Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

The depths of the oceans, the vastness of the land, the void of the universe... few quests in our environment have remained unexplored by the inquisitive human being. All are ravaged, searched and examined, but none remain as mysterious as the deep recesses of the human person, consciousness itself.

In recent years, research into the nature, structural basis and process nature of consciousness has taken psychology by storm. Consciousness has become a strongly debated topic in theoretical and experimental psychology, in clinical and experimental neuropsychology, in neuroscience, cognitive science, and in philosophy at large (Pawlik, 1998). Particularly since the early 1990s, an increasing body of literature has been published that deals with empirical research and theoretical issues pertaining to human consciousness. Examples include Baars (1997a), Chalmers (1996), and Dennet (1991), whilst a number of specialised journals (for example: Bears, Banks, & McGovern, 1992-; Goguen, Forman, & Sutherland, 1994-) are also being published.

1.0 Consciousness in Cognitive Psychology

In this dissertation I shall start by focusing on a particular theoretical framework of consciousness, from a cognitive psychology perspective, which is currently receiving much attention. This is Baars' (1988) Global Workspace (GW) theory of consciousness, which compares baseline, or normal everyday human consciousness, to a theatre. In this theory, Baars describes the consciousness' theatre as having a stage of working memory over which a spotlight of attention can roam. These cognitive processes are also made possible through other unconscious processes, which Baars likens to the backstage crew and the audience in the theatre.

Baars' theory captured my imagination, and propelled me to focus on those rare, spontaneous moments, whose intensity marks us profoundly. These mysterious moments, when our state of consciousness becomes heightened are normally associated with the spiritual. Could Baars' Global Workspace Theory sustain even such fleeting moments of altered consciousness? I will be studying the onset of these phenomena, which traditionally have been described in religious literature as mystical experiences. By referring to literature from various fields in psychology, I will try to show that exercises which induce these experiences, are based on a core element in Baars' theory: maintaining close attention over prolonged periods of time.

Consequently, I will be exploring whether engaging in these exercises produces measurable differences in the cognitive elements of Baars' model of consciousness. More specifically, the main research question is: Could the attention spotlight be undergoing particular changes, which might effect the working memory stage, or any of the other unconscious cognitive processes in Baars' Global Workspace theory of consciousness?

1.1 Rationale

In this dissertation I shall try to explore whether sustained attention exercises which can lead to mystical experiences, could also produce measurable changes in higher cognitive functions, mostly in working memory. This hypothesis was explored through an experimental study where two identified groups of subjects, namely meditators and contemporary actors, whose disciplines are based on particular attention exercises, were tested on working memory and attention tests from the CANTAB battery. The two experimental groups were matched with two control groups who have never practised these particular exercises.

1.2 Definitions

Some working definitions are imperative at this point:

• Consciousness contains the sensations, perceptions and memories one is aware of in the present moment (Reber, 1985).

• Attention refers to the selective aspects of perception which make an organism focus, at any instant, on certain features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others (Reber, 1985).

• Working memory is involved in both cognitive processing and in the transient storage of information that is being processed during the performance of a wide range of cognitive tasks. Its three components are the 'central executive', which closely resembles 'attention', and the two slave systems, the 'articulatory loop' and 'visuo-spatial scratchpad' (Eysenck, 1991).

• Mystical consciousness is a particular form of altered consciousness out of which arise types of experience similar to, but not to be confused or equated with, religious experiences (Happold, 1990).

1.3 Overview of the Chapters

In the following chapter literature pertaining to the subject matter of this dissertation will be explored. Literature pertaining to the different fields of cognitive psychology, psychology of religion, contemporary theatre and other relevant disciplines was studied, and the salient points were included in the literature review.

Chapter 3 will explore the methodology of the research, whilst Chapter 4 will present the main results. Chapter 5 will offer a discussion of the important points that have emerged from the research and some conclusions which could be gleaned from the results.