%0 Journal Article
%T The Role of Imitation in Induction of Ritual Trance. A Neurocognitive Perspective
%A Bohuszewicz, Jakub
%J Studia Religiologica
%V 2012
%R 10.4467/20844077SR.12.018.0971
%N Volume 45, Issue 3
%P 227-235
%K induction of trance; shamanic trance state; role theory; mirror neuron system
%@ 0137-2432
%D 2013
%U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/studia-religiologica/article/rola-imitacji-w-indukowaniu-transu-rytualnego-perspektywa-neurokognitywna
%X 
	A shamanic trance ritual begins with the introductory part, which can be defined as invocation of shamanic spirits. The formal structure of this invocation assumes playing a role, which in the practice of the ritual means imitation of the types of behaviour characterising a given spirit. Entering a trance is synonymous with the loss of the cognitive barrier dividing the persona of the shaman from the persona of the portrayed spirit; the shaman becomes the spirit. The conceptions of evolutionary psychologists are insufficient to explain this situation. The theoretical model proposed instead describes the transition from inductive actions to a trance state in terms of disinhibition of the system preventing repetition of an action recorded at the level of the mirror neurons.