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Laukkonen RE, Lewis-Healey E, Ghigliotti L, Daneshtalab N, Lageman J, Slagter HA. Tracking rivalry with neural rhythms: multivariate SSVEPs reveal perception during binocular rivalry. Neurosci Conscious 2024; 2024:niae028. [PMID: 38912291 PMCID: PMC11192868 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niae028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The contents of awareness can substantially change without any modification to the external world. Such effects are exemplified in binocular rivalry, where a different stimulus is presented to each eye causing instability in perception. This phenomenon has made binocular rivalry a quintessential method for studying consciousness and the necessary neural correlates for awareness. However, to conduct research on binocular rivalry usually requires self-reports of changes in percept, which can produce confounds and exclude states and contexts where self-reports are undesirable or unreliable. Here, we use a novel multivariate spatial filter dubbed 'Rhythmic Entrainment Source Separation' to extract steady state visual evoked potentials from electroencephalography data. We show that this method can be used to quantify the perceptual switch-rate of participants during binocular rivalry and therefore may be valuable in experimental contexts where self-reports are methodologically problematic or impossible, particularly as an adjunct. Our analyses also reveal that 'no-report' conditions may affect the deployment of attention and thereby neural correlates, another important consideration for consciousness research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben E Laukkonen
- Health, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast Airport, Terminal Dr, Bilinga, Gold Coast, QLD 4225, Australia
- Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, North Holland 1081 HV, Netherlands
| | - Evan Lewis-Healey
- Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, North Holland 1081 HV, Netherlands
- Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Pl, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Ghigliotti
- Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, North Holland 1081 HV, Netherlands
| | - Nasim Daneshtalab
- Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, North Holland 1081 HV, Netherlands
| | - Jet Lageman
- Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, North Holland 1081 HV, Netherlands
| | - Heleen A Slagter
- Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, North Holland 1081 HV, Netherlands
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Yang WF, Sparby T, Wright M, Kim E, Sacchet MD. Volitional mental absorption in meditation: Toward a scientific understanding of advanced concentrative absorption meditation and the case of jhana. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31223. [PMID: 38803854 PMCID: PMC11129010 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Meditation has been integral to human culture for millennia, deeply rooted in various spiritual and contemplative traditions. While the field of contemplative science has made significant steps toward understanding the effects of meditation on health and well-being, there has been little study of advanced meditative states, including those achieved through intense concentration and absorption. We refer to these types of states as advanced concentrative absorption meditation (ACAM), characterized by absorption with the meditation object leading to states of heightened attention, clarity, energy, effortlessness, and bliss. This review focuses on a type of ACAM known as jhana (ACAM-J) due to its well-documented history, systematic practice approach, recurring phenomenological themes, and growing popularity among contemplative scientists and more generally in media and society. ACAM-J encompasses eight layers of deep concentration, awareness, and internal experiences. Here, we describe the phenomenology of ACAM-J and present evidence from phenomenological and neuroscientific studies that highlight their potential applications in contemplative practices, psychological sciences, and therapeutics. We additionally propose theoretical ACAM-J frameworks grounded in current cognitive neuroscientific understanding of meditation and ancient contemplative traditions. We aim to stimulate further research on ACAM more broadly, encompassing advanced meditation including meditative development and meditative endpoints. Studying advanced meditation including ACAM, and specific practices such as ACAM-J, can potentially revolutionize our understanding of consciousness and applications for mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winson F.Z. Yang
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Terje Sparby
- Steiner University College, 0260, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University, 58448, Witten, Germany
- Integrated Curriculum for Anthroposophic Psychology, Witten/Herdecke University, 58448, Witten, Germany
| | - Malcolm Wright
- School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing, Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
| | - Eunmi Kim
- Center for Contemplative Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Matthew D. Sacchet
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Ganesan S, Yang WFZ, Chowdhury A, Zalesky A, Sacchet MD. Within-subject reliability of brain networks during advanced meditation: An intensively sampled 7 Tesla MRI case study. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26666. [PMID: 38726831 PMCID: PMC11082832 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Advanced meditation such as jhana meditation can produce various altered states of consciousness (jhanas) and cultivate rewarding psychological qualities including joy, peace, compassion, and attentional stability. Mapping the neurobiological substrates of jhana meditation can inform the development and application of advanced meditation to enhance well-being. Only two prior studies have attempted to investigate the neural correlates of jhana meditation, and the rarity of adept practitioners has largely restricted the size and extent of these studies. Therefore, examining the consistency and reliability of observed brain responses associated with jhana meditation can be valuable. In this study, we aimed to characterize functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reliability within a single subject over repeated runs in canonical brain networks during jhana meditation performed by an adept practitioner over 5 days (27 fMRI runs) inside an ultra-high field 7 Tesla MRI scanner. We found that thalamus and several cortical networks, that is, the somatomotor, limbic, default-mode, control, and temporo-parietal, demonstrated good within-subject reliability across all jhanas. Additionally, we found that several other relevant brain networks (e.g., attention, salience) showed noticeable increases in reliability when fMRI measurements were adjusted for variability in self-reported phenomenology related to jhana meditation. Overall, we present a preliminary template of reliable brain areas likely underpinning core neurocognitive elements of jhana meditation, and highlight the utility of neurophenomenological experimental designs for better characterizing neuronal variability associated with advanced meditative states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saampras Ganesan
- Department of PsychiatryMelbourne Neuropsychiatry CentreCarltonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe University of MelbourneCarltonVictoriaAustralia
- Contemplative Studies Centre, Melbourne School of Psychological SciencesThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Winson F. Z. Yang
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Avijit Chowdhury
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Andrew Zalesky
- Department of PsychiatryMelbourne Neuropsychiatry CentreCarltonVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe University of MelbourneCarltonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Matthew D. Sacchet
- Meditation Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Laukkonen RE, Webb M, Salvi C, Tangen JM, Slagter HA, Schooler JW. Insight and the selection of ideas. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105363. [PMID: 37598874 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Perhaps it is no accident that insight moments accompany some of humanity's most important discoveries in science, medicine, and art. Here we propose that feelings of insight play a central role in (heuristically) selecting an idea from the stream of consciousness by capturing attention and eliciting a sense of intuitive confidence permitting fast action under uncertainty. The mechanisms underlying this Eureka heuristic are explained within an active inference framework. First, implicit restructuring via Bayesian reduction leads to a higher-order prediction error (i.e., the content of insight). Second, dopaminergic precision-weighting of the prediction error accounts for the intuitive confidence, pleasure, and attentional capture (i.e., the feeling of insight). This insight as precision account is consistent with the phenomenology, accuracy, and neural unfolding of insight, as well as its effects on belief and decision-making. We conclude by reflecting on dangers of the Eureka Heuristic, including the arising and entrenchment of false beliefs and the vulnerability of insights under psychoactive substances and misinformation.
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