A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics
Christopher Timmermann, Prisca R. Bauer, Olivia Gosseries, Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse, Franz X. Vollenweider, Steven Laureys, Tania Singer, Elena Antonova, Antoine Lutz
Trends in Cognitive Sciences December 22, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.11.006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Meditation |
| Citations | 145 |
| Key points | Proposes that a neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness can serve as a unifying framework for studying their role as catalysts of transformation in clinical practice. |
Abstract
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.