Science and Practice of
Mindfulness Meditation
Philippe Goldin, PhD
University of California Davis
3 baskets
• Ethical Conduct
– not harming;
self-discipline
• Concentration
– samadhi, shamata;
jhana (form to
formless)
• Wisdom/Insight
– shunyata/non-
duality (conceptual
to non-conceptual)
3 jewels
• Buddha
• Dharma
• Sangha
8-fold path
• Speech
• Action
• Livelihood
• Effort
• Mindfulness
• Concentration
• View
• Intention
4-noble truths
1. Suffering
2. Origin of
suffering
3. Cessation
4. Path and
methods of
liberation
Developmental Trajectory of
Contemplative Training
• Concentration –Focused attention
–Open monitoring
–Image (visualization)
–Sound (mantra)
• Analytic-Conceptual-Reasoning –Impermanence & Death
–Loving-kindness, empathy, compassion
• Non-duality, emptiness (shunyata), dzog-chen -Dissolving distorted view of nature of self
• Affective-directed methods
• compassion, loving-kindness
• Null-directed methods
• enhance empty, non-cognitive/non-
affective state
• TM, Zen satori, yogic dissolution of sense
of self
• Cognitive-directed methods
• shamatha, vipassana,
• one-pointedness, mindfulness, insight
Tang et al., 2015, Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Goal-oriented,
spontaneous?
Cognitive reappraisal,
acceptance,
perspective taking,
exposure/habituation?
Greater
diversity of
self-views?
Body
awareness
Which specific practices
are optimal for whom?
Cultural
context,
sangha
Components of Mindfulness
Attention -- Emotion -- Self
Cognitive & Attention
Regulation
Emotion
Higher Order Psychological Functions Embedded in Brain Networks
Self Language Body
Reward
Inhibitory
Salience Empathy
Follow
Breath
Distraction Reorientation
of Attention
Meditation Process
Notice
Distraction
Sustain - Wander -
Distraction Awareness -
Reorient
Sustained Attention
Hasenkamp et al. Neuroimage (2012) 59:750-760
Ricard et al. Scientific American (2014) 311:38-45
Mind Wandering
Hasenkamp et al. Neuroimage (2012) 59:750-760
Ricard et al. Scientific American (2014) 311:38-45
Distraction Awareness
Hasenkamp et al. Neuroimage (2012) 59:750-760
Ricard et al. Scientific American (2014) 311:38-45
Reorientation of Attention
Hasenkamp et al. Neuroimage (2012) 59:750-760
Ricard et al. Scientific American (2014) 311:38-45
Mind Wandering Distraction Awareness
Reorientation of Attention
Sustaining Attention
Hasenkamp et al. Neuroimage (2012) 59:750-760
Ricard et al. Scientific American (2014) 311:38-45
Tang et al., 2015 NatureReviewsNeuroscience
Attention Control, Emotion Regulation, Self-Awareness
Tang et al., 2015 NatureReviewsNeuroscience
Disconnect consciousness from external environment
Disrupting posterior cingulate connectivity disconnects consciousness from the external environment
Herbet et al., 2014, Neurospychologia
Functional integrity of the posterior cingulate cortex connectivity is necessary for maintaining consciousness of external environment.
Pain on forearm Sensations on skin eyes closed Look at and rub fingers
Attention modulation of respiratory interoceptive and visual exteroceptive attention
Insula – 8 anatomically defined regions; somatosensory processing Craig, Nat Rev Neurosci, 2009
Posterior ---- Anterior
Self - Other
Interaction
Self Self
Emotion Emotion
Language Language
Regulation Regulation
Motor Imitation in Infants
Meltzoff, AN, Moore MK. Imitation of facial and manual gestures by human neonates. Science, 1977;198.
Decety & Lamm, 2006, Scientific World Journal 6, 1146-1163
Model for Empathy
Automatic bottom-up processes
Top-down processes
Emotion sharing or resonance
Modify cognition and emotion via selective attention and self-regulation
Cognitive & Attention
Regulation
Emotion
Higher Order Psychological Functions Embedded in Brain Networks
Self Language Body
Reward
Inhibitory
Salience Empathy
Thank you for your attention
Contact:
YouTube talks:
Neuroscience of Mindfulness Meditation
Neuroscience of Emotion
Wisdom 2.0
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