Methodological lessons in neurophenomenology: Review of a baseline study and recommendations for research approaches

Abstract

Neurophenomenological (NP) methods integrate objective and subjective data in ways that retain the statistical power of established disciplines (like cognitive science) while embracing the value of first-person reports of experience. The present paper positions neurophenomenology as an approach that pulls from traditions of cognitive science but includes techniques that are challenging for cognitive science in some ways. A baseline study is reviewed for “lessons learned,” that is, the potential methodological improvements that will support advancements in understanding consciousness and cognition using neurophenomenology. These improvements, we suggest, include (1) addressing issues of interdisciplinarity by purposefully and systematically creating and maintaining shared mental models among research team members; (2) making sure that NP experiments include high standards of experimental design and execution to achieve variable control, reliability, generalizability, and replication of results; and (3) conceiving of phenomenological interview techniques as placing the impetus on the interviewer in interaction with the experimental subject.

‘Standing in Awe’: The Effects of Awe on Body Perception and the Relation with Absorption

“…For instance, it has been found that participants who recalled an experience of awe reported feeling smaller relative to the environment, as measured through self-report questionnaires [7]. People who watched the Earth from space by using a virtual reality (VR) simulation reported feelings of awe and feeling small and insignificant in the face of the vast and incomprehensible universe [19,20]. In addition, in a recent study experimentally induced feelings of awe resulted in higher ratings on the "small-self-scale," consisting of items like 'I feel small or insignificant' and 'I feel the presence of something greater than myself' [8].…”

“…Next, participants completed the same 8 awe manipulation check items as used in the first two studies (Cronbach's a = .97). Participants also completed a shortened version of the Tellegen absorption scale, consisting of 15 items (corresponding to the following items from the original scale: 3,4,7,8,9,10,12,14,16,19,21,24,25,28,31) 8 using a 4-point Likert scale (Cronbach's a = 83). The rationale for using a shortened version of the absorption scale was to save time, as previous research had shown that the shortened version had similar psychometric properties as the extended version (van Elk & Lindeman, in prep.).…”

Noise sensitivity: A neurophenomenological perspective

“…Interpretation will arise from participants' own words (42), thus researchers can be free of preconceptions and let the natural flow of the conversation organize participants' subjective experiences into quantifiable domains. The 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 11 psychometric constructs that will be designed based on this intuitive structure could in turn be used as one level of verification in future research (34).…”

“…The codes, subcategories and themes that hermeneutic research would yield could be validated scientifically by objective measurements of brain activity via functional neuroimaging/EEG (34). Conversely, the results from the phenomenological analysis could be used to heuristically interpret individual differences in neural activity associated with NS reaction patterns (30).…”

“…This would facilitate hermeneutical analysis of their recorded conversations because it will allow finer verbalization of one's awareness of his attitudes towards different noises. As Bockelman et al recommend(34), the conversations should be led with general questions. Petitmengin(37) described the five processes of phenomenological interviewing designed to separate the participants from all they think they know about their experiences and cognitive process, to direct their attention introspectively towards what has been generally beyond their conscious understanding and to aid them during that "unfolding of perception" into their own subconsciousness.…”