Some problems with

phenomenology/neuroscience studies

 General vs. aggregate functions

 “The action is in the interaction”
 Vague (e.g., “trance”) or overgeneral (e.g., meditation)
concepts used
 Are brain imaging data more “objective”? (Kanwisher,
MIT, “many fMRI findings unlikely to replicate; Vul et
al. implausible correlations, 2009)
 Lack of matching of specific experiences/behaviors
with specific brain functions
When is neuroimaging revealing?

 Demonstration that some brain activity accompanies a

task is not that interesting. It depends on theory making
 How does processing change with practice
 Which areas implement systems?
 Is there more than one way a function can be carried out?
… (Kosslyn, 2004)
What is neurophenomenology?
 The rigorous… use of first person data about
subjective experiences… to describe and quantify
the large-scale neurodynamics of consciousness
(Lutz & Thompson, 2003)

 First- and 3rd person approaches to consciousness

have a “close mapping” (Baars, 1997)

 We lack an empirically valid and reliable

taxonomy for states of consciousness
Systems to categorize ASCs
 Activation  Onset/course (level of
 Awareness span awareness, individual
volition, individual
 Self-awareness control)
 Sensory dynamics
 Phenomenological
 (brought about by dimensions (hedonic
compromised brain
structure, disconnectivity, valence, physical-
neurochemical and metaphysical qualities,
metabolic processes)
others)
 Vaitl et al.
 Berenbaum et al.
Some ASCs according to
Vaitl et al.
 Drowsiness  Sexual activity and orgasm
 Daydreaming  Respiration
 Hypnagogic states  Sensory deprivation
 Sleep and dreaming  Rhythm trance
 NDEs
 Relaxation
 Extreme environmental conditions
 Meditation
 Starvation and diet
 Hypnosis
 Biofeedback
Event related potentials (ERPs)
PTSD study
KK ee nn dd aa l ll l TT aa uu 33 44 ss uu bb j jee cc t t ss ss ee ss ss 22 HH __ 11 SS __ 11

O m e g a v s o t h e r - r a t in g s , s e lf - r a t i n g , h y p n o t i z a b i li t y
O m e g a v s o t h e r - r a t in g s , s e lf - r a t i n g , h y p n o t i z a b i li t y

VV aa l li idd NN KK ee nn dd aa l ll l TT aa uu ZZ pp - - l lee vv ee l l

AA && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 00 . . 22 33 11 . . 99 44 . . 00 55 AA == i imm aa gg ee r r yy / / f f aa nn t t aa ss yy / / dd r r ee aa mm i inn gg

BB && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 - - 00 . . 11 22 - - 11 . . 00 22 . . 33 11 BB == nn oo r r mm aa l l aa t t t t ee nn t t i ioo nn / / cc oo gg nn i it t i ioo nn

CC && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 - - 00 . . 00 99 - - 00 . . 77 11 . . 44 88 CC == vv ee ss t t i ibb uu l laa r r mm oo t t oo r r aa l lt t ee r r aa t t i ioo nn ss / / hh aa l ll luu cc i inn aa t t i ioo nn ss

DD && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 - - 00 . . 00 55 - - 00 . . 33 99 . . 77 00 DD == ee nn vv i ir r oo nn mm ee nn t t aa l l aa l lt t ee r r aa t t i ioo nn ss / / hh aa l ll luu cc i inn aa t t i ioo nn ss

E & O m e g a 3 4 0 . 2 6 2 . 1 7 . 0 3 E = e n h a n c e d c o g n i t i o n / m y s t i c a l e x p e r ie n c e / p o s . a f f e c t
E & O m e g a 3 4 0 . 2 6 2 . 1 7 . 0 3 E = e n h a n c e d c o g n i t i o n / m y s t i c a l e x p e r ie n c e / p o s . a f f e c t

F & O m e g a 3 4 0 . 0 3 0 . 2 8 . 7 8 F = n e g a t i v e a f f e c t / d is c o m f o r t
F & O m e g a 3 4 0 . 0 3 0 . 2 8 . 7 8 F = n e g a t i v e a f f e c t / d is c o m f o r t

GG && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 - - 00 . . 11 00 - - 00 . . 88 55 . . 33 99 GG == l lee t t hh aa r r gg yy / / r r ee l laa xx aa t t i ioo nn / / ss l lee ee pp i inn ee ss ss

HH && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 HH == f f oo r r gg ee t t t t i inn gg / /

II && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 - - 00 . . 00 77 - - 00 . . 55 55 . . 55 88 II == LL oo ss ss oo f f cc oo nn t t r r oo l l

JJ && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 00 . . 00 66 00 . . 44 88 . . 66 33 JJ == SS uu dd dd ee nn t t hh oo uu gg hh t t

ss ee l lf f r r aa t t i inn gg && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 00 . . 11 44 11 . . 11 22 . . 22 66 ss ee l lf f - - r r aa t t i inn gg oo f f hh yy pp nn oo t t i icc dd ee pp t t hh

hh yy pp nn oo t t i izz aa bb && OO mm ee gg aa 33 44 00 . . 22 33 11 . . 88 88 . . 00 66 hh yy pp nn oo t t i izz aa bb i il lt t yy ( ( 33 == hh i igg hh , , 22 == mm ee dd , , 11 == l loo ww ) )