Trials
February 20, 2023
Javier García-campayo, Rinchen Hijar-Aguinaga, Yolanda López-del-hoyo et al.
6 citations
This protocol describes an exploratory randomized controlled trial designed to test whether four deconstructive meditative practices can improve well-being and promote self-deconstruction. The study will compare the effects of these practices, likely involving techniques that challenge the sense of self, against a control condition. Outcomes will include measures of well-being and self-deconstruction, with the aim of identifying which practices are most effective. The trial is exploratory, meaning it will generate preliminary data to inform future research. No results are reported as this is a study protocol.
Frontiers in psychology
January 1, 2022
Javier García-campayo, Rinchen Hijar-Aguinaga, Alberto Barceló-soler et al.
3 citations
People who meditate are more likely to report having had a peak experience—an intense moment of joy, unity, or transcendence—than those who do not meditate. In a survey of 237 Spanish adults, 71.8% of meditators reported at least one peak experience compared to 46.8% of non-meditators. However, among those who had such experiences, the number, intensity, and ability to self-induce them did not differ between the two groups. Meditators also scored higher on measures of non-dual awareness, mindfulness, and absorption, but not on all aspects of dream lucidity. Being a meditator predicted having had a peak experience but not lucid dreaming scores, suggesting meditation may facilitate peak experiences while its effect on lucid dreams remains unclear.
World J Psychiatry
June 19, 2025
Paulina Lamas-Morales, Rinchen Hijar-Aguinaga, Javier García-campayo
1 citation
Excessive self-focus, or selfishness, is common in modern culture, and while some self-focus is adaptive, rigid self-fixation harms psychological, interpersonal, and social well-being. Deconstructive meditations, contemplative practices that use self-inquiry to examine perception, cognition, and emotion, may help cultivate a more flexible, less self-centered perspective. These practices reduce identification with self-narratives and promote psychological flexibility, according to contemplative neuroscience. However, empirical research on these meditations is limited and needs further investigation. This article reviews the practices, their links to psychotherapy, and potential therapeutic applications, discussing clinical implications and future research directions to validate their impact on mental health.