Schizophrenia Bulletin
1999
William E. Bunney, W P Hetrick, Blynn G. Bunney et al.
Clinical descriptions of perceptual and attentional anomalies in schizophrenia emphasize phenomena such as flooding, or inundation, by sensory stimuli. A failure of sensory "gating" mechanisms in the brain is hypothesized to account for these symptoms, and this hypothesis has led to a marked interest in their putative psychophysiological substrates. However, there are no systematic analyses of...
W&M Publish
1999
Deborah Hall Berkley-Carter
Psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and the humanistic movement have, in the latter years of the twentieth century, been joined by a fourth psychological force, Transpersonal psychology. This study utilized a Qualitative methodology, Social-Constructivist orientation, Case Study design, and Dual Narrative format to explore the feasibility of utilizing a transpersonal approach in a case of Dissociative...
International Journal of Yoga Therapy
1999
Roy King, Ann Brownstone
Recent neuroimaging studies of brain function have led to an explosion of knowledge about psychological processes and states. In this paper functional brain imaging studies of Yoga meditation are reviewed. Tantra-based meditations activate frontal and occipital cortical regions involved in focused, sustained attention and visual imagery. The overall pattern of brain activation in Tantra-based...
Human Brain Mapping
1999
Hans C Lou, Troels W Kjaer, Lars Friberg et al.
28 citations
The aim of the present study was to examine whether the neural structures subserving meditation can be reproducibly measured, and, if so, whether they are different from those supporting the resting state of normal consciousness. Cerebral blood flow distribution was investigated with the 15O-H2O PET technique in nine young adults, who were highly experienced yoga teachers, during the relaxation...
Endeavour
1999
J B Taylor
Mid-19th-century mental scientists were intrigued by the phenomenon of memory, and self-reflexively applied associationist ideas to emerging concepts of unconscious mental reflex to explore it. They emphasized that the 'consciousness of agreement' between present and past states of consciousness was the basis of a coherent, well-managed identity. But they were also fascinated by forms of latent...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
1999
M D De Rios, R Stachalek
14 citations
Plant hallucinogens, such as those of the Duboisia genus called pituri, have been used by tribal elders in Australian aboriginal populations to create managed states of consciousness, to provide their youth with a fast-paced educational experience, and to inculcate values, beliefs and religious tenets. Use of the suggestible states created by such substances (particularly in pubertal initiatory...
European Psychiatry
December 1, 1998
Euphrosyne Gouzoulis‐mayfrank, Elmar Habermeyer, L Hermle et al.
Clinical evidence suggests that hallucinogenic drug-induced altered states of consciousness (ASCs) and the incipient, acute stages of endogenous psychoses share many common phenomenological features. The aim of our study was to assess hallucinogen-like phenomena in endogenous psychotic patients using standardised methods. We examined 93 endogenous psychotic patients, 50 healthy controls and a...
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
November 1, 1998
V S Ramachandran
Words such as 'consciousness' and 'self' actually encompass a number of distinct phenomena that are loosely lumped together. The study of neurological syndromes allows us to explore the neural mechanisms that might underlie different aspects of self, such as body image and emotional responses to sensory stimuli, and perhaps even laughter and humour. Mapping the 'functional logic' of the many...
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
November 1, 1998
J R Searle
The neurosciences have advanced to the point that we can now treat consciousness as a scientific problem like any other. The problem is to explain how brain processes cause consciousness and how consciousness is realized in the brain. Progress is impeded by a number of philosophical mistakes, and the aim of this paper is to remove nine of those mistakes: (i) consciousness cannot be defined;...
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs
October 1, 1998
Human nature and the nature of reality: conceptual challenges from consciousness research.