title: [Investigations of psychic/spiritual phenomena in the nineteenth century: somnambulism and spiritualism, 1811-1860].
abstract: In the early nineteenth century, investigations into the nature of psychic/spiritual phenomena, like trances and the supposed acquisition of information unattainable using normal sensory channels, prompted much debate in the scientific arena. This article discusses the main explanations offered by the researchers of psychic phenomena reported between 1811 and 1860, concentrating on the two main movements in the period: magnetic somnambulism and modern spiritualism. While the investigations of these phenomena gave rise to multiple theories, they did not yield any consensus. However, they did have implications for the understanding of the mind and its disorders, especially in the areas of the unconscious and dissociation, constituting an important part of the history of psychology and psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Historiador; mestrando em Saúde Brasileira/Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF); membro do Núcleo de Pesquisas em Saúde e Espiritualidade (Nupes)/UFJF. Av. Eugênio do Nascimento, s/n 36038-330 - Juiz de Fora - MG - Brasil. mgulao@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Marcelo Gulão
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pimentel
authors.affiliation: Professor, UFJF; coordenador, área de humanas/Nupes. Campus Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora - Faculdade de Engenharia - Curso de Arquitetura e Urbanismo - Martelos. 36000-000 - Juiz de Fora - MG - Brasil. klaus.alberto@ufjf.edu.br.
authors.forename: Klaus Chaves
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Alberto
authors.affiliation: Professor, Faculdade de Medicina/UFJF; diretor, Nupes. Av. Eugênio do Nascimento, s/n. 36038-330 - Juiz de Fora - MG - Brasil. alex.ma@ufjf.edu.br.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreira-Almeida
mesh_terms: D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000266:history*; D013140:Spiritualism / Q000266:history*