Pierce Salguero

Willoughby Britton, an associate professor studying meditation's psychological effects, and Pierce Salguero, a professor of Asian history and health humanities, explore the darker side of meditation. They discuss unexpected lab findings showing meditation may increase cortical arousal and recount alarming experiences like psychosis and cognitive loss reported by practitioners. Salguero connects these challenges to historical texts, revealing that warnings about meditation difficulties have existed for centuries. They emphasize the importance of recognizing risks and balancing practices.