Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies

Accelerated meditation with neuroimaging guided neuromodulation - we propose to recruit meditators with varying degrees of vipassana meditation experience. This work will leverage neuroimaging (fmri and eeg) and machine-learning, in conjunction with exponential random graph modeling (ergm), to identify meditator-specific brain-states associated with deep meditative experiences and, subsequently, utilize neuromodulation (lifup) to "nudge" meditators' brains into said states. The specific aims of the protocol are to 1) decrease the amount of time it takes to reach such an intended state, 2) increase the experiential duration of said state, and 3) identify the neural correlates associated with achieving deep meditative experiences across individuals.accelerated meditation with virtual reality and neurofeedback - we propose to recruit meditators with varying degrees of vipassana meditation experience. This work will leverage machine-learning and neuroimaging (eeg) to identify meditator-specific brain-states associated with deep meditative experiences with the intent to leverage virtual-reality neurofeedback to behaviorally guide meditators to their self-reported optimal state. The aims are to 1) decrease the amount of time it takes to reach such an intended state, 2) increase the duration of said state, 3) identify the neural correlates associated with achieving deep meditative experiences, and 4) optimize the paradigm for naive meditators.emulating entheogens to enhance empathy - taking a theory driven approach to create brain states that most closely resemble those seen during non-ordinary, self-transcendant experiential states with the hopes of promoting empathic concern.all with the goal of furthering the scientific understanding of Consciousness and to provide ecologically valid tools for improving the human experience.