Meditation, Psychopathology & Neuroscience | Nicholas Van Dam (#54)

Nicholas Van Dam is a neuroscientist and the inaugural Director of the Contemplative Studies Centre. Meditative practices have been around for millennia. However, it is only recently that have we studied them scientifically. What does science say about them? Moreover, what does the study of them reveal about science itself? In this podcast, we discuss the recent scientific study of meditation, the problems encountered, how meditation can benefit people but also what the dangers are, neuroscience and our current understanding of the mind, and more... Find Nicholas -The Contemplative Studies Centre: https://psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/CSC -Nicholas' Website: https://www.nicholastvandam.com/ Timestamps: 00:00 - Interesting History of Science and Meditation 06:36 - Challenges Studying Meditation 11:16 - Placebo in Meditation 17:34 - Problems in How We Practice Medicine 21:22 - Meditation Benefits and Challenges 24:33 - Challenges of Studying the Brain 32:00 - Bringing Together Different Disciplines