arXiv Preprint Archive
May 23, 2016
Kieran C. R. Fox, Manesh Girn, Cameron C. Parro et al.
Psychedelic substances produce radical psychological effects and have been surrounded by political and legal controversy since their widespread adoption about 50 years ago. This review examines functional neuroimaging studies that investigate the neural correlates of the psychedelic experience, highlighting connections with the psychological and neural bases of creativity, daydreaming, and dreaming. The authors synthesize findings from these imaging investigations to show how brain activity during psychedelic states overlaps with patterns seen during imaginative and creative thought processes.
arXiv Preprint Archive
May 11, 2016
Kieran C. R. Fox, Yoona Kang, Michael Lifshitz et al.
Meditation and hypnosis can change how thoughts flow automatically, potentially making thinking more flexible and less rigid. Three mechanisms are proposed: reducing the tendency for thoughts to chain together automatically; making thought chains more varied and less habitual; and creating new, intentionally chosen mental habits. Evidence from behavioral and cognitive neuroscience shows these practices influence internal cognition, with possible benefits for mental adaptability.
arXiv Preprint Archive
March 21, 2016
Kieran C. R. Fox, Matthew L. Dixon, Savannah Nijeboer et al.
Meditation comprises diverse mental practices with distinct strategies. A meta-analysis of 78 neuroimaging studies (527 participants) found reliably different brain activation patterns for four common meditation styles—focused attention, mantra recitation, open monitoring, and compassion/loving-kindness—and suggestive differences for three others. Some brain regions (insula, pre/supplementary motor cortices, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, frontopolar cortex) were recruited across multiple techniques, but convergence was the exception. Effect sizes were medium for both activations (d = .59) and deactivations (d = -.74), indicating potential practical significance. The findings support the neurophysiological dissociability of meditation practices while highlighting methodological concerns and future research directions.