Cited by 150Psychedelics and Drug StudiesParanormal Experiences and BeliefsMental Health and Psychiatry

A neurophenomenological approach to non-ordinary states of consciousness: hypnosis, meditation, and psychedelics

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Timmermann, Christopher, Bauer, Prisca R., Gosseries, Olivia, Vanhaudenhuyse, Audrey, Vollenweider, Franz, Laureys, Steven, Singer, Tania, Antonova, Elena +1 more·2023·Trends in Cognitive Sciences

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.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.tics.2022.11.006

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  • Several studies have reported clinical benefits of hypnotic, meditative, and psychedelic trances on pain, emotional regulation, sleep, fatigue, stress, cognitive difficulties, and quality of life.

    “Several studies have reported some clinical benefits of hypnotic, meditative and psychedelic trances on pain, emotional regulation, sleep, fatigue, stress, cognitive difficulties and quality of life [43–48].”

    From Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices (2024) · cites this paper as [47]

    The paper’s Meditation section reports reduced stress, improved quality of life, and benefits linked to emotion regulation. Its discussion of clinical outcomes and pain, together with Box 3’s account of hypnosis, supports benefits across the three practices. The cited copy does not report clinical benefits for sleep, fatigue, or cognitive difficulties; its discussion of cognitive resources in hypnosis is not a finding about treating cognitive difficulties. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Both mindfulness-based interventions and psychedelic interventions have been recognized for their potential to cultivate decentering.

    “In general, both Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Psychedelic Interventions have been recognized for their potential to cultivate decentering [82].”

    From Mindfulness meditation and psychedelics: potential synergies and commonalities (2023) · cites this paper as [82]

    The Meditation section says mindfulness- and compassion-based interventions provide opportunities to disengage, or ‘decentre,’ from feelings and thoughts. The paper also describes psychedelic-induced changes in the sense of self, but the passages reviewed do not say that psychedelic interventions cultivate decentering. That half of the claim is not established by our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [38]38. Melzack, R. and Casey, K.L. (1968) Sensory, motivational and central control determinants of pain: a new conceptual model. In International Symposium on the Skin Senses (Kenshalo, D., ed.), pp. 423-435, Springfield
  2. [151]151. Depraz, N. et al. (2000) The gesture of awareness: an account of its structural dynamics. In Investigating Phenomenal Con- sciousness (Velmans, M., ed.), pp. 121-136, John Benjamins Press 154.

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Authors
Timmermann, C., Bauer, P. R., Gosseries, O., Vanhaudenhuyse, A., Vollenweider, F., Laureys, S., Singer, T., Antonova, E., & Lutz, A.
Affiliations
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • University of Liège (BE)
  • University of Zurich (CH)
  • Max Planck Society (DE)
  • King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Timmermann, Christopher
Venue
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-02
Volume
27
Issue
2
Pages
139-159
ISSN
1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4312140284
Cited by
150
References
198
Citations by year
2026: 38 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 22
FWCI
4.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • Brunel University Research Archive (BURA) (Brunel University London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • ORBi (University of Liège) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Spiral (Imperial College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • King's College London
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-11-IDEX-0007, ANR-11-IDEX, ANR-11-LABX-0042, 11 IDEX - 0007)
  • Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
  • Fundação Bial
  • Université de Lyon (ANR‐11‐LABX‐0042, ANR-11-IDEX-0 0 07)
  • Fondation contre le Cancer
  • FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (617739)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
Keywords
neurophenomenology, non-ordinary states of consciousness, hypnosis, meditation, psychedelics, subjective experience, neural dynamics, clinical transformation
MeSH terms
Brain, Consciousness, Hallucinogens, Humans, Hypnosis, Meditation

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