This week we are speaking with Dr. Tarik Bel-Bahar from the Center for Consciousness Science at the University of Michigan Medical School. At the Center they are studying consciousness via looking at anesthesia, altered states, near death experiences, psychedelics, kundalini yoga and other experiences that affect awareness. They are asking questions such as:
What is the nature of consciousness?

How does the brain maintain a coherent sense of self over time?
We cover some broad strokes about consciousness science for the layperson, and we also talk about:

The pillars of consciousness science
The impact of psychedelic experiences and altered states of consciousness on mental health
Effects of kundalini yoga on physical health - a study in progress
Psychological and brain changes during shamanic journeying
The differences between the academic and more new age views of consciousness

Links:

Center for Consciousness Science at the University of Michigan 
Questionnaire: Psychometric Evaluation of the Altered States of Consciousness Rating Scale (OAV) by Erich Studerus , Alex Gamma, Franz X. Vollenweider
Interesting article about 8 questions consciousness science must answer
Human Connectome Project mapping the complete structural and functional neural connections in vivo within and across individuals.
The Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia
Institute for Noetic Sciences
Tucson Science of Consciousness Conferences
Consciousness researcher Katherine Maclean
Trailer for the Yogananda Documentary Film
International Symposium for Contemplative Studies
Neurosynth is a platform for large-scale, automated synthesis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data
Mickey Hart’s (Grateful Dead drummer) Brain on Music for examining which rhythms could be used to treat the brain as medicine 

Foundation for Shamanic Studies from Harner
Psychedelic Science Conference
Horizons Psychedelic Conference