Neurotheology is the idea that spiritual experiences and beliefs have a basis in neurological structures and processes (2010, 2019). Scientific explanation of consciousness must integrate biological and phenomenological approaches to develop neuroepistemological perspectives that integrate scientific information with philosophical assessments of evidence from experience. Neurophenomenological approaches provide unifying perspective on consciousness by linking  brain functions with qualities of experience. A biogenetic structural perspective accepts both mind and brain as inherent structures of the human organism, providing two different views of reality–spiritual and physical–both of which are fundamentally symbolic (1996). 

A biological foundation for shamanic epistemology is indicated by a cross-cultural shamanic cosmology which indicates its basis in biogenetic features rather than arbitrary cultural beliefs (2010, 2013).  Brain research and cognitive science help us understand these features by linking the phenomenal qualities of ASC experiences with associated biological structures, functions and processes. Shamanism A Biopsychosocial Paradigm of Consciousness and Healing presents shamanism as the original neurotheology and a reflection of our neuropsychology. Many features of shamanic cosmology reflect brain functions, especially activation and integrated operation of innate cognitive modules (2019a, 2018), as exemplified in humans with animal powers and animals with human-like capacities (2019b).

Biological foundations of consciousness and the self are revealed in the shamanic ASC referred to as “soul journey” (out-of-body experiences) which have a nearly universal distribution that reflects a basis in neurognosis. These kinds of experiences reflect interference with the normal integration of basic brain functions, producing a dislocation of the experiential self and visual field from the physical body (2019b). These higher cognitive functions process information in distal space and time, a projection of consciousness.

The body image of soul flight reflects body-based representational systems (2013). The body is a neurological basis for human knowing and a principal metaphor used in analogical thinking. Body metaphors express meanings by mediating among sensory domains, employing mimesis to represent through action, cross-modal translations that are at the foundation of symbolic thought. The experiences of oneself as a soul-like entity reflect self-awareness and modeling that extends beyond primitive bodily processes and transcends the present moment. This capacity for mental time travel reflects selection for mental processing of future predictions and decision-making.

Neurognostic effects produced by psychedelics and other ASC share similarities (2017), including activation of both the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems. This amplifies the phylogenetic older brain structures and the excitability of limbic and cortical structures. These central neuroepistemic effects produce an ascendence of information from the evolutionary ancient brain involving primary processing. These functions provide emotional information, behavioral communication, and a sense of self crucial to our sense of knowing what is true. 

Central to shamanic epistemology are visionary forms that constitute a presentational symbolism (2017, 2018). This internally derived information are symbols interpreted as a spiritual world used as a reference system to evaluate self and others and re-program neurognostic structures with mythological interpretative systems (2010) by integration of innate processing modules for the natural world (animal species), self-representation and social references (2019b). 

Enhanced forms of cognitive integration and extra-personal cognition experienced as spirit presences reflect integration of innate structures of self and psyche (2019a). The evolution of the shamanic capacity involved extensions for knowing with understandings of other minds (divination), new forms of self (power animals) and new social referents (spirits, gods) that reflect activation of innate intelligences and illustrate features of a shamanic neuroepistemology (2019d). Symbolic processes are at the basis of spirit experiences and beliefs that constitute social others—the basis of conscience and consciousness (2004).