Mindfulness and meditation - The Science of Effortless Awareness: EEG Neurofeedback and Meditation

Source-Space EEG Neurofeedback Links Subjective Experience with Brain Activity During Effortless Awareness Meditation

In this episode, Dr. Jud Brewer and Dr. Remko van Lutterveld explore the latest advances in neurofeedback and meditation. This study used high-density EEG to provide real-time neurofeedback from the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), a key region in self-referential processing and mind-wandering. Both novice and experienced meditators demonstrated a strong correlation between decreased PCC activity and the subjective experience of "effortless awareness," a key component of meditation. Notably, participants were able to volitionally control their PCC activity, suggesting that neurofeedback may serve as a valuable tool for deepening meditation practice. Tune in to discover how neuroscience and technology are revolutionizing the way we train the mind.

Full Reference:
van Lutterveld, R., Houlihan, S. D., Pal, P., Sacchet, M. D., McFarlane-Blake, C., Patel, P. R., Sullivan, J. S., Ossadtchi, A., Druker, S., Bauer, C., & Brewer, J. A. (2016). Source-space EEG neurofeedback links subjective experience with brain activity during effortless awareness meditation. NeuroImage, 129, 72–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.047

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