Global interest in consciousness research has accelerated in recent years, driven by advances in neuroscience, renewed attention to near-death experiences, and the growing recognition that subjective reports remain a crucial part of the scientific puzzle. The Institut Suisse des Sciences Noétiques (ISSNOE)—entirely unaffiliated with IONS—is a recognized public-benefit foundation dedicated to the study of Consciousness through non-ordinary Altered States of Consciousness (ASC).
Founders of the Swiss Institute
Sylvie Dethiollaz is a molecular biologist by training, with a doctoral degree in molecular biology and early research experience at the University of California Berkeley. After returning to Switzerland, she founded in Geneva what would eventually become ISSNOE, which took its present form in 2012 through the merger of Noêsis, founded in 1999, and the Odier Foundation of Psychophysics, created in 1992 by Marcel and Monique Odier. Today, the institute is directed by Dethiollaz, as her background in experimental molecular biology influences the ethos of the institute, which encourages systematic documentation, controlled observation when possible, and an interdisciplinary approach that draws on psychology, neuroscience, phenomenology, and clinical interviews.
Under her direction, this French-speaking, small but ambitious research institute is dedicated to the rigorous study of consciousness. It investigates non-ordinary states of consciousness with an emphasis on near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences, and a broad range of subjective perceptions that challenge conventional accounts of mind and brain.
Case Studies vs. Experimental Ecosystems
Although the general theme will be familiar to IONS members, the Swiss landscape differs. ISSNOE is a small foundation, part of whose research focuses on case studies and qualitative documentation, often drawn from individuals who spontaneously turn to the institute after having had extraordinary experiences. Much of his visibility comes from in-depth interviews, public lectures, and the publication of books such as Voyage aux confins de la conscience, which describes a decade of research by ISSNOE to prove the reality of visual perceptions reported during out-of-body experiences using double-blinded protocols and brain imaging studies. This work is supported by a small research team that began by following a broader European tradition of phenomenological inquiry before moving on to more experimental research.
By contrast, IONS represents a much larger ecosystem with several decades of institutional history, multiple research programs, and a network of collaborators spanning neuroscience, physics, psychology, contemplative practice, and human potential studies. At IONS, we maintain a stronger emphasis on reproducible laboratory protocols and peer-reviewed publications, psi experiments with operationalized variables, and the integration of consciousness research with large-scale data-driven methodologies.
Opportunities for Global Collaboration
Despite these differences in scope and infrastructure, the conceptual parallels are strong. Both institutes take consciousness seriously as a fundamental scientific frontier. The Swiss group considers extraordinary experiences to be phenomenological events worthy of structured analysis, but agrees with our position of placing them within experimental paradigms that seek quantifiable effects. Dethiollaz herself often stresses the need to adopt a balanced position, recognizing the importance of skeptical research and empirical standards while asserting that the persistence of certain experiences should not be dismissed without careful documentation.
This complementarity suggests genuine opportunities for dialogue. ISSNOE’s long-term case investigations could provide rich qualitative material for IONS researchers, while IONS’ methodological and technological expertise could offer ISSNOE access to frameworks for designing controlled protocols. Understanding the nature of consciousness profoundly influences our perspectives on life, death, and identity, demanding a willingness to approach complex experiences with scientific seriousness.
