Consciousness, mindfulness, and introspection: integrating first- and second-person phenomenological inquiry with experimental and EEG data to study the mind.
Anita Milicevic, Angela Blazely, Anatol Bragin, Ross W. J. Dunseath, Nicholas J. Matiasz, Mauricio Watanabe Ribeiro, Camila Sardeto Deolindo, Elisa H. Kozasa, B. Alan Wallace
Frontiers in Psychology September 8, 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1558453 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Participant observer Purposive sampling |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that studies of consciousness need a mixed methods design integrating first-, second-, and third-person approaches, and proposes a framework combining phenomenological, psychological, and electrophysiological methods with purposively sampled contemplative practitioners trained in introspection. The authors present this framework, based on their experience in a small pilot study, as guidance for rigorous in-depth consciousness research. |
Abstract
Studies on consciousness need to develop further a mixed methods research design that effectively integrates first-, second- and third-person research approaches. Mixed methods research has not fully explored the methodological potential of the participant-observer role and the interdependence of knowledge across disciplines to gain a deeper understanding of such inquiries. This paper describes a theoretical and methodological framework that integrates phenomenological, psychological, and electrophysiological methods for the study of consciousness and the mind. This methodological approach includes the purposive sampling of contemplative practitioners extensively trained to observe their mental states and processes with sustained attention, mindfulness, and introspection. By reporting the theoretical and methodological framework here, it is anticipated that the authors' experience of having used this in a small pilot study will offer valuable guidance to fellow researchers seeking to maximize the rigor of their in-depth studies on consciousness and the mind.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Are randomized controlled trials the “gold standard” of evidence for mindfulness-based interventions? Synthese September 25, 2026
- Advanced meditation, sleep, and consciousness science: An emerging frontier. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews August 1, 2026
- Without birth, without death-issues in the research of nondual awareness or consciousness itself. Frontiers in Psychology November 25, 2025
Cites 28
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Regulation of the Neural Circuitry of Emotion by Compassion Meditation: Effects of Meditative Expertise PLoS One March 25, 2008
- Standardised Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Healthcare: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of RCTs PLoS One April 16, 2015
- Minimal phenomenal experience Philosophy and the Mind Sciences March 24, 2020
- Intensive meditation training influences emotional responses to suffering. Emotion December 1, 2015
and 23 more in the library