A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics
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Published version
Author(s)
Timmermann Slater, Christopher Bernhard
Bauer, Prisca
Gosseries, Olivia
Vanhaudenhuyse, Audrey
Vollenweider, Franz
Type
Journal Article
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.
Date Issued
2023-02
Date Acceptance
2022-10-29
Citation
Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 2023, 27 (2), pp.139-159
ISSN
1364-6613
Publisher
Cell Press
Start Page
139
End Page
159
Journal / Book Title
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Volume
27
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364661322002911?via%3Dihub
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-12-22