Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices.
Nolwenn Marie, Yannick Lafon, Aminata Bicego, Charlotte Grégoire, Floriane Rousseaux, Antoine Bioy, Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse, Olivia Gosseries
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies November 4, 2024 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04678-w (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind Shamanism |
| Keywords | Clinical applications Trance |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | Shamanic trances are non-pathological, distinct from normal consciousness in phenomenology and neurophysiology, and influenced by personal and environmental variables, with potential therapeutic applications requiring further study. |
Abstract
Shamanism is a spiritual tradition in which trance practitioners deliberately modify their state of consciousness to seemingly interact with an invisible world to resolve their community members' problems. This review aims to provide a multidisciplinary overview of scientific research on shamanic trance. The search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Twenty-seven articles were found to be eligible, and their data were classified into four dimensions, namely, a) phenomenology, b) psychology, c) neuro-physiological functions, and d) clinical applications. These studies suggest that these trances are non-pathological, different from normal states of consciousness in terms of phenomenology and neurophysiology, and influenced by multiple personal and environmental variables. Furthermore, while trances may offer therapeutic potential, their scope should be approached cautiously, underscoring the need for rigorous studies to assess the effectiveness of shamanic approaches for complementary therapies. Overall, shamanic trance and its potential benefits remain an intriguing and multifaceted area of scientific study, offering insights into the intersections of consciousness, spirituality, and possibly therapy.