Non-Ordinary Mental Expressions (NOMEs): clues on the nature of the human mind

Abstract

The aim of this essay is to describe several ostensibly odd experiences considered implausible, illusory or hallucinatory phenomena, largely considered to be disorders of the neurological or psychological functioning from the ruling mechanist-reductionist perspective of neurosciences. A rigorous but open-minded neurophenomenological approach is required to properly investigate and understand such Non-Ordinary Mental Expressions (NOMEs). Individuals who experience NOMEs should not feel like they are outsiders or abnormal and should feel free to talk about their uncommon experiences, and professionals should listen to them with an open-minded, non-prejudicial and non-judgmental approach. NOMEs challenges the ruling stance of medical and psychological science and suggest intriguing properties of human consciousness, which are likely to be incompatible with the accepted axioms and theories, showing the inescapable epistemological implications of their proper investigation and understanding.