Neuromodulatory Induction of Meditative States

Study Status

Protocol Design
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Manuscript(s) Preparation
Publication

With funding from the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, The Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies (IACS) will be conducting a series of basic research studies aimed at modeling and reinstating the neurocognitive underpinnings supporting gradations in the meditative experience (i.e., different neural representations for deep vs. shallow periods of meditation). One possible mechanism by which we may facilitate the instantiation of deep meditative states may be the direct neuromodulation of key brain structures and circuits during meditation. We seek to validate this notion with the use of focused ultrasound (FUS) neuromodulation applied to four different regions in the brain whose activity has been implicated in meditation.

Protocol 003

Neuromodulatory Induction of Meditative States For Experienced Meditators

If you volunteer to participate in this study, your first session (Day 1) will include receiving a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) structural image of your brain on the first floor of our building and then come up to our suite on the 5th floor to complete a series of questionnaires and become familiar with the experimental design.

For sessions two, three, four, and five (Day 2 through Day 5), you will be meditating and receiving ultrasound stimulation (for a total of 5 site visits).

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Protocol 003b

Towards Enhancing Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation in Novice Meditators

https://i0.wp.com/advancedconsciousness.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Geena_LIFU_1920x1080-e1683920097325.jpg?w=891

If you volunteer to participate in this study, we will first ask you to complete four remotely guided meditation sessions: Two 1.5-hour sessions (proctored over Zoom) and two 45-minute sessions (proctored) to introduce you to Vipassana meditation techniques.

For your first on-site visit, we will ask you to get a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) structural image of your brain on the first floor of our building and then come up to our suite on the fifth floor to complete a series of questionnaires and become familiar with the experimental design.

After your MRI visit, there will be four days where you will be receiving ultrasound stimulation (for a total of 5 site visits).

Outcomes

2024

Cain, J, Brandmeyer, T., Sanguinetti, J., Simonian, N., Reggente, N. (2024) Facilitating Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A First Investigation in Experienced Practitioners. Facilitating Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A First Investigation in Experienced Practitioners

2024

Cain, J, Brandmeyer, T., Sanguinetti, J., Simonian, N., Reggente, N. (2024) Facilitating Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A First Investigation in Experienced Practitioners. Facilitating Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A First Investigation in Experienced Practitioners
Cain, J., Simonian, N., Reggente, N. (2024) Effective Deepening of Meditative-States with Focused Ultrasound Stimulation and its Moderation by Prior-Experience. Effective Deepening of Meditative-States with Focused Ultrasound Stimulation and its Moderation by Prior-Experience
Ganesan, S., Tsuchiyagaito, A., Siegle, G. J., Goldin, P. R., Eyler, L. T., Treves, I., . . . King, A. P. (2024). ENIGMA-Meditation: Worldwide consortium for neuroscientific investigations of meditation practices. ENIGMA-Meditation: Worldwide consortium for neuroscientific investigations of meditation practices

2022

Kuhn, T., Indahlastari, A., Vila‐Rodriguez, F., Fonzo, G. A., Petersen, N., Rotstein, N. M., . . . Thompson, P. M. (2024). The ENIGMA Neuromodulation Working Group: Goals, Challenges, and Opportunities for the Field. The ENIGMA Neuromodulation Working Group: Goals, Challenges, and Opportunities for the Field.
Dell'Italia, J., Sanguinetti, J. L., Monti, M. M., Bystritsky, A., & Reggente, N. (2022). Current State of Potential Mechanisms Supporting Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Neuromodulation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16. Current State of Potential Mechanisms Supporting Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Neuromodulation [PDF] [Blog Writeup]

2024

Cain, J., Brandmeyer, T., Simonian, N., Sanguinetti, J., Young, S., Sacchet, M., Reggente, N. (2024) Facilitating Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A First Investigation in Experienced Practitioners. To be presented at Organization for Human Brain Mapping, South Korea

2023

Cain, J., Brandmeyer, T., Simonian, N., Sanguinetti, J., Young, S., Sacchet, M., Reggente, N. (2023, October 5-6) Facilitating Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A First Investigation in Experienced Practitioners. Mindfulness Mechanisms & Methods Meeting, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. [Poster]
Cain, J., Wang, G., Brandmeyer, T., Simonian, Sanguinetti, J., Young, S., Sacchet, M., N., Reggente, N. (2023, June 22-25). Towards Enhancing Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation in Expert Meditators. ASSC, New York, New York, USA. [Poster]
Cain, J., Brandmeyer, T., Simonian, N., Reggente, N. (2023, March 25-28). Towards Enhancing Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation in Expert Meditators. CNS, San Francisco, CA, USA. [Poster]

2023

Cain, J., Brandmeyer, T., Simonian, N., Reggente, N. (2023, May 22-28). Towards Enhancing Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation in Expert Meditators. TSC, Taormina, Sicily, Italy.

2023

Vaisberg, E. (2024). Peak Experiences at the Push of a Button: My tFUS Experiment. Medium. Peak Experiences at the Push of a Button: My tFUS Experiment.
Cody Rall MD with Techforpsych. (2023). 10 Years Meditation in 12 minutes with new tech 2023 (get paid $420 to try it!) [Video]. YouTube. 10 Years Meditation in 12 minutes with new tech 2023