What is consciousness, and how does the mind actually work? Thoughts, emotions, and the constructed self; models from psychology and neuroscience, and explorations at the meeting point of first-person practice, science, and philosophy of mind.
Mindful Individuals Less Affected by Immediate Rewards November 2, 2013 - From ScienceDaily A new study from the University of Toronto Scarborough shows that people who are aware of and their own thoughts and emotions are less affected by positive feedback… Read More »Mindful Individuals Less Affected by Immediate Rewards
A Neuroscience of Enlightenment? October 31, 2013 - The field of contemplative science is rapidly growing and integrating into the basic neurosciences, psychology, clinical sciences and society-at-large. Yet the majority of current research in the contemplative sciences has… Read More »A Neuroscience of Enlightenment?
The Ego as a Function October 19, 2013 - In this short video, Michael W. Taft discusses the ego—something which feels as if it is an eternal entity, but which actually is nothing more than a brain-generated function. Read More »The Ego as a Function
Thinking about Thinking October 17, 2013 - As far as we know, human beings are the only animal capable of introspection—the ability to examine our own mental processes. We not only think, but can observe ourselves… Read More »Thinking about Thinking Emotions Are Physical Events: Video October 14, 2013 - Michael Taft - "The Physicality of Emotions" from Ego the Book In this short video, Michael W. Taft discusses the difference between the embodied sensation of emotions, and the conceptual… Read More »Emotions Are Physical Events: Video
Can You Trust Your Senses? September 6, 2013 - Mindfulness meditation focuses on sensory experience. One of the fascinating things that you learn very quickly is that the senses are not as trustworthy as they seem to be. This… Read More »Can You Trust Your Senses?
Meditation Beats Anxiety By Activating Certain Brain Regions, Study Finds June 10, 2013 - from Huffington Post Mindfulness meditation—nonjudgmental awareness of thoughts and emotions—is known for its anxiety-busting powers, and now scientists are getting a better understanding of why it has this impact in… Read More »Meditation Beats Anxiety By Activating Certain Brain Regions, Study Finds
Richie Davidson on Mindfulness Meditation and Resilience March 19, 2013 - In a recent interview with the APA Monitor, Richie Davidson spoke about the effects of mindfulness meditation on resilience: "...[Speaking of] resilience again, there is a method of meditation that… Read More »Richie Davidson on Mindfulness Meditation and Resilience
What Is the Self? February 22, 2013 - This is a video of me speaking at the Portland Float Conference last October (2012). I'm adapting Shinzen's ideas about how to deconstruct the ego to the environment of a… Read More »What Is the Self?Meditation Expertise Changes Experience of Pain November 22, 2012 - By Dian Land for University of Wisconsin-Madison News Meditation can change the way a person experiences pain, according to a new study by UW–Madison neuroscientists. The researchers found that during… Read More »Meditation Expertise Changes Experience of Pain
Meditation Makes Lasting Change in Brain November 14, 2012 - From ScienceBlog A new study has found that participating in an 8-week meditation training program can have measurable effects on how the brain functions even when someone is not actively… Read More »Meditation Makes Lasting Change in Brain
Meditators More Aware of ‘Uh-oh’ Moments June 10, 2012 - By Michael Kennedy for Futurity People who meditate do better on tasks that require self-control because they are more open to their own emotions, new research finds. For psychologists, self-control… Read More »Meditators More Aware of ‘Uh-oh’ Moments
Meditation Builds a Better Brain May 9, 2012 - Awesome New York Times article on the measurable changes in the brain that come from long-term meditation. — Michael The role that meditation plays in brain development has been the… Read More »Meditation Builds a Better Brain
The Neuroscience of Mindfulness: Effects on Depression January 10, 2012 - A fascinating video about how mindfulness can help to train the brain away from depression. http://youtu.be/8GVwnxkWmSM Read More »The Neuroscience of Mindfulness: Effects on Depression
How Meditating May Help Your Brain November 22, 2011 - By Elizabeth Landau Reposted from CNN.com When you're under pressure from work and family and the emails don't stop coming, it's hard to stop your mind from jumping all over… Read More »How Meditating May Help Your Brain
Downtime for the Stone Age Brain July 7, 2011 - by Michael W. Taft Recently, I found a meditation retreat center in rural Massachusetts. Its super-affordable price included a room of my own, and delicious, organic hippy food. As I… Read More »Downtime for the Stone Age BrainMeditation Helps Brain Block Distractions May 26, 2011 - Meditation can help relieve pain and improve memory by regulating a brain wave known as the alpha rhythm, which 'turns down the volume' on distractions. Mindfulness meditation has been reported… Read More »Meditation Helps Brain Block Distractions
Mindfulness Makes Your Brain Happier May 24, 2011 - by Dan Goleman One of the most upbeat people I know is Richard Davidson, a friend since my grad school days, now a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin at… Read More »Mindfulness Makes Your Brain Happier