A Conversation with Kati Devaney
Host Michael Taft talks with neuroscientist and Executive Director of the Alembic, Kati Devaney about meditation, the neuroscience of meditation, psychedelics, and more.
neuroscience
Eddies in the Mind Stream, with Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
Rick Hanson and I discuss the tension between accepting how you’re feeling and changing how you’re feeling, spiritual bypassing, how to cultivate positive states of mind, the quivering potentiality at the front edge of now,… Read More »Eddies in the Mind Stream, with Rick Hanson, Ph.D.
The Craving Mind – with Judson Brewer
What do the neurocorrelates of enlightenment, the activation of the posterior cingulate cortex, and the extinction of craving all have in common? They relate to the work of Judson Brewer. Jud talks with Michael W.… Read More »The Craving Mind – with Judson Brewer
Enlightenment’s Evil Twin – with Shinzen Young
Meditation teacher and neuroscience consultant Shinzen Young and host Michael W. Taft talk about what mindfulness teachers are getting wrong, Shinzen’s Periodic Table of Happiness Elements, informed consent for awakening, effective strategies for dealing with… Read More »Enlightenment’s Evil Twin – with Shinzen Young
Mindfulness Meditation Helps with Difficult Emotions
by Crystal Goh Over the last decade, the scientific community has produced numerous studies looking at how mindfulness practice influences our minds, our bodies and our behavior. Today, we are beginning to understand some of… Read More »Mindfulness Meditation Helps with Difficult Emotions
Anxious? Meditation Can Help
Scientists, like Buddhist monks and Zen masters, have known for years that meditation can reduce anxiety, but not how. Scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, however, have succeeded in identifying the brain functions involved.… Read More »Anxious? Meditation Can Help
Michael W. Taft’s Q & A on Reddit
The following is a reprint of an interview with the Reddit community that occurred on Sunday, Feb 15, 2015. You can find the original here. I’ve corrected some typos, added some links, and so on,… Read More »Michael W. Taft’s Q & A on Reddit
Flow State Machine: Hacking the Human Brain for Healing and Wellbeing
How one scientist is blending ancient philosophy with modern neuroscience to fight addiction by Michael W. Taft Heart racing and fists shaking, I stood ready to fight. I was moments away from sparring with the… Read More »Flow State Machine: Hacking the Human Brain for Healing and Wellbeing
Proven Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation
by Michael W. Taft I started meditating over 30 years ago, and it has proven to be a life-changing practice for me. When I reflect on my own experience, or listen to that of my… Read More »Proven Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation
Thinking about Thinking
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 in the act of thinking,… Read More »Thinking about Thinking
Can You Trust Your Senses?
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 short video offers a fascinating… Read More »Can You Trust Your Senses?
Meditation Beats Anxiety By Activating Certain Brain Regions, Study Finds
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 the brain. Researchers from Wake… Read More »Meditation Beats Anxiety By Activating Certain Brain Regions, Study Finds
The Neuroscience of Mindfulness: Effects on Depression
A fascinating video about how mindfulness can help to train the brain away from depression.