bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
November 13, 2025
Winson F.z. Yang, Ruby M. Potash, Grace Mackin et al.
preprint
Advanced concentration absorption meditation (ACAM-J) produces a distinct, structured mode of awareness characterized by stable positive states and reduced narrative thought. In the first ultra-high-field (7T) fMRI study of jhana meditation, neural trajectories across eight successive states showed reorganization from anterior to posterior brain regions, flattening of cortical hierarchies, and nonlinear changes in global brain harmonics. These brain changes were tightly linked to equanimity, attentional stability, and behavior. Brain activity patterns associated with ACAM-J related more to attentional monitoring than to suffering-related processes. The findings suggest advanced meditation offers a framework for understanding psychological transformation and supporting human well-being.
bioRxiv
September 25, 2025
Jakub Vohryzek, Edmundo Lopez-Sola, Winson F.z. Yang et al.
preprint
Advanced concentrative absorption meditation (jhāna) produces a shift in brain dynamics toward near-criticality, a state of heightened flexibility and integration. Using 7T fMRI and whole-brain modeling, the study found that later absorption states, considered minimal phenomenal experiences, show increased large-scale functional integration and a shift of the default mode network from a noise-driven regime to near-critical dynamics. This near-critical regime is interpreted as a form of openness, where constrained brain activity gives way to greater flexibility, correlating with broader attention and reduced narrative thought. The trajectory of these states is non-linear, with major reconfigurations at key meditative milestones.
Mindfulness
April 1, 2024
Brentyn J. Ramm, Anna-Lena Lumma, Terje Sparby et al.
Twelve of twenty adults who had never practiced the Headless Way exercises reported a void-like experience after being guided through them, and five reported an experience of awareness itself. These experiences were categorized as subsets of perceptual absences and the sense of not being person-like. The exercises can effectively induce experiences of emptiness and awareness in participants without prior meditation experience. The findings suggest that such experiences can be elicited outside a traditional meditation context, and that the sense of not being person-like and perceptual absences may be precursors to recognizing awareness itself and the void-like nature of the mind.
Acta Psychologica
July 1, 2026
Terje Sparby, Torbjørn Eftestøl, Markus Lindholm et al.
A recent taxonomy of philosophies of mind classifies Rudolf Steiner's view as mind-body dualism, but this classification is incorrect. Steiner's view is trinitarian, representing a unification of monism and dualism. This trinitarian conception challenges the taxonomy's placement of Steiner and suggests a potential fundamental limitation of the whole taxonomy, as monism and dualism may not be exclusive. Other thinkers such as Whitehead and de Chardin may also be trinitarian, indicating the taxonomy needs revision. The dualism versus monism debate mirrors limitations in current thinking. The trinitarian view offers a different approach to the hard problem of consciousness, understanding mind-body differentiation as part of human development.
Melina Schwab, Ulrich Weger, Terje Sparby
Meditation's role in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is debated: evidence mostly shows benefit, but risks may exist. This qualitative study, the first to examine meditation combined with psychotherapy for PTSD, interviewed 11 people—PTSD sufferers and psychotherapists—about their experiences. Six themes emerged: background, deductively identified effects, PTSD symptom groups, inductively constructed effects, negative effects and challenges, dealing with them, and effects on the psychotherapeutic process. Descriptions of transformative processes and mechanisms of action included both positively and negatively perceived effects. The findings suggest greater sensitivity is needed when using meditation in PTSD contexts, for both individuals and clinicians.