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.

意识状态（ASC）的改变是通过药理，心理或生理手段引起的主观经验中短暂的偏差（Studerus等，2010）。 ASC在概述了基础的潜在神经生物学机制方面特别有用，这些神经生物学机制是正常醒来的意识，思维方式，冥想和解决问题的方法。例如，使用迷幻物质的研究使研究人员可以将磁脑摄影（MEG）信号多样性的变化与主观经验的变化相关联（Schartner等，2017）。这项研究突出了一种意识神经科学的一种重要但被忽视的方法：神经素学（Varela，1996）。神经单位学结合了现象学报道和神经生理学分析，以弥合主观经验和客观措施之间的解释性差距（Ataria，2017年）。通过制定客观和可量化的现象学分析，认知神经科学家可以在多个试验中跨越验证其神经生理分析，并更确定地结论，客观的神经生理学信号代表特定的ASCS。可以说，将新型现象学方法与认知神经科学中的神经生理学指标相结合是意识研究研究的下一个必要步骤。因此，该项目的目的是应用和开发由意识和认知实验室（ESRC PHD学生Barbara Jachs）创造的新型现象学方法。在上一个博士学位项目中，已经从一组冥想者那里收集了现象学和电生理数据。将分析数据的特定神经特征，这些神经信号可能与冥想期间培养的主观经验的特定“簇”有关。除此之外，现象学方法还将应用于诱导ASC的其他两种实践。首先是呼吸练习。这些实践在实验心理学中特别研究了，但由于积极控制和操纵呼吸，据称可以诱导从根本上进行ASC。因此，该项目的次要目的是将新型现象学方法定制为呼吸习惯所培养的经验。