Ayahuasca: Between Cognition and Culture
Publicacions URV eBooks – January 01, 2020
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Ayahuasca practices reveal profound insights into spirituality and cognition, as explored through a decade of ethnographic study involving over 300 participants across Latin America and Catalonia. Ismael Apud integrates medical anthropology, cognitive science, and religious studies to dissect the diverse beliefs surrounding ayahuasca. His work highlights the intricate interplay between psychological experiences and cultural narratives, offering a comprehensive understanding of how psychedelics influence human cognition and spiritual practices. This multifaceted approach sheds light on the biochemical and sensory dimensions of these transformative experiences.
Abstract
This book summarizes Ismael Apud's ethnographic research in the field of ayahuasca, conducted in Latin America and Catalonia over a period of 10 years. To analyze the variety of ayahuasca spiritual practices and beliefs, the author combines different approaches, including medical anthropology, cognitive science of religion, history of science, and religious studies. Ismael Apud is a psychologist and anthropologist from Uruguay, with a PhD in Anthropology at Universitat Rovira i Virgili.