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Shinzen Young

11 papers in the library · 403 citations · publishing 1994-2025

Papers

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Enhancing Meditative Development with Transcranial Focused Ultrasound: A Mixed-Methods Phenomenological Study of Neuromodulation in Experienced Meditators During a Ten-Day Retreat

October 8, 2025 Sebastian Ehmann, Brian Lord, Erica Cook et al. preprint

Emerging research suggests some of the most profound meditation-induced psychological transformations require mastery of mental skills that enable access to advanced meditative states, stages, and endpoints. Such development, however, often demands years of sustained practice and expert guidance. Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) offers a novel means of potentially supporting meditative...

Enhancing Equanimity With Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: A Novel Framework for Mindfulness Interventions.

Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging April 1, 2025 Brian Lord, John J B Allen, Shinzen Young et al. 4 citations

Mindfulness has gained widespread recognition for its benefits for mental health, cognitive performance, and well-being. However, the multifaceted nature of mindfulness, which encompasses elements such as attentional focus, emotional regulation, and present-moment awareness, complicates its definition and measurement. A key component that may underlie its broad benefits is equanimity-the...

Mindfulness training fosters a positive outlook during acute stress: A randomized controlled trial.

Emotion November 21, 2024 Emily K. Lindsay, Shinzen Young, J. David Creswell 9 citations

= .21). Results suggest that mindfulness training, and acceptance training in particular, can broaden awareness to include more positive affective experiences. This work has important implications for understanding coping and affect dynamics following mindfulness interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Facilitating Meditation with Focused Ultrasound Neuromodulation: A First Investigation in Experienced Practitioners

January 31, 2024 Joshua Cain, Tracy Brandmeyer, Ninette Simonian et al. 9 citations preprint

This study aims to assess the validity of focused ultrasound (FUS) stimulation as a method for facilitating meditative development, which may have application for novice or intermediate meditators seeking to improve their practice. A growing body of work suggests profound benefits to health and wellbeing following consistent meditation practice; however, successfully maintaining such a practice...

Transcranial focused ultrasound to the posterior cingulate cortex modulates default mode network and subjective experience: an fMRI pilot study.

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2024 Brian Lord, Joseph L. Sanguinetti, Lisannette Ruiz et al. 28 citations

Transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) is an emerging neuromodulation tool for temporarily altering brain activity and probing network functioning. The effects of TFUS on the default mode network (DMN) are unknown. The study examined the effects of transcranial focused ultrasound (TFUS) on the functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), specifically by targeting the posterior...

Uniting Contemplative Theory and Scientific Investigation: Toward a Comprehensive Model of the Mind

Mindfulness April 10, 2023 Malcolm Wright, Joseph L. Sanguinetti, Shinzen Young et al. 41 citations

Abstract Objectives Research into meditation-related emergent phenomenology is advancing, yet progress is hampered by significant incongruities between meditator self-reports and objective measurements (e.g., of brain states). We address these incongruities by developing and demonstrating the potential of contemplative theory to support scientific investigation. Method Our approach is to...

Mindfulness training and systemic low-grade inflammation in stressed community adults: Evidence from two randomized controlled trials

PLoS One July 11, 2019 Daniella K. Villalba, Emily K. Lindsay, Anna L. Marsland et al. 59 citations

Mindfulness interventions have garnered significant attention as a complementary health treatment for many physical and psychological conditions. While some research has shown that mindfulness training can decrease psychological and physiological stress responses, it remains unclear whether mindfulness training impacts inflammation-a predictor of poor health outcomes. In addition, little...

How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology December 1, 2018 Emily K. Lindsay, Brian Chin, Carol M. Greco et al. 221 citations

Mindfulness meditation interventions-which train skills in monitoring present-moment experiences with a lens of acceptance-have shown promise for increasing positive emotions. Using a theory-based approach, we hypothesized that learning acceptance skills in mindfulness interventions helps people notice more positive experiences in daily life, and tested whether removing acceptance training from...

How mindfulness training promotes positive emotions: Dismantling acceptance skills training in two randomized controlled trials

August 21, 2018 Emily K. Lindsay, Brian Chin, Carol M. Greco et al. 9 citations

Mindfulness meditation interventions – which train skills in monitoring present-moment experiences with a lens of acceptance – have shown promise for increasing positive emotions. Using a theory-based approach, we hypothesized that learning acceptance skills in mindfulness interventions helps people notice more positive experiences in daily life, and tested whether removing acceptance training...

Acceptance lowers stress reactivity: Dismantling mindfulness training in a randomized controlled trial

September 28, 2017 Emily K. Lindsay, Shinzen Young, Joshua M. Smyth et al. 9 citations preprint

Objective: Mindfulness interventions, which train practitioners to monitor their present-moment experience with a lens of acceptance, are known to buffer stress reactivity. Little is known about the active mechanisms driving these effects. We theorize that acceptance is a critical emotion regulation mechanism underlying mindfulness stress reduction effects. Method: In this three-arm parallel...