Qualia, Consciousness, and the Transformative Work of Laura Inserra

Bridging Philosophy, Science, and Experience

The concept of qualia—the ineffable, subjective quality of experience—has been a central point of philosophical inquiry for centuries. It refers to the “what it’s like” aspect of consciousness: the redness of red, the warmth of sunlight on the skin, the inner texture of joy, grief, or awe. Philosophers from David Chalmers to Thomas Nagel have debated its nature, questioning whether qualia can be fully explained by physical processes alone or whether they point to something irreducible—something that resists complete objectification. Chalmers’ formulation of the hard problem of consciousness asks why and how subjective experience arises from the physical brain, a question that remains unresolved.

While philosophy has often approached qualia as an abstract or theoretical problem, producer and sound alchemist Laura Inserra brings these questions into the realm of direct, embodied experience. Her immersive performances and planetarium show Qualia invite participants to encounter consciousness not as an idea to be solved, but as a lived reality—felt through sound, vibration, image, and presence.

Inserra’s work occupies a rare and potent intersection where philosophy, science, and art converge. Contemporary neuroscience is increasingly recognizing what philosophers have long intuited: perception, emotion, and meaning are not passive reflections of an external world but active constructions shaped by the nervous system, context, and embodied sensation. Rather than attempting to eliminate subjective experience from scientific inquiry, emerging fields such as consciousness studies, embodied cognition, and neuro-phenomenology are seeking ways to integrate first-person experience with third-person measurement.

This shift echoes Nagel’s influential insight that no amount of objective data can ever substitute for lived experience itself. It also resonates with the work of neuroscientist Francisco Varela, who proposed neuro-phenomenology as a method for bridging inner experience with observable neural processes. Inserra’s work can be seen as a living instantiation of this approach—an experiential laboratory where perception, awareness, and meaning unfold in real time.

Qualia as an Experiential Gateway

Through soundscapes inspired by ancient traditions and informed by contemporary research, Inserra creates immersive environments that engage the body, mind, and nervous system simultaneously. Using instruments such as Zapotec clay flutes, the Hang, and a wide array of rare percussive voices, she weaves tapestries of resonance that invite deep listening and internal attunement. More than 70% of the musical score for Qualia was originally composed for a research study at Johns Hopkins University, examining the therapeutic effects of music on expanded states of consciousness and well-being.

Sound holds a privileged position in consciousness research. Studies in psychoacoustics and auditory neuroscience show that rhythm, frequency, and harmonic structure can influence neural oscillations, autonomic regulation, and emotional processing. Music has been shown to modulate alpha, theta, and gamma brainwave activity—states associated with relaxation, insight, memory integration, and expanded awareness. In this light, sound is not merely expressive; it is formative. It shapes perception itself.

Inserra’s compositions align with this understanding. Her musical language draws on resonance, repetition, and harmonic simplicity to support nervous-system coherence and parasympathetic activation. Yet rather than prescribing a singular outcome, Qualia honors the individuality of perception. Each participant encounters their own internal landscape, their own qualia—underscoring the truth that experience is always personal, relational, and alive.

Experiential Medicine and the Power of Shared Presence

Inserra’s work also aligns with emerging ideas in experiential medicine—the recognition that carefully designed experiences can function as powerful catalysts for healing and transformation. Researchers such as Adam Gazzaley have explored how immersive environments, attention, and sensory modulation can support cognitive and emotional well-being. Audience testimonials from Qualia frequently describe emotional breakthroughs, pain relief, deep calm, and altered states of awareness—suggesting that sound and vibration can serve as subtle yet profound agents of change.

Unlike virtual reality or solitary immersive technologies, Qualia unfolds in a communal setting. Experienced together within the vast dome of a planetarium, the work amplifies a sense of shared presence and interconnectedness. In an era increasingly mediated by screens, simulations, and artificial intelligence, Inserra’s work emphasizes something essential: the power of embodied, collective experience. The dome becomes a modern ritual space—one that fosters awe, reflection, and belonging.

The Philosophical and Artistic Threshold

Inserra’s work does not attempt to define qualia. Instead, it induces it. Where philosophers have long debated whether subjective experience can be reduced to physical explanations, Qualia offers a direct encounter with the mystery itself. Deepak Chopra, in his discussions of qualia entanglement, suggests that subjective experience is not separate from the fabric of reality but an intrinsic expression of it. Inserra’s art embodies this view, inviting participants to move beyond intellectual abstraction and into lived knowing.

Ultimately, Qualia functions as both philosophical inquiry and transformative journey. It asks not only what consciousness is, but how awe, resonance, and deep experiential awareness shape our understanding of reality. In a world that often privileges quantitative data over qualitative depth, Inserra’s work stands as a reminder: some of the most profound dimensions of being human—love, wonder, presence, and self-discovery—cannot be measured. They can only be experienced.

The concept of Qualia transcends the ego; it's a call for Self-sovereignty, compassion for the 'other', and participation in the fabric of life. By witnessing the profound depth of our own inner world, we inevitably recognize that same depth in everyone around us, transforming a solitary moment of awe into a collective realization of our shared existence.

Selected Bibliography

• Barrett, F. S., & Griffiths, R. R. (2018). "Classic Hallucinogens and Mystical Experiences: Phenomenological Features and Resultant Changes in Attitudes and Behavior." Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. (Context for the Johns Hopkins studies on music and expanded consciousness).

• Chalmers, D. J. (1995). "Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness." Journal of Consciousness Studies, 2(3), 200-219.

• Gazzaley, A., & Rosen, L. D. (2016). The Distracted Mind: Ancient Brains in a High-Tech World. MIT Press. (Foundational text on experiential medicine and the impact of technology on the human brain).

• Nagel, T. (1974). "What Is It Like to Be a Bat?" The Philosophical Review, 83(4), 435-450.

• Media & Practitioner References

• Chopra, D. (2017). You Are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why It Matters. Harmony. (Reference for the concept of "qualia entanglement").

• Inserra, L. (2023). Qualia: An Immersive Journey into the Nature of Experience. www.chambersofawe.com/qualia