Mystical-type experiences can be induced through techniques like hypnosis and meditation. These experiences are common in near-death experiences (NDEs) and have been linked to paranormal beliefs. This study explored auto-induced cognitive trance (AICT) as a method to induce mystical-type experiences and NDE outside of life threatening situations (NDE-like), as well as examining the influence of...
This study examines the phenomenon of anomalous experiences. The term 'anomalous experience' refers to experiences often described as hallucinations and, more broadly, to the experiential dimensions of what is commonly referred to as psychosis. I present a critical analysis of the dominant clinical conceptualization of anomalous experience, which frames it as a 'pathology of the mind', by...
The potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic, mystical experiences, and peak spiritual experiences are of increasing interest among clinicians, researchers, and the public. Several studies have proposed potential parallels between the altered states of consciousness associated with psychedelics and hypnosis. Although there has been increased interest in psychedelics, mystical experiences,...
Progress in Brain Research2025Jan Clefferson Costa de Freitas, Nathalia Cristina Medeiros Maia, Markone Brandão Da Silva Shanenawa et al.
The main purpose of this work is to identify the intersections between decolonial thought and psychedelic philosophy. By "psychedelic" we mean a pharmacological category, the effects of substances that modulates perception, a myriad of consciousness states, a set of ecstatic practices, a variety of countercultural movements, a constellation of artistic avant-gardes, and a plurality of ways of...
Cosmopsychism attributes subjectivity to the universe as a whole. What might that subjectivity be like? There are differing opinions in the philosophical literature, ranging from ?simply a mess? to highly advanced. Mystical experience, if it genuinely brings unity or identity with the universe, could provide some insight. The evidence points to conscious mind of extraordinary quality and...
According to the phenomenal intentionality theory (PIT), intentionality is grounded in phenomenal consciousness : the qualitative and subjective character of experience, which makes possible the intentionality of mental states. PIT is in continuity with an approach in philosophy that originated with René Descartes and that is centered on the epistemological primacy of knowledge of one’s...
Lived experience is shaped by intersubjective, social, cultural, and historical dimensions. For the past 30 years, neurophenomenology has adopted an embodied perspective of the mind by integrating first-person experiential and third-person neurobehavioural perspectives. Neurophenomenology reveals mutual constraints between both, as they co-constitute a person's lived experience. This article...
Psychedelic plant medicines such as Ayahuasca and Huachuma (San Pedro cactus) are gaining scientific attention for their potential to improve mental health. However, the interplay between these traditional medicines, the gut microbiome, and mental health outcomes remains underexplored. The main objectives of this study are to investigate the effects of Ayahuasca and Huachuma ceremonies on the...
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and near-death experiences (NDEs) represent profound disruptions in brain function, often associated with dramatic changes in consciousness, self-perception, and behavior. While these events are typically studied for their pathological consequences, a growing body of evidence suggests they may also trigger unexpected cognitive and creative enhancements in a subset...
A central tension exists within Charles S. Peirce's philosophy of mind: while he characterizes perception as an "extreme case of abduction," its involuntary nature seems to exclude it from the realm of reasoning. This paper aims to resolve this tension and develop a unified framework for understanding perception and emotion. We propose a two-tier model of abduction, distinguishing between...