Optimal Being

E xperienced meditators can voluntarily induce unconscious states, known as cessations, without the use of drugs. This ability, observed in Tibetan Buddhist practice, allows meditators to experience a momentary void of consciousness, followed by enhanced mental clarity. Conducted across multiple countries, the study utilized EEG spectral analysis to objectively measure brain activity during these cessation events. By correlating the meditator’s first-person experience with neuroimaging data, researchers have gained insights into the profound modulation of consciousness achievable through advanced meditation practices. Key Facts: Experienced meditators can voluntarily enter a state of cessation, momentarily losing consciousness without external aids. The study analyzed 37 cessation events in one expert meditator across 29 sessions using EEG spectral analysis. This research opens new avenues for understanding consciousness modulation through meditation. Source:  BIAL Foundation A stu...

We can account for the evolution of consciousness only if we crack the  philosophy, as well as the physics, of the brain. The science of consciousness has not lived up to expectations. Over the summer, the neuroscientist Christof Koch  conceded defeat  on his 25-year bet with the philosopher David Chalmers, a lost wager that the science of consciousness would be all wrapped up by now. In September, over 100 consciousness researchers signed a  public letter  condemning one of the most popular theories of consciousness—the integrated information theory—as pseudoscience. This in turn prompted strong  responses  from other researchers in the field. Despite decades of research, there’s little sign of consensus on consciousness, with several rival theories still in contention. Your consciousness is what it’s like to be you. It’s your experiences of color and sound and smell; your feelings of pain, joy, excitement or tiredness. It’s w...