The Research on Altered States of Consciousness Laboratory (RASCL)
Laboratory Director: Larry C. Stevens, Ph.D.
Objective
The RASCL research program embraces the general mission of advancing our understanding of the neurology of a broad variety of unusual states of conscious experience. Thus we are open to exploring the neurological changes that occur during any conscious condition which is significantly different from normal waking consciousness. We endeavor to be flexible and creative in our openness to the varieties of these experiences and to operate within the boundaries imposed by propriety, law, safety, the advancement of human understanding, and the progression of society. 
To accomplish these objectives, we utilize a wide range of psycho-physiological assessment instruments, the centerpiece being our 24-channel EEG system with dedicated virtual MRI neuroimaging software allowing broad spectrum FFT power spectral frequency analyses and current source density (CSD) localization neuroimaging. The RASCL research program also utilizes a dynamic and enthusiastic research team comprised of from 10-15 undergraduate and graduate students each semester, each Research Assistant personally involved in the conduct of the ongoing research project.
Topics investigated
To date we have investigated, among other topics, a number of different meditative states, the contemplation of Quiet Ego and Compassion, the achievement of meditative oneness or “the absence” in meditation (the first ever direct neurological measurement of this elusive phenomenon), the effects of EMDR bilateral eye movements on EEG coherence, memory vividness, and emotional valence, the neurological and physiological effects of hypnosis, hypnotic susceptibility, and specialized suggestions on peripheral vasomotor control, the neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, and Self-Compassion, The Human Compassion Circuit, and, of course, Chocolate (the first ever neurological study of this highly craved comestible plant alkaloid).
Note: Asterisks denote NAU student coauthors.
Completed work
Selected recent peer-reviewed publications & scholarly chapters Accordion Closed
Keller*, B., Stevens, L., Lui*, C., Murray*, J., & Yaggie*, M. (2014). The effects of bilateral eye movements on EEG coherence when recalling a pleasant memory. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 8(3), 113-128.
Yaggie*, M., Stevens, L., Miller*, S., Abbott*, A., Woodruff, C., Getchis*, M., Stevens*, S., Sherlin, L, Keller*, B., & Daiss, S. (2015). EEG coherence, memory vividness, and emotional valence effects of bilateral eye movements during unpleasant memory recall and subsequent free association: Implications for EMDR. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 9(2), 78-97.
Berman*, A.B. & Stevens, L. (2015). EEG manifestations of nondual experiences in meditators. Consciousness and Cognition, 31, 1-11.
Montopoli*, M., Stevens, L., Smith, C.J., Montopoli, G., Passino*, S., Brown*, S., Camou*, L., Carson*, K., Maaske*, S., Knights, K., Gibson, W., & Wu*, J. (2015). The acute electrocortical (EEG) and blood pressure effects of chocolate. NeuroRegulation, 2(1), 3-28.
Stevens L.C. & Woodruff, C.C. (2018). The Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, & Self-Compassion (Eds.), Cambridge, Mass: Elsevier/Academic Press.
Stevens, L.C. & Woodruff, C.C. (2018). Preface. In L.C. Stevens & C.C. Woodruff (Eds.), The Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, & Self-Compassion. Cambridge, Mass: Elsevier/Academic Press.
Stevens, L.C. & Woodruff, C.C. (2018). Chapter 1: What is this feeling that I have for myself and for others? Contemporary perspectives on empathy, compassion, and self-compassion. In L.C.
Stevens & C.C. Woodruff (Eds.), The Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, & Self-Compassion. Cambridge, Mass: Elsevier/Academic Press.
Stevens, L.C. & Benjamin*, J. (2018). Chapter 3: The brain that longs to help others: The current neuroscience of compassion. In L.C. Stevens & C.C. Woodruff (Eds.), The Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, & Self-Compassion. Cambridge, Mass: Elsevier/Academic Press.
Stevens, L.C., Gauthier-Braham*, M., & Bush*, B.D. (2018). Chapter 4: The brain that longs to help itself: The current neuroscience of self-compassion. In L.C. Stevens & C.C. Woodruff (Eds.), The Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, & Self-Compassion. Cambridge, Mass: Elsevier/Academic Press.
Woodruff, C.C. & Stevens, L.C. (2018). Chapter 11: Where caring for self and others lives in the brain, and how it can be enhanced, and diminished: A summary of the neuroscience on empathy, compassion, and self-compassion. In L.C. Stevens & C.C. Woodruff (Eds.), The Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, & Self-Compassion. Cambridge, Mass: Elsevier/Academic Press.
Selected recent scholarly presentations Accordion Closed
Stevens, L.C. (2016). Chair of a Conference and Compassion Symposium presented at the 7th Annual NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Research Conference on The Social Psychophysiology of Compassion, July 31, 2016, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Calderon*, A., Whinnery*, D., Doskocil, L., & Stevens, L. (2016). Does Being Compassionate Produce Electroencephalographic and Behavioral Changes? Implications for Affective Neuroscience. Paper and poster presentations as part of a Compassion Research Symposium presented at the 7th Annual NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Research Conference on The Social Psychophysiology of Compassion, July 31, 2016, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Stevens, L.C. (2016). Chair of an APA Division 6 Symposium entitled “The Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, and Self-Compassion,” presented at the 124th Annual Convention of The American Psychological Association, August 4, 2016, Denver, Colorado.
Stevens, L.C., Begay*, C., & Goodman, R. (2016). Mindfulness and the Emotional Consequences of Self-Threatening Feedback, Oral paper presentation at an APA Division 6 Symposium entitled “The Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, and Self-Compassion,” presented at the 124th Annual Convention of The American Psychological Association, August 4, 2016, Denver, Colorado.
Stevens, L.C. (2017). Chair of an APA Division 8 Symposium entitled “The Social Psychology of Empathy, Compassion, and Self-Compassion,” presented at the 125th Annual Convention of The American Psychological Association, August 4, 2017, Washington, D.C.
Stevens, L.C. (2017). Chair of an APA Division 6 Symposium entitled “Recent Discoveries in the Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, and Self-Compassion,” presented at the 125th Annual Convention of The American Psychological Association, August 6, 2017, Washington, D.C.
Calderon*, A., Stevens, L.C., Doskocil, L., Whinnery*, D., & West*, T. (2017). Compassion Training is Associated with Neurological and Behavioral Changes. Oral paper presentation as part of a symposium on “Recent Discoveries in the Neuroscience of Empathy, Compassion, and Self-Compassion,” presented at the 125th Annual Convention of The American Psychological Association, August 6, 2017, Washington, D.C.
Keyes*, B., Stevens, L.C., Gauthier-Braham*, M., Thatcher*, A., Kroeck*, M., Harris* C., Schilp*, H., Christian*, R., Jones*, S., & Mendoza*, J. (2017). The Brain During Hypnosis: An Exploratory Study, presented at the NAU Undergraduate Symposium, December, 2017, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Gauthier-Braham*, M., Mendoza*, J., Stevens, L.C., Thatcher*, A., Christian*, R., Schilp*, H., Harris*, C., & Kroeck*, M. (2018). A Neurological and Vasomotor Examination of Neutral and Directed Hypnosis, presented at the 88th Annual Convention of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, April 12-14, 2018, Denver, Colorado.
Thatcher*, A., Stevens, L.C., & Woodruff, C.C. (2018). Who am I? Who are You? The Manipulation of Self-Other Discrimination through Hypnosis and Hypnotic Suggestions, presented at the 98th Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, April 26-29, 2018, Portland, Oregon.
Gauthier-Braham*, M., Mendoza*, J., Stevens, L.C., Thatcher*, A., Christian*, R., Schilp*, H., Harris*, C., & Kroeck*, M. (2018). A Neurological and Vasomotor Examination of Neutral and Directed Hypnosis, presented at the NAU Undergraduate Symposium, April 27, 1018, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Schilp*, H.A., Stevens, L.C., Kroeck*, M., Mendoza*, J., Thatcher* A., Gauthier-Braham*, M., Christian*, R., Harris*, C., Killgore*, S., DeFazio*, P., Rippey* C., Danner*, T., & Boyd*, D. (2018). The Relationship between Phenomenology of Consciousness and Levels of Hypnotic Susceptibility, presented at the NAU Undergraduate Symposium, April 27, 1018, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Harris*, C. & Stevens, L.C. (2018). Drug Use as a Predictor of Hypnotic Susceptibility, presented at the NAU Undergraduate Symposium, April 27, 1018, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Stevens, L.C. (2018). The Human Compassion Circuit, invited 1-hour Plenary Session presented at the 26th Annual Convention of the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research, October 15-21, 2018, Glendale, Arizona.
DeFazio*, P., Killgore*, A., & Stevens, L.C. (2018). Hypnosis and Personality: Determining Hypnotizability Through Big Five Traits, presented at the 26th Annual Convention of the Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research, Pasadena City College, Pasadena, California, November 17, 2018.
Recent thesis projects successfully defended Accordion Closed
Thatcher, A. (April 28, 2018). Who am I? Who are you? Manipulation of Self-Other Discrimination Through Hypnosis.
Laboratory current information Accordion Closed
Dr. Stevens typically accepts undergraduate and graduate Research Assistants each semester for his research teams. Team members are actively involved in all facets of each research project depending on their interests and abilities. Extensive training is provided as necessary for responsibilities of each study (for example, hypnotic susceptibility testing, EEG configuration and operation, relevant physiological measures and equipment, stimulus presentation software, etc.).