Contemplative neuroscience

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History and Origins

Contemplative neuroscience (or contemplative science) is an emerging field of research that focuses on the changes within the mind, brain, and body as a result of contemplative practices, such as mindfulness-based meditation, samatha meditation, dream yoga, yoga nidra, tai chi or yoga. [1] [2] [3] Increased psychological interest in meditation, mindfulness, compassion, and related practices contributed to the emergence of the field contemplative sciences. [4] The term "contemplative neuroscience" was coined by Davidson and colleagues to describe the new interest of research at the intersection of meditation studies and neuroscience. [4]

Contents

Mindfulness was originally introduced to into Western clinical contexts in 1979 when Jon Kabat-Zinn began teaching it in a hospital program at the University of Massachusetts. [4] The integration of contemplative science practices with Western scientific research in the late 20th century has been described as significant development in history. [4] The science is interdisciplinary and attempts to clarify such mind-brain-body changes across emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual domains with an emphasis for relating such changes to neurobiology and first-person experience. It often emphasizes Buddhist approaches to contemplation and meditation, and conflates meditation with various contemplative practices. Founders of the field include Richard Davidson, Francisco Varela and B. Alan Wallace, among others. [5]

One of the field's first high-profile public gatherings was the Mind and Life Institute’s public dialogue, held at MIT in 2003, entitled 'Investigating the Mind'. [6] Participants included the 14th Dalai Lama, Nobel Laureate scientist Daniel Kahneman and Eric Lander, Director of the MIT Centre for Genomic Research. This conference, attended by 1,200 scientists and contemplatives, marked the public birth of contemplative neuroscience in the US. [7]

Contemporary Developments

In recent years, contemplative neuroscience has been increasingly brought into academic settings often as part of broader programs in contemplative science, psychology, or neuroscience. Garcia-Campayo and colleagues report that several universities have also established courses and research programs devoted to contemplative studies or related fields. Examples include: [4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wallace, B. A., Hodel, B. (2012). Dreaming Yourself Awake: Lucid Dreaming and Tibetan Dream Yoga for Insight and Transformation. United States: Shambhala.
  2. ↑ Wallace, B. A. (2010). The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind. United States: ReadHowYouWant.com, Limited.
  3. ↑ About Mindfulness & Contemplative Neuroscience – CNMB Lab. (n.d.). https://davidvago.bwh.harvard.edu/about/about-contemplative-neuroscience/
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Garcia-Campayo, Javier; López del Hoyo, Yolanda; Navarro-Gil, Mayte (2021-04-19). "Contemplative sciences: A future beyond mindfulness". World Journal of Psychiatry. 11 (4): 87–93. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v11.i4.87 . ISSN   2220-3206. PMC   8040148 . PMID   33889534.
  5. ↑ Komjathy, Louis (2015). Contemplative Literature: A Comparative Sourcebook on Meditation and Contemplative Prayer. SUNY Press. p. 740. ISBN   9781438457079.
  6. ↑ Barinaga, Marcia (October 3, 2003). "Buddhism and Science: Studying the Well-trained Mind". Science Magazine. 302 (5642). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Highwire Press: 44–46. doi:10.1126/science.302.5642.44 . Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  7. ↑ Harrington, Zajonc, ed. (2003). The Dalai Lama at MIT. USA: Harvard University Press. ISBN   978-0674023192. Records of Conference "Investigating the Mind" at MIT
  8. ↑ "Contemplative Studies | Brown University". contemplative-studies.brown.edu. 2024-10-24. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  9. ↑ "CACE: Contemplative Education". Naropa University. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  10. ↑ "Contemplative Studies". Majors, Minors, and Areas of Study. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  11. ↑ "Contemplative Sciences Center, UVA". csc.virginia.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  12. ↑ "Contemplative Studies". Majors/Minors & Concentrations. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  13. ↑ "Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics | Emory University | Atlanta GA". compassion.emory.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  14. ↑ "Contemplative Studies". sites.dartmouth.edu. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  15. ↑ "Applied Contemplative Studies". University of Northern Colorado. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  16. ↑ "Contemplative Minor and Courses - Contemplative Collaborative – Syracuse University" . Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  17. ↑ "Mindfulness and Contemplative Science". Faculty of Arts. Retrieved 2026-01-15.


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