Studies on ASC have gathered support from neurophysiological, cognitive, and biological studies, together with various other domains, such as quantum and phenomenological analysis[ Phenomenological analysis is based on discussions and reflections of direct sense perception and experiences of the researched phenomenon. A starting point of the strategy is your ability to approach a project without a priori assumptions, definitions or theoretical frameworks. A key aspect of this method of analysis is phenomenological reduction. You need to eliminate any factors, which disturb your perceptions or which you consider as outside factors. As phenomenological research is based on either your own or other people’s experiences and perceptions of the phenomenon, …show more content…
ASC has been explored through consciousness expansion, meditation, LSD, and mystical practices in the past. However it is now being explored through newly developed methods and techniques in cognitive neuroscience, with the help of techniques like electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), neuroelectric and neuromagnetic source imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to provide new insights into altered brain functioning[ Logothetis, Pauls, Augath, Trinath, & Oeltermann, …show more content…
However, these universal principles of shamanism reflect underlying neurological processes. Michael winkelman refers these basic brain processes as neurognostic structures[ Neurognosis are referred to as the initial organization of the neural networks that provides the basis for the universal aspects of mind. Neurognostic structures are the inherent knowledge structures of the organism, thses structures are reflected in universal shamanic charateristics. So do archetypes, which are the primordial organizing principles structuring the basic patterns of the collective unconscious. Boyer 1992 ; Mithen 1996 ; Laughlin et al. 1992. ], innate brain modules. This reveals that universals of shamanism such as animism, totemism, soul flight, animal spirits, and death and rebirth experiencs reflect fundamental brain operations and structures of consciousness. The shamanic paradigm can contribute to a reconciliation of scientific and religious prspectivs by providing a universalistic biopsychosocial framework that explicates the biological underpinnings of spiritual experiences and