Altered States of the Human Mind: Implications for Anthropogeny

Summary: An earlier CARTA Symposium addressed naturally occurring extraordinary variations of the human mind, and the lessons for Anthropogeny. In this companion symposium, experts will address altered states of the mind that are deliberately induced by humans. We will address what is known about origins and mechanisms of these mind-altering practices, and also (when known) how they affect the minds of other species. In doing so, we hope to gain new insights into the origins and workings of the human mind.

This CARTA Virtual Public Symposium was underwritten by Ben Cipollini (PhD '14, an alumnus of the Graduate Specialization Track in Anthropogeny, University of California, San Diego Department of Cognitive Science) with additional support from CARTA Patrons Ingrid Benirschke-Perkins and Gordon Perkins, Elizabeth Lancaster and Eli Shefter, and new CARTA Friend, Kathlyn Furr.

Event Sessions

Media for each talk can be played by clicking on icons in the "Media" column, or by clicking on the individual talk titles below and then the attachment file at the bottom of the page.

Media	Session	Speakers
	Welcome	Pascal Gagneux, University of California, San Diego
	Psychedelics	Frederick Barrett, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
	Cognitive Enhancement (Nicotine, Caffeine, Cocaine, Amphetamine) and General Anesthesia	Jean-Pierre Changeux, Collège de France & Institut Pasteur
	Imagination and Embodiment in Practices of Sacred Sonorous Being	Thomas Csordas, University of California, San Diego
	Alcohol Metabolism and Alcoholism	Kenneth Kidd, Yale School of Medicine
	Addiction and Loss of Control: Hyperkatifeia, Negative Reinforcement and the Dark Side of Addiction	George Koob, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; National Institute on Drug Abuse
	The Neural Underpinnings of Mindfulness	Read Montague, Virginia Tech
	Peripartum Depression	Barbara Parry, University of California, San Diego
	Altered States in Human Rituals	Ann Taves, University of California, Santa Barbara
	Intersectional Neuroscience: Meditation and Diversity	Helen Weng, University of California, San Francisco
	Question & Answer Session and Closing Remarks	All Speakers Pascal Gagneux, University of California, San Diego

Event Glossary

A glossary for this event is available as a Searchable List and a PDF.