Mindfulness and meditation are increasingly used in clinical practice to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety and addiction. However, the fundamental mechanisms underlying these practices are not yet well-known and theoretical frameworks are sparse. Two important explanatory mechanisms that will be considered in this workshop are sticky thinking (cognitive fusion) and the sense of self. Experts on these topics from a wide range of disciplines including neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, mathematics and philosophy will collaborate to develop more integrated theories of how those topics are involved in meditation practice. In this workshop, we hope to synthesize their ideas towards common theoretical frameworks, and to define a robust research agenda for future research in this field. Anticipated outcomes include a position paper and a plan for a multi-lab grant proposal to advance work in these areas.

Organizer

Marieke van Vugt, PhD

University of Groningen (Netherlands)

Grantee, Reviewer

Marieke van Vugt is an assistant professor at the Bernoulli Institute of Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence of the University of Groningen (Netherlands). She obtained her PhD in neuroscience … MORE

Some of the participants

David Vago, PhD

Vanderbilt University

Convening Faculty, Fellow, Grantee, Planning Committee Member, Reviewer

Antonino Raffone, PhD

Sapienza University Rome

Elena Antonova, PhD

King’s College

Reviewer

Jos Brosschot, PhD

Leiden University

Anne Speckens, PhD

Radboud University, Nijmegen

Heleen Slagter, PhD

University of Amsterdam

Philipp Kanske, PhD

University of Dresden

Judson Brewer, MD, PhD

Brown University

Susan Bogels, PhD

University of Amsterdam

Henk Barendregt, PhD

Ramoud University Nijmegen

Zoltan Dienes, PhD

University of Sussex

Amber Carpenter, PhD

University of York, Yale-NUS college

Shaun Gallagher, PhD

University of Memphis

Brian Ostafin, PhD

University of Groningen

Thorsten Barnhofer, PhD

University of Surrey

Reviewer

Amit Bernstein, Ph.D.

University of Haifa

Convening Faculty, Grantee, Planning Committee Member, Reviewer

Aviva Berkovich-Ohana, PhD

University of Haifa (Israel)

Grantee, Reviewer

Christopher May, PhD

University of Groningen (Netherlands)

Grantee

Kirk Warren Brown, PhD

Virginia Commonwealth University

Convening Faculty, Fellow, Reviewer