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Non-Profit · Open Science · Germany

The Science of
Consciousness

CIRCE advances the empirical study of human consciousness — with a focus on altered states induced by pharmacological and non-pharmacological techniques.

Providing high-quality reference datasets and best-practice measurement methods for consciousness research.

We are a German scientific association (Verein) dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of human consciousness. Our work spans basic research, open science platforms, and expert advisory services.

Our primary focus is on altered states of consciousness (ASC) induced by various consciousness-modifying techniques (CMT) — from psychedelics to meditation. By systematically curating psychometric data, we support researchers worldwide.

3
Open Projects
300+
Studies Indexed
4
Researchers

Projects

All projects follow open science principles — freely accessible, transparently maintained, updated annually per PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

01
Altered States Database — ASDB

An open science platform providing comprehensive psychometric data on altered states of consciousness, drawn from peer-reviewed publications and updated annually.

asdb.info
02
Altered Xperience Project — AXP

A citizen science initiative for the phenomenological study of ASC. Individuals contribute anonymised first-person accounts, building a freely available repository for researchers.

alteredxproject.com
03
Consciousness Assessment Repository — CAR

A curated collection of psychometric questionnaires for ASC research. Includes instrument histories, analysis guidance, translations, and validation studies.

GitHub Pages

Three Pillars

01 — Generate

Generating Knowledge

We deepen the scientific understanding of ASC by studying subjective characteristics, neural correlates, and underlying mechanisms — informing both basic research and therapeutic applications.

02 — Share

Sharing Knowledge

We advise researchers and institutions on ASC study design, psychometric instrument selection, and methodological rigour — through direct consultation, workshops, and lectures.

03 — Manage

Managing Knowledge

We maintain transparent, reliable access to psychometric data via systematic literature searches and annual ASDB updates aligned with PRISMA 2020 — a trusted open-science resource.

Team

Scientists, researchers, and builders united by curiosity about the nature of conscious experience.

Dr. Timo T. Schmidt
Psychedelics Phenomenology ASC Research
Dr. rer. nat. Timo T. Schmidt
Chief Scientist
Neuroscientist specialising in altered states of consciousness, psychedelic research, and the phenomenology of subjective experience.
Tim Hirschfeld
Data Analysis Open Science Web Dev
Tim Hirschfeld, M.Sc. PH
Doctoral Researcher · Data Analyst · Web Developer
Doctoral researcher combining psychophysiology, data science, and open-source tooling to advance reproducible consciousness research.
Cyril Costines
Psychometrics Meditation Lecturing
Cyril Costines, M.Sc.
Doctoral Researcher · Lecturer
Researcher and lecturer focused on psychometric validation, meditation studies, and the measurement of subjective states.
Sascha Krüger
Finance Operations Strategy
Sascha Krüger, Dipl.-Kfm.
Treasurer · Finance
Ensures the financial health and operational stability of CIRCE, overseeing budgets, compliance, and organisational strategy.

Contact

Questions about our research, collaboration inquiries, or methodological consultations — we're happy to hear from you.

timo.schmidt
@circe-science.com