Sleep plays a vital role in keeping the brain and body healthy. As people age, sleep often becomes lighter and more fragmented, which can increase stress, weaken the immune system, and speed up cellular aging. Poor sleep has also been linked to higher levels of inflammation and shorter telomeres, the protective caps on our DNA …
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Discerning the Nature of Mind: A First-Phase Evaluation to Distinguish Nondual Awareness (NDA) from Other Meditation-Induced Phenomena
Nondual awareness (NDA) refers to a mode of experience marked by a lack of distinction between a subject and an object. Traditions within Tibetan Buddhism customarily instruct students not to confuse NDA with other highly salient phenomena induced by deep meditation practice, what this study terms Remarkable Experiences (REs). Devotees of intensive meditation practice can …
Regulation and Intentional Self-Compassion for Empowerment (RISE): Assessing the Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Survivors of Sexual Coercion
Surviving sexual coercion (i.e., unwanted sexual contact) can deeply affect a person’s well-being. Survivors may struggle with challenges related to managing difficult emotions, harmful eating patterns, and feelings of low self- worth. Recovery is often made harder by stigma or fear of judgement, which can prevent survivors from seeking help or experiencing growth or healing …
Contemplative Dialogues: A Photovoice Exploration of Mental Health through Yoga, Mindfulness, Identity, and Belonging Among Black Emerging Adults
Black emerging adults (ages 18–30) face high rates of racialized stress, depression, and substance use, yet often lack access to culturally relevant mental health resources. Contemplative Dialogues explores how culturally adapted yoga and mindfulness practices can support mental wellbeing, racial identity formation, and community belonging. We use Photovoice, a creative method where participants take photos …
Developing a toolbox for AI-assisted contemplative qualitative research: uncovering blind spots in AI models and humans
Contemplative researchers frequently use qualitative interviews and written responses to explore human experience. However, analyzing large amounts of text is time-consuming and often limited by researchers’ theoretical perspectives. Recent advances in AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), offer the potential to automatically detect a wide range of relevant constructs in text, from equanimity and mystical …
Can Co-Designed Micropractices that Integrate Mindfulness and Identity Affirmation Promote Resilience? A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial with Unhoused LGBTQ Young People
Unhoused LGBTQ youth face some of the highest rates of stress, discrimination, and mental health challenges in the country, but most mental health programs are not designed with their lives in mind. Many require weekly sessions, long-term housing, or language that does not represent their identities. In response, this project asks: What if we co-created …
Tracking Person-Specific Neurophysiological and Mental Health Inflection Points during Meditation Practice in University Students
College students are experiencing a mental health crisis, with anxiety and depression rates more than doubling between 2013 and 2021. While meditation has proven effective for improving mental health, we face a critical problem: unlike physical exercise where progress is visible, the brain and body changes from meditation practice are hidden and difficult to track. …
Engaging parents in mindfulness interventions for children and adolescents
The contemplative science community has made significant efforts to introduce mindfulness practices to children and adolescents, yet research has shown limited benefits for this population. For instance, the MYRIAD Trial found no significant impact on social-emotional-behavioral functioning compared to the control group. This highlights the need for more effective mindfulness interventions for youth, who are …
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Mindfulness as a Defence Against False Realization Experiences
Interest in the phenomenology and transformative effects of awe and mystical experiences, both pharmaceutically induced and naturally occurring, has been on a significant rise in the last decade. Some recent research, however, has highlighted the range of negative side effects that can stem from such experiences, with one major potential side effect being the risk …
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How Racial Context Mediates the Effects of Contemplative Practice on In-Group and Out-Group Empathy: A Comparative Study of Prayer Across White and Black Churches
Recent research suggests that even short periods of contemplative practice can boost empathy and prosociality, fueling hope for a more compassionate society. Yet, contemplative practitioners sometimes promote narrow-minded views. For instance, over 500 million evangelicals practice speaking in tongues, a contemplative activity reported to increase empathy and social engagement by fostering selflessness and positive emotions. …
