A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics.

Trends in cognitive sciences 2023 Feb

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No contemporary unifying framework has been provided for the study of non-ordinary states of consciousness (NSCs) despite increased interest in hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics. NSCs induce shifts in experiential contents (what appears to the experiencer) and/or structure (how it appears). This can allow the investigation of the plastic and dynamic nature of experience from a multiscale perspective that includes mind, brain, body, and context. We propose a neurophenomenological (NP) approach to the study of NSCs which highlights their role as catalysts of transformation in clinical practice by refining our understanding of the relationships between experiential (subjective) and neural dynamics. We outline the ethical implications of the NP approach for standard conceptions of health and pathology as well as the crucial role of experience-based know-how in NSC-related research and application. Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Citation

Christopher Timmermann, Prisca R Bauer, Olivia Gosseries, Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse, Franz Vollenweider, Steven Laureys, Tania Singer, Mind and Life Europe (MLE) ENCECON Research Group, Elena Antonova, Antoine Lutz. A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics. Trends in cognitive sciences. 2023 Feb;27(2):139-159