Frontiers in Psychology
June 9, 2015
Norman A. S. Farb, Jennifer Daubenmier, Cynthia Price et al.
630 citations
Interoception, the sense of internal bodily signals, is essential for embodiment, motivation, and well-being but remains poorly understood. This review integrates perspectives from neuroscience, clinical practice, and contemplative studies, introducing an expanded taxonomy of interoceptive processes. It argues that many of these processes can be explained by a predictive coding model of mind-body integration, which describes tension between expected and felt body sensations. This model parallels contemplative theories and links interoception to affective and psychosomatic disorders. Maladaptive interpretation of bodily sensations may underlie many contemporary maladies, and contemplative practices may reduce these biases, restoring a sense of presence and agency.
Frontiers in Psychology
September 4, 2018
Raphaël Millière, Robin Carhart‐Harris, Leor Roseman et al.
402 citations
Both meditation and psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and LSD can disrupt the sense of self, but these disruptions are not uniform. Meditation traditions aim to dissolve the self through altered states, while psychedelics produce drug-induced ego dissolution via serotonin receptor agonism. The authors argue that self-consciousness is a multidimensional construct, with narrative aspects (autobiographical memory, self-related thoughts) and embodied aspects (multisensory processes) being differently affected by each. They caution against conflating temporary self-loss with long-term selflessness as a trait, though preliminary evidence suggests possible correlations. The article calls for nuanced understanding of these phenomena.
Frontiers in Psychology
December 13, 2019
Michael Levin
287 citations
Organisms are made of smaller parts—cells, organs, molecular networks—that are themselves competent agents. How do these parts cohere into a single, integrated individual? This paper synthesizes ideas from cognitive science, evolutionary biology, and developmental physiology to propose "Scale-Free Cognition": a definition of an individual based on its ability to pursue goals at its own level of organization. Any self is demarcated by a computational surface—the spatiotemporal boundary of events it can measure, model, and affect. Higher-level agency evolves from the primal homeostatic drive to reduce stress, with developmental bioelectricity (electrical networks formed by all cells) providing a plausible gradual path from single-cell homeostasis to memory, prediction, and complex cognition. This hypothesis offers testable predictions for evolutionary biology, biomedicine, AI, and exobiology.
Frontiers in Psychology
September 23, 2014
280 citations
Different types of meditation—focused attention, open monitoring, and loving-kindness or compassion—produce distinct effects on cognitive processes such as attentional selection, conflict monitoring, divergent thinking, and convergent thinking. These meditations are associated with different neural structures and patterns of brain activity, though exactly how they operate on these processes remains unclear. This review discusses recent findings and suggests how each meditation type may affect cognition, offering directions for future research.
Frontiers in Psychology
November 3, 2015
Xianglong Zeng, Cleo P. K. Chiu, Rong Wang et al.
256 citations
Loving-kindness meditation (LKM) effectively enhances positive emotions, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 empirical studies involving 1,759 participants. The analysis found medium effect sizes for LKM interventions on daily positive emotions in both wait-list controlled randomized trials and non-randomized studies, and small to large effect sizes for immediate positive emotions from ongoing practice. Interventions focused specifically on loving-kindness produced medium effects, while compassion-focused interventions yielded small effects. The length of interventions and meditation time did not influence outcomes, but studies without didactic components showed small effects. Individual differences and the nature of positive emotions also affected results. More research is needed to identify active intervention components and applicability in clinical populations.
Frontiers in Psychology
August 15, 2018
Christopher Timmermann, Leor Roseman, L. Williams et al.
228 citations
Near-death experiences (NDEs) share striking phenomenological similarities with the effects of the psychedelic drug DMT. In a placebo-controlled, within-subjects study, 13 healthy participants received DMT and placebo, then completed a standard NDE measure. DMT significantly increased NDE-like features compared to placebo. NDE scores were linked to DMT-induced ego-dissolution and mystical experiences, as well as baseline traits of absorption and delusional ideation. Nearly all NDE features overlapped between DMT-induced experiences and a matched group of actual NDE experiencers. These results indicate a remarkable similarity between the DMT state and NDEs, warranting further research.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2013
Jonathan Nash, Andrew B. Newberg
182 citations
Scholarly discourse on meditation suffers from inconsistent terminology and a lack of agreed-upon definitions and categories. Past attempts to create new lexicons have been useful but remain debated and misinterpreted. This paper proposes two new models to improve scientific reliability. First, it suggests a taxonomic system based on the established third-person paradigm of Affect and Cognition, borrowed from psychology and cognitive science, rather than inventing new first-person terminology. Second, it offers a definitional model that distinguishes meditation method from meditative state, conceptualizing meditation as a dynamic process with six related stages. The goal is to provide researchers with a reliable nomenclature for categorizing meditation methods and a conceptual framework to guide research and theory.
Frontiers in Psychology
June 4, 2019
Raíssa Nóbrega de Almeida, Ana Cecília de Menezes Galvão, Flávia Santos Da Silva et al.
173 citations
A single dose of ayahuasca increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in both healthy controls and patients with treatment-resistant depression 48 hours after ingestion, compared with placebo. Baseline BDNF levels did not predict major depression or clinical characteristics, but lower BDNF was linked to hypocortisolemia. Among patients, only those who received ayahuasca showed a negative correlation between BDNF levels and depressive symptoms at 48 hours. The findings suggest a potential link between ayahuasca's antidepressant effects and changes in BDNF, supporting further investigation into psychedelics for depression.
Frontiers in Psychology
May 22, 2014
Aviva Eberkovich-Ohana, Yair Edor-Ziderman, Joseph Eglicksohn et al.
170 citations
Long-term mindfulness practitioners can volitionally enter states of 'Timelessness' and 'Spacelessness' that are distinct from ordinary memory or imagination. Brain activity recorded with MEG in 12 meditators showed that these altered states share a neural network involving the posterior cingulate, right temporoparietal junction, and cerebellum—regions linked to bodily processing—rather than the autobiographical memory and imagery networks activated during control states of recalling the past or imagining another place. Theta-band oscillations were prominent. Phenomenologically guided analyses further distinguished different levels of bodily alteration, demonstrating that contemplative expertise can help isolate the neural correlates of specific dimensions of conscious experience.
Frontiers in Psychology
June 10, 2022
Mauro Cavarra, Alessandra Falzone, Johannes G. Ramaekers et al.
156 citations
Modern clinical research on psychedelics shows promising outcomes for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with appropriately screened participants in controlled settings, though some patients relapse or respond poorly. Individual and contextual factors (set and setting) appear to shape the psychedelic experience and clinical outcomes, suggesting the therapeutic context may moderate efficacy. This review searched PubMed/Medline and Scopus for clinical studies describing structured psychotherapeutic interventions alongside psychedelics. Ad-hoc and adapted therapeutic methods were identified. Common principles, points of divergence, and future directions are discussed, focusing on therapeutic stance, degree of directiveness, and potential suggestive effects of information provided to patients.
Frontiers in Psychology
August 4, 2022
Geoff J. Bathje, Eric Majeski, Mesphina Kudowor
154 citations
Psychedelic integration, the process of making sense of and applying insights from psychedelic experiences, has recently gained attention but remains poorly defined. Therapists, coaches, and individuals offer or engage in integration services, yet the term covers many practices and techniques, causing confusion. This review and concept analysis examines existing definitions, practices, and models of integration, providing a synthesized definition and model along with a comprehensive summary of practices to bring clarity to the subject.
Frontiers in Psychology
November 27, 2018
Lorena Lobo, M. Heras-Escribano, David Travieso
148 citations
Ecological psychology, developed by J. J. Gibson and E. J. Gibson, offers an alternative to cognitivism and behaviorism by emphasizing the continuity of perception and action, the organism-environment system as the unit of analysis, and affordances as the objects of perception. The approach rejects the poverty of the stimulus and the passive perceiver, instead highlighting perceptual learning and development. This paper analyzes the philosophical and psychological influences—pragmatism, behaviorism, phenomenology, and Gestalt psychology—and summarizes the main concepts and their historical development. The authors conclude that ecological psychology remains highly innovative, influencing contemporary embodied and situated cognitive sciences through the concept of affordance.
Frontiers in Psychology
April 26, 2016
142 citations
A pilot study tested a school-embedded Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program for both students and teachers. Students who took the course showed significant improvements in self-reported stress, self-regulation, school-specific self-efficacy, and interpersonal problems compared to a waitlist control group, with effect sizes ranging from 0.62 to 0.68. Medium effect sizes on mindfulness, anxiety, and creativity suggest potential in those areas. Teachers in the intervention group reported significantly higher mindfulness and fewer interpersonal problems (effect sizes 0.66 and 0.42), with medium effects on anxiety and emotion regulation. The findings highlight similarities and differences in MBSR effects on students and teachers and the importance of interpersonal outcomes.
Frontiers in Psychology
November 17, 2016
D. Dorjee
124 citations
The term 'contemplative' is used frequently in meditation research, but there is no consensus on its definition. This paper proposes an alternative approach: contemplative science as the interdisciplinary study of the metacognitive self-regulatory capacity (MSRC) of the mind and associated modes of existential awareness (MEA), modulated by motivational, intentional, and contextual factors. The MSRC enables introspective awareness and self-regulation for well-being. Changes in conceptual processing are hypothesized to mediate between MSRC, motivational factors, and shifts in MEA. This framework aims to reduce terminological confusion, include varied contemplative practices, and encourage development of a comprehensive theory that recognizes first- and second-person methods.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2014
Jared R. Lindahl, Christopher T. Kaplan, Evan M. Winget et al.
123 citations
Meditation can induce visual light experiences, such as discrete lightforms and patterned or diffuse lights, which are well documented in Buddhist texts but rarely reported in scientific literature. Reports from American Buddhist practitioners closely match these traditional accounts. The paper argues that meditative practices that reduce sensory and social stimulation and focus attention produce perceptual and cognitive effects similar to sensory deprivation. Since sensory deprivation is known to increase neuroplasticity, meditation may similarly enhance neuroplastic potential. The findings suggest that scientists, clinicians, and meditators should be aware of this broader range of experiences arising from contemplative practice.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2014
Viviana Capurso, Franco Fabbro, Cristiano Crescentini
115 citations
A commentary argues that the relationship between mindfulness meditation and creativity is more complex than previously assumed. It suggests that while mindfulness reduces mind-wandering, which is often linked to creative insight, it may also enhance certain cognitive processes that support creativity. The author contends that the effects depend on the type of mindfulness practice and the aspect of creativity being measured, and calls for more nuanced research to disentangle these interactions.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2014
Christina Merrick, Christine A. Godwin, Mark W. Geisler et al.
108 citations
Consciousness remains a scientific mystery, but contrasting conscious and unconscious processes offers clues. The olfactory system provides a unique window for this contrast due to its neuroanatomy, cognitive mechanisms, and neural dynamics like brain oscillations. This review argues that for an olfactory content to become conscious, it must engage a large-scale neural network involving broad information integration.
Frontiers in Psychology
May 23, 2022
David B. Yaden, Dylan Earp, Marianna Graziosi et al.
106 citations
The acute effects of psychedelics depend on users' expectations and surroundings (set and setting). Current clinical psychedelic administration draws on indigenous practices, 1960s new age spirituality, psychodynamic approaches, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Cognitive-behavioral therapies, including acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), have the strongest rationale for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy because they avoid cultural insensitivity, make minimal speculative assumptions about the mind and reality, and have the largest empirical support for safety and effectiveness outside psychedelic therapy. Concepts from CBT, DBT, and ACT can usefully inform preparation, session, and integration phases. Evidence-based psychotherapeutic paradigms provide the best starting point for safety and efficacy.
Frontiers in Psychology
June 2, 2022
William Brennan, William Brennan, Alexander B. Belser
86 citations
A new framework called EMBARK provides a transdiagnostic, trans-drug approach to psychotherapy in psychedelic-assisted treatment. Existing models fall into basic support or evidence-based therapy categories, but both lack adequate attention to embodied, relational, and ethical elements. EMBARK addresses these gaps with six clinical domains for supporting therapeutic benefit and four care cornerstones for ethical responsibility, guiding interventions across preparation, medicine, and integration sessions. The model also standardizes therapist training and is already adopted in several clinical trials, aiming to improve research standardization and clarify which factors drive treatment outcomes.
Frontiers in Psychology
July 4, 2016
Yung-Jong Eshiah
84 citations
A new theoretical framework, the Nonself Theory (NT), proposes that minimizing or extinguishing the sense of self leads to egolessness and authentic happiness, contrasting with Western psychology's emphasis on strengthening the self. The theory uses the Mandala Model of Self (MMS), which describes the well-functioning self across cultures through four concepts: biology, ideal person, knowledge/wisdom, and action. While the ego pursues desire-driven pleasure to reinforce the self, the nonself approach follows a self-cultivation principle of giving up desires, displaying compassion, practicing meditation, and seeking Buddhist wisdom to overcome the illusion of self. The NT accounts for altruism, mindfulness, peak experiences, and moral conduct, and offers clinical applications and directions for future research.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2013
Thomas Metzinger
84 citations
A metatheoretical paper identifies promising interdisciplinary links between empirical dream research and philosophy of mind, focusing on the MPS-problem—the challenge of isolating and empirically grounding the simplest form of self-consciousness, or minimal phenomenal selfhood. The authors argue that studying bodiless dreams, asomatic out-of-body experiences, and full-body illusions can advance this goal. Additional research targets include refining the concept of a first-person perspective at a subcognitive level, exploring commonalities between mind-wandering and dreaming, comparing embodiment across dream and wake states, and showing that cognitive corruption and rationality deficits in dreams have more serious implications for epistemology and dream research methodology than usually assumed. The paper proposes a list of innovative research goals to strengthen connections between dream research and philosophy of mind.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2013
Bhuvanesh Awasthi
81 citations
Research on meditation's neurobiological correlates often overlooks its philosophical foundations, leading to problems with definition, study design, and outcomes. A satisfactory neuroscience of meditation requires an operational definition that integrates traditional ontological descriptions with modern neurocognitive accounts. To understand how meditation works, it is essential to appraise the philosophical positions underlying its phenomenology in originating traditions. Addressing issues of definition, design, and validity of response measures is crucial for the field's evolution and will provide context for meditation-based interventions.
Frontiers in Psychology
January 1, 2013
David P. Luke, Devin B. Terhune
81 citations
A review of published studies finds consistent evidence that serotonin agonists can temporarily produce synaesthesia, a condition where senses blend, such as seeing sounds. However, the research has many methodological flaws and little experimental work has been done. While the findings point to the serotonergic system's role in synaesthesia, the limitations prevent firm conclusions about whether chemicals truly induce genuine synaesthesia.
Frontiers in Psychology
October 6, 2021
80 citations
During the COVID-19 pandemic, cultivating self-transcendence—connecting with the true self, others, and something larger—offers a promising path to personal growth and mental health. The paper explains self-transcendence using Frankl's model and Wong's extension, reviews relevant literature, and presents the Self-Transcendence Measure-Brief (STM-B) along with its psychometric history. Empirical evidence indicates that self-transcendence served as a buffer against pandemic suffering, suggesting that fostering this quality can help overcome mental health crises in difficult times.
Frontiers in Psychology
September 29, 2021
José Manuel Rodríguez Arce, Michael James Winkelman
80 citations
Our hominin ancestors likely encountered and ingested psychedelic mushrooms throughout their evolutionary history, supported by evidence from early hominins' paleodiet, primate mycophagy and self-medication, and the biogeography of psilocybin-containing fungi. Psilocybin and similar psychedelics, targeting the serotonin 2A receptor, stimulate flexible cognition, alter emotional processing and social behavior, and may have provided adaptive advantages. Their incidental inclusion in the diet and later integration into rituals could have enhanced sociality, imagination, and suggestibility, aiding adaptation to a socio-cognitive niche. The model proposes four instrumentalization goals: managing distress, enhancing social interaction, facilitating collective rituals, and improving group decision-making, potentially favoring prosociality in human evolution.