A neurophenomenologically guided exploration of altered states of consciousness.

神经现象学引导下的对意识状态改变的探索。

• 批准号: 2591047
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Cambridge
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2591047
• 关键词: neurophenomenologically; guided; exploration; altered; states

Altered states of consciousness (ASCs) are short-lasting deviations in subjective experience that are induced via pharmacological, psychological, or physiological means (Studerus et al., 2010). ASCs have been particularly useful in outlining the potential neurobiological mechanisms that underpin normal waking consciousness, mind-wandering, meditation and problem-solving. For example, studies with psychedelic substances have allowed researchers to correlate changes in magnetoencephalography (MEG) signal diversity to changes in subjective experience (Schartner et al., 2017). This study highlights an important, yet overlooked method for the neuroscience of consciousness: neurophenomenology (Varela, 1996). Neurophenomenology combines phenomenological reports with neurophysiological analyses to bridge the explanatory gap between subjective experiences and objective measures (Ataria, 2017). By developing objective and quantifiable phenomenological analyses, cognitive neuroscientists may cross-validate their neurophysiological analyses across multiple trials, and conclude with greater certainty that objective neurophysiological signals are representative of specific ASCs. Combining novel phenomenological methods with neurophysiological measures within cognitive neuroscience is, arguably, the next requisite step in the study of consciousness.The aim of this project is therefore to apply and develop a novel phenomenological method created by the Consciousness and Cognition Lab (ESRC PhD student Barbara Jachs). Phenomenological and electrophysiological data has been collected from a group of meditators during the previous PhD project. The data will be analysed for specific neural signatures that may be associated with specific 'clusters' of subjective experiences that were cultivated during the meditations. In addition to this, the phenomenological method will also be applied to two other practices that induce an ASC. The first is, broadly, breathwork practices. These practices have been particularly understudied in experimental psychology, but can allegedly induce a radically ASC, due to the active control and manipulation of breathing. The secondary aim of this project is to therefore tailor the novel phenomenological method to the experiences that are cultivated by breathwork practices.

意识改变状态（ASC）是经由药理学、心理学或生理学手段诱导的主观体验的短暂偏差（Studerus等人，2010年）。ASCs在概述支持正常清醒意识、走神、冥想和解决问题的潜在神经生物学机制方面特别有用。例如，使用迷幻物质的研究已经允许研究人员将脑磁图（MEG）信号多样性的变化与主观体验的变化相关联（Schartner等人，2017年）。这项研究强调了一个重要的，但被忽视的方法，为意识的神经科学：神经现象学（瓦雷拉，1996）。神经现象学将现象学报告与神经生理学分析相结合，以弥合主观经验和客观测量之间的解释差距（Ataria，2017）。通过开发客观且可量化的现象学分析，认知神经科学家可以在多项试验中交叉验证他们的神经生理学分析，并更确定地得出客观神经生理信号代表特定ASC的结论。将新的现象学方法与认知神经科学中的神经生理学措施相结合，可以说是意识研究的下一个必要步骤。因此，本项目的目的是应用和发展由意识和认知实验室（ESRC博士生Barbara Jachs）创建的新现象学方法。现象学和电生理学的数据已经收集了一组冥想者在以前的博士项目。这些数据将被分析为特定的神经信号，这些信号可能与冥想过程中培养的主观体验的特定“集群”有关。除此之外，现象学的方法也将被应用到另外两个导致ASC的实践中。第一个是，广泛地说，呼吸练习。这些做法在实验心理学中特别缺乏研究，但据称由于对呼吸的主动控制和操纵，可以从根本上诱导ASC。因此，该项目的次要目的是将新颖的现象学方法定制为通过呼吸练习培养的体验。