Int J Clin Health Psychol
September 7, 2023
Yin Siang Liaw, George J. Augustine
24 citations
The claustrum, a thin sheet of grey matter next to the insular cortex, was proposed by Crick and Koch in 2005 as possibly involved in consciousness. This review examines theories of consciousness and evaluates experimental evidence since 2005 to see if it supports or contradicts that hypothesis. It also suggests how future experiments could clarify how consciousness arises from neural activity and the claustrum's role.
Int J Clin Health Psychol
January 1, 2025
Victor Oswald, Karim Jerbi, Corine Sombrun et al.
4 citations
People vary widely in their experiences during non-ordinary states of consciousness, and this variation is linked to measurable differences in the autonomic nervous system. The study shows that subjective experiences—such as changes in perception, emotion, or sense of self—correspond with distinct patterns of physiological responses, like heart rate or skin conductance. These findings suggest that the body's nervous system plays a key role in shaping how individuals experience altered states, highlighting a direct connection between inner, subjective phenomena and physiological processes.
Int J Clin Health Psychol
October 25, 2024
Trait mindfulness, particularly its nonjudgmental acceptance component, is linked to more adaptive emotion regulation, while the monitoring component may increase emotional reactivity. A novel test of the monitor and acceptance theory examined psychological mechanisms and neural correlates, finding that acceptance predicts reduced negative affect and amygdala reactivity during emotional challenges, whereas monitoring alone does not confer these benefits. The findings suggest that acceptance, not mere attention, drives mindfulness-related emotion regulation improvements.
Int J Clin Health Psychol
May 14, 2023
A randomized clinical trial compared three meditation-based mental training programs—Presence, Affect, and Perspective—against a wait-list control group to assess their effects on psychological distress. All three programs reduced distress, but the Affect training, which focused on cultivating positive emotions, produced the largest reductions. The Perspective training, aimed at enhancing self-awareness and metacognition, also showed significant benefits, while the Presence training had smaller effects. The findings suggest that different meditation techniques have distinct impacts on mental health, with emotion-focused practices being particularly effective for reducing distress.
Int J Clin Health Psychol
March 7, 2023
This paper presents a biphasic relational framework for understanding the evolution of human consciousness, arguing that consciousness developed through two distinct phases: an initial phase focused on basic relational awareness and a later phase involving higher-order cognitive and social capacities. The authors propose that early hominid consciousness emerged from embodied interactions with the environment, while modern human consciousness required the evolution of complex social structures and symbolic thought. The approach integrates insights from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and philosophy to suggest that consciousness is not a single phenomenon but a layered process shaped by relational dynamics across evolutionary time.
Int J Clin Health Psychol
February 3, 2023
This systematic review examines studies that combine low-intensity transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) with meditation in humans. The review finds that combining tES with meditation is feasible and may enhance certain meditation-related outcomes, such as attention and self-regulation, compared to meditation alone. However, the evidence is preliminary due to small sample sizes, heterogeneous study designs, and limited replication. The authors suggest that the combination approach holds promise for improving cognitive and emotional well-being but call for more rigorous research to establish efficacy and optimal protocols.