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Author Spotlight: Exploring Dynamic Neural Changes Associated with Religious Chanting

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Scoping review on shamanistic trances practices.

Nolwenn Marie¹, Yannick Lafon², Aminata Bicego²

¹Conscious Care Lab, GIGA Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. nmarie@uliege.be.

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

|November 4, 2024

Summary

Shamanic trance, a spiritual practice, involves altered states of consciousness for problem-solving. Research indicates these trances are non-pathological and may have therapeutic potential, warranting further investigation.

Keywords:

Brain and physiological function Clinical applications Phenomenology Psychology Shamanism Trance

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychology
Anthropology

Background:

Shamanism is a spiritual tradition involving altered states of consciousness.
Practitioners interact with an unseen world to address community issues.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a multidisciplinary overview of scientific research on shamanic trance.
To explore the phenomenology, psychology, neurophysiology, and clinical applications of shamanic trance.

Main Methods:

A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar.
Twenty-seven eligible articles were identified and their data classified into four dimensions.

Main Results:

Shamanic trances are non-pathological and differ from normal consciousness in phenomenology and neurophysiology.
These altered states are influenced by personal and environmental factors.
Therapeutic potential exists but requires cautious approach and rigorous study.

Conclusions:

Shamanic trance is a complex area of scientific inquiry.
It offers insights into consciousness, spirituality, and potential therapeutic applications.
Further research is needed to validate its effectiveness in complementary therapies.