary for a fulfilling life and to prepare for death. I have found, for example, that a simple lifestyle with only the bare essentials is most beneficial for me.
Find out more about my educational project, Fuchsmut, which helps neurotypical and neurodivergent children and adolescents in cultivating their minds: https://fuchsmut.cc/