Investigating the complex cortical dynamics of an advanced concentrative absorption meditation called jhanas (ACAM-J): a geometric eigenmode analysis.
Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) – February 05, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Advanced concentrative absorption meditation significantly alters brain dynamics, as shown by a case study utilizing 7T fMRI data from 10 participants. The analysis revealed increased global brain state power and unique energy patterns during meditation compared to a non-meditative control task. Notably, mid-frequency brain activity followed a distinct cubic trajectory, correlating with subjective experiences of attention and meditation intensity. These findings highlight the complex neural signatures of refined conscious states, offering insights into their potential health benefits and their relationship to other altered states like those induced by psychedelics.
Abstract
Advanced meditation has been associated with long- and short-term psychological changes such as bliss, profound insight, and transformation of well-being. However, most advanced meditation neuroimaging analyses have implemented primarily spatially-localized approaches, focusing on discrete regional changes in activity rather than distributed dynamics. The present study uses a geometric eigenmode decomposition of ultrahigh field-strength 7T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from an intensely sampled case study to investigate the complex, distributed cortical dynamics associated with advanced concentrative absorption meditation. Geometric eigenmode decomposition of advanced concentrative absorption meditation and non-meditative control task fMRI data revealed elevated global brain state power and energy patterns of specific advanced concentrative absorption meditation states compared to controls, with mid-frequency spectrum brain state power and energy following a non-random, cubic trajectory through the advanced concentrative absorption meditation sequence. Further, these brain state differences were meaningfully associated with subjective phenomenological reports of attention, intensity of advanced concentrative absorption meditation quality, and sensations. This study unites precise methodological design, a novel fMRI decomposition framework, and rigorous phenomenology to provide valuable insights into the distributed neural signatures of highly refined conscious states. These results underscore similarities and differences between advanced concentrative absorption meditation and other altered states of consciousness like those induced by psychedelics-offering insights into refined conscious states and their implications for health and well-being.