The conscious mind defines human existence. Many consider the brain as a computer, and they attempt to explain consciousness as emerging at a critical, but unspecified, threshold level of complex computation among neurons. The brain-as-computer model, however, fails to account for phenomenal experience and portrays consciousness as an impotent, after-the-fact epiphenomenon lacking causal power. And the brain-as-computer concept precludes even the remotest possibility of spirituality. As described throughout the history of humankind, seemingly spiritual mental phenomena, including transcendent states, near-death and out-of-body experiences, and past-life memories have recently been well documented and treated scientifically. In addition, the brain-as-computer approach has been challenged by advocates of quantum brain biology, who are possibly able to explain, scientifically, nonlocal, seemingly spiritual mental states.

Exploring Frontiers of the Mind-Brain Relationship argues against the purely physical analysis of consciousness and for a balanced psychobiological approach. This thought-provoking volume bridges philosophy of mind with science of mind to empirically examine transcendent phenomena, such as mystic states, near-death experiences and past-life memories, that have confounded scientists for decades. Representing disciplines ranging from philosophy and history to neuroimaging and physics, and boasting a panel of expert scientists and physicians, including Andrew Newberg, Peter Fenwick, Stuart Hameroff, Mario Beauregard, Deepak Chopra, and Chris Clarke the book rigorously follows several lines of inquiry into mind-brain controversies, challenging readers to form their own conclusions-or reconsider previous ones. It is essential reading for researchers and clinicians across many disciplines, including cognitive psychology, personality and social psychology, the neurosciences, neuropsychiatry, palliative care, philosophy, and quantumphysics.

"This book ... brings together some precious observations about the fundamental mystery of the nature of consciousness ... It raises many questions that serve to invite each of us to be more aware of the uncertainty of our preconceptions about consciousness ... This book on the frontiers of mind-body relationships is a scholarly embodiment of creative and open-minded science."

C. Robert Cloninger, MD Wallace Renard Professor of Psychiatry, Genetics, and Psychology Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis MO

Autorentext

Alexander Moreira-Almeida, M.D., Ph.D., ****was trained in psychiatry and cognitive-behavioral therapy at Institute of Psychiatry of the University of São Paulo, Brazil, where he also obtained his Ph.D. in Health Sciences investigating the mental health of Spiritist mediums. Formerly a postdoctoral fellow in religion and health at Duke University, he is now Professor of Psychiatry at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora School of Medicine and Founder and Director of the Research Center in Spirituality and Health, Brazil (www.ufjf.br/nupes-eng). His main research interest involves empirical studies of spiritual experiences as well as the methodology and epistemology of this research field. His publications are available at www.hoje.org.br/elsh.

Franklin Santana Santos, M.D., Ph.D., was trained in geriatrics at Clinical Hospital of the University of São Paulo, Brazil, where he also obtained his PhD in Health Sciences investigating delirium in elderly patients. Formerly a postdoctoral fellow in cognitive disturbances at Karolinska Institute (Sweden), he is now Professor of post-graduate program of University of São Paulo School of Medicine and collaborator researcher of Laboratory of Neuroscience (LIM-27) at Institute of Psychiatry of the University of São Paulo, Brazil. He is a leader in the studies in issues related to death, dying and Palliative Care in Brazil. His main research interest involves cognitive disturbances, thanatology, palliative care and medical education, topics about he has published several articles and books.

Inhalt

Foreword; R. Cloninger.- Preface; A. Moreira-Almeida, F. Santana Santos.- Part I. Philosophy and History.- Materialism's eternal return: recurrent patterns of materialistic explanations of mental phenomena; S. de Freitas Araujo.- The major objections from reductive materialism against belief in the existence of cartesian mind-body dualism; R. Almeder.- Psychic Phenomena and the Mind-Body Problem: Historical Notes on a Neglected Conceptual Tradition; C. S. Alvarado.- Part II Physics.- No-collapse Physics and Consciousness; C. J. S. Clarke.- The 'Quantum Soul' - A Scientific Hypothesis; S. Hameroff and D. Chopra.- Part III - Functional Neuroimaging.- The Neurobiological Correlates of Meditation and Mindfulness; J. Edwards, J. Peres, D. A. Monti, and A. Newberg.- Functional Neuroimaging Studies of Emotional Self-Regulation and Spiritual Experiences; M. Beauregard.- Part IV - Human Experiences as Promising lines of investigation of Mind-brain relationship.- Near-Death Experiences and the Mind-Brain Relationship; P. Fenwick.- Death, end of life experiences and their theoretical and clinical implications for the mind-brain relationship; P. Fenwick and F. Santana Santos.- Research on Mediumistic and the Mind-Brain Relationship; A. Moreira-Almeida.- Cases of the Reincarnation Type and the Mind-Brain Relationship; E. Haraldsson.- Conclusion; A. Moreira-Almeida, F. Santana Santos.