The Physiology of Meditation and Mystical States of Consciousness
Perspectives in biology and medicine March 1, 1976 Julian M. Davidson 130 citations
Consciousness, the essence of human experience, remains largely excluded from mainstream life sciences due to the dominant physicalist-reductionist paradigm, which limits researchers to studying only physical or behavioral variables. Despite philosophical and practical challenges, growing public interest has spurred research into altered states of consciousness (ASCs). This survey focuses on physiological studies of meditation, aiming to draw conclusions from existing research on meditating subjects, relate findings to mystical experience, and explore the connection between physical phenomena and subjective conscious activity.