The nature of consciousness, and especially the interface between consciousness and physical reality, is one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Recently, our knowledge and capacity to process information through non-biological (electronic and digital) media has increased exponentially. These technologies allow us to shed new light on how information, consciousness and the mind create health and healing. Advances in these areas provide one of the most exciting opportunities for biological, psychological and medical research to probe the interface of these complex information processing systems.
In this domain conscious processes are evaluated using a combination of electroencephalographic (EEG), neuroimaging and phenomenological approaches, with particular emphasis upon the roles of neural network dynamics, temporal and spatial modeling, and the interaction of physical and psychological variables so as to better define the neurophysiologic and phenomenal basis of consciousness as it relates to wellness, illness and healing.
Goals:
- Shed new light on how information, consciousness and the mind impact health and healing
- Explore biological, psychological and medical research around the complex information processing system we call consciousness
- Use EEGs, neuroimaging and phenomenological methods to deter define the neurophysiological and phenomenological bases of consciousness
Projects:
Meditative Practice
Hinterberger T, Kamei T, Walach H. Psychophysiological classification and staging of mental states during meditative practice. Biomedizinische Technik (Biomedical Engineering), 2011. 56(6): p. 341-350.
The paper proposes a classification paradigm for staging individual meditation sessions into a variety of predefined mental states. Using a 64-channel EEG and peripheral physiological measures seven meditative tasks were analyzed and roughly 83% of states could be correctly classified. This paper shows the possibility of developing an automized staging tool to be used for monitoring changes in the states of consciousness on or offline for training or therapeutic purposes.
Genius, Religion and the Psychic
Schwartz, S. Nonlocality and Exceptional Experiences: A Study of Genius, Religious Epiphany and the Psychic. Explore, 2010. 6(4): p. 227-236.
Throughout history, and maybe even in your personal life, people have had moments in which they become awe struck by an idea or emotion. This investigator suggests these moments, which may be classified as genius, religious epiphany or psychic, are really all a part of the same phenomenon – nonlocal mind. Nonlocal mind is an idea which posits that our minds, thoughts, and actions can be influenced by persons and things which may be too far away in space or time to affect us according to the laws of classical physics. Without the knowledge quantum physics has provided about interactions of matter it would be easy to believe these strokes of genius and religious epiphanies come about through some supernatural mechanism, but perhaps this is simply a misunderstanding, and these events arise through our nonlocal minds.
Weak Quantum Theory
Atmanspacher H, Römer H, Walach H. Weak quantum theory: Complementarity and entanglement in physics and beyond. Foundations of Physics, 2002. 32: p. 379-406.
In this paper researchers describe a weak version of quantum theory (WQT). This formulation of WQT is designed to move the conversation out of the realm of physics and into more general contexts. Two studies are used in this paper as examples; the first is complementary types of dynamical descriptions of physical systems, and the second is the relationship between conscious and unconscious processes in psychoanalytic and psychotherapeutic settings. These cases demonstrate considerations and the applicability of WQT outside of traditional physics.