Inner Navigation and Theta Activity: From Movement to Cognition and Hypnosis According to the Sphere Model of Consciousness

Abstract

EEG theta (4–7 Hz) activity is closely related to hypnosis and hypnotic analgesia, as well as to meditation and absorption. Research further indicates that theta oscillatory power is involved in different cognitive functions, such as spatial navigation, memory, creativity, and divided attention. The current manuscript will provide a synthesis of current knowledge regarding the importance of theta’s different roles in relation to hypnosis and their connections to movement. Indeed, several movement paradigms, such as Quadrato Motor Training, have been found to modulate theta activity, significantly improving cognition and emotional well-being. The utility of such movement paradigms as a therapeutic vehicle closely related to hypnosis, and the underlying characteristics allowing these neuromodulations, will be discussed. Finally, the relationships between diagonal movement and other psychological phenomena, especially intentionality, attention, and the Sphere Model of Consciousness, will be highlighted.

Correlates of Silence: Enhanced Microstructural Changes in the Uncinate Fasciculus

“…These results related to the relationship between reappraisal, mindfulness and neurophysiological changes are further in line with different models of consciousness, such as the Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART) model ( Vago and David, 2012 ) and the Sphere Model of Consciousness (SMC, Paoletti, 2002 ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2019 , 2020 ; Paoletti et al, 2020 ). According to the SMC, reappraisal and voluntary movement toward a state of contentless consciousness, also defined as momentary silent consciousness ( Baars, 2013 ; Josipovic, 2019 ) may have a decisive role in the experience ( Paoletti et al, 2020 ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2020 ), in which focusing one’s attention on silence can be used as a paradigm for facilitating better internal communication through an internal environment intentionally created ( Paoletti and Selvaggio, 2013 ; Paoletti et al, 2017 ; De Fano et al, 2019 ). Consequently, in this study, silence was operationalized as self-reported absence of thoughts and a subjective experience of mental quietness as suggested by various authors ( Rudrauf et al, 2003 ; Hinterberger et al, 2014 ; Josipovic, 2014 , 2019 ; Winter et al, 2019 ; see Table 1 ), thus describing a state in which participants spontaneously experienced and reported a sort of contentless consciousness.…”

“…It has recently been suggested that through a voluntary act of silence, used as a paradigm similar to sensory deprivation one can intentionally move from the narrative self, to the minimal and eventually overcoming the self ( Paoletti et al, 2020 ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2020 ). The state of overcoming of the self, which can further be compared with self-transcendence, absorption, and non-dual states ( Josipovic, 2014 ; Vieten et al, 2018 ), is characterized by changes in the perception of time and space shifting gradually toward “timelessness” and “spacelessness” ( Berkovich-Ohana et al, 2013 ; Wittmann, 2015 , 2020 ).…”

“…Examining the relationship between silence and neuroanatomical changes can aid in unraveling the neuronal mechanisms underlying potential changes in the lived experience reported by subjects, as well as training induced-silence, and cognitive and emotional changes reported by the participants ( Ben-Soussan et al, 2013 , 2017 ). As silence, which is both required and produced in the QMT, may also be the means by which attention and mindfulness could be increased ( Ben-Soussan et al, 2017 ; Paoletti et al, 2020 ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2020 ), and since these changes have previously been linked to, among others, FA changes in the uncinate fasciculus ( Luders et al, 2011 ; Tang et al, 2012 ; Hölzel et al, 2016 ; Piervincenzi et al, 2017 ), we hypothesized that changes in self-reported silence-related experiences would be correlated with changes in the uncinate fasciculus structural connectivity. More specifically, we expected to find a positive correlation between change in these two variables, reflecting a silence-related enhanced connectivity in brain structures previously reported to be related to emotional and cognitive regulation associated with mindful experience ( Creswell et al, 2007 ; Garland et al, 2009 , 2011 ).…”

Reflections on Inner and Outer Silence and Consciousness Without Contents According to the Sphere Model of Consciousness

“…The Minimal Self has a short temporal extension and is endowed with a sense of action, property, and first person non-conceptual content, while the Narrative Self involves personal identity and continuity through time and includes conceptual content. In our previous papers on the SMC, we specified the addition of a third state, called Overcoming of the Self (see Figure 7 , Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2019 ; Paoletti et al, 2020 ), in which all sense of self disappears. In the model, the Minimal Self is depicted as a circle close to the center, contained by a larger circumference that represents the Narrative Self.…”

“…Thus, in the flat life condition, while we agree with Maslow on many aspects that classifications of motivation should be based also upon conscious goals rather than on drives ( Maslow and Lewis, 1987 ; Paoletti, 2005 ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2019 ). Thus, the transition to a spherical life, which is accompanied by a change of focus from needs to values ( Paoletti, 2005 ), is further accompanied by an intentional shift away from DMN activity and toward clear goal state, represented by the center of the sphere ( Paoletti, 2002a , b ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2019 ; Paoletti et al, 2020 ).…”