An informal conversation with consciousness scientist Dr. Tarik Bel-Bahar about Altered States & The Nature of Consciousness [episode 31]
Summary: This week we are speaking with Dr. Tarik Bel-Bahar from the Center for Consciousness Science at the University of Michigan Medical School. At the Center they are studying consciousness via looking at anesthesia, altered states, near death experiences, psychedelics, kundalini yoga and other experiences that affect awareness. They are asking questions such as:<br> What is the nature of consciousness? <br> How does the brain maintain a coherent sense of self over time?<br> We cover some broad strokes about consciousness science for the layperson, and we also talk about:<br> <br> The pillars of consciousness science<br> The impact of psychedelic experiences and altered states of consciousness on mental health<br> Effects of kundalini yoga on physical health – a study in progress<br> Psychological and brain changes during shamanic journeying<br> The differences between the academic and more new age views of consciousness<br> <br> Links:<br> <br> <a href="https://consciousness.med.umich.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Center for Consciousness Science at the University of Michigan </a><br> Questionnaire: <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0012412" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) </a>by Erich Studerus , Alex Gamma, Franz X. Vollenweider<br> Interesting article about <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/mar/01/consciousness-eight-questions-science" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">8 questions consciousness science must answer</a><br> <a href="http://www.humanconnectomeproject.org/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Human Connectome Project</a> mapping the complete structural and functional neural connections in vivo within and across individuals.<br> <a href="http://www.uvacontemplation.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Contemplative Sciences Center</a> at the University of Virginia<br> <a href="http://www.noetic.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Institute for Noetic Sciences</a><br> <a href="http://consciousness.arizona.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tucson Science of Consciousness Conferences</a><br> <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Katherine_Maclean" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Consciousness researcher Katherine Maclean</a><br> Trailer for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyLkg3uDe1c" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Yogananda Documentary Film</a><br> <a href="https://www.mindandlife.org/international-symposium-contemplative-studies/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Symposium for Contemplative Studies</a><br> <a href="http://neurosynth.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Neurosynth </a>is a platform for large-scale, automated synthesis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data<br> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZFUhuxj9ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mickey Hart’s (Grateful Dead drummer) Brain on Music</a> for examining which rhythms could be used to treat the brain as medicine <br> <br> <a href="https://www.shamanism.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Foundation for Shamanic Studies from Harner</a><br> <br> <a href="http://psychedelicscience.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Psychedelic Science Conference</a><br> <a href="http://www.horizonsnyc.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Horizons Psychedelic Conference</a><br> <br>
