Scientific Investigations of Nonduality

Scientific research into the neural correlates of nondual realization can further our understanding of the nature of consciousness, and of the brain’s functioning in optimal states of wellbeing. It can demystify this aspect of human potential and help make the awakening to nonduality more accessible to a growing number of people throughout the world.

Under Zoran Josipovic, PhD, the research program at Nonduality Institute aims to explore the nature of nonduality through a multifaceted approach that looks both at the nature of nondual awareness, and at the ways in which it can influence cognitive, affective and somatic dimensions of our experience.

Some of the questions we seek to answer are:

• What aspect of our consciousness realizes nonduality?
• What are the characteristics of nondual embodiment?
• What is the relationship between nonduality and authentic subjectivity?
• How does abiding in nonduality affect our relationships?

Our research is focused on these areas:

• Neural correlates of nonduality and the dynamics of global networks in the brain.
• Phenomenology of nondual experience and the impact it has on our mind and body.
• Clinical applications of nondual realization.

Research modalities we use are EEG, MEG and fMRI (through our connection with New York University), in addition to a variety of psychophysics and self-report tests.

 

Contemplative Science Lab

Zoran is the Director and Principal Investigator of the Contemplative Science Lab at New York University. The Contemplative Science Lab studies contemplative, cognitive, and affective neuroscience and researches the neural correlates of contemplative practice and the impact it has on mind and body. Research modalities include fMRI, EEG, and MEG in addition to psychophysics and self-report tests.

 

Metro-Area Research Group on Awareness & Meditation

The Metro-Area Research Group on Awareness & Meditation (MARGAM) presents researchers and scholars discussing their current and emerging studies on contemplative practice, and aims to facilitate dialogue and collaboration between neuroscientists, psychologists, philosophers, and scholars of contemplative practice engaged in research on meditation and related topics.

Presenters:

• Bernard Baars, PhD, The Neurosciences Institute
• Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, Yale Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic
• Willoughby Britton, PhD, Brown University Medical School
• Britta Hölzel, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Catherine Kerr, PhD,  Brown University
• Hedy Kober, MA, PhD, Yale Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic
• David Loy, PhD, author of The World Is Made of Stories; Nonduality: A Study in Comparative Philosophy; and Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution
• Clifford Saron, PhD, Center for Mind and Brain at University of California-Davis
• Jonathan Shear, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
• David Vago, PhD, Harvard Medical School
• Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Publications

1. Josipovic, Z., Dinstein, I., Weber, J., Heeger, D.J. (2012). Influence of meditation on anti-correlated networks in the brain. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 5, 1-11.
2. Josipovic, Z. (2010). Duality and Nonduality in Meditation Research. Consciousness and Cognition, doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.03.016
3. Kozhevnikov, M., Luchakova, O., Josipovic, Z., Motes, MA, (2009). The Enhancement of Visual-Spatial Processing Efficiency through Buddhist Deity Meditation. Psychological Science, 20: 5, 645-653.
4. Malach, R. & Josipovic, Z., (2006). An Interview with Rafi Malach: Perception without a Perceiver, Journal of Consciousness Studies, 13: 9, 57-66.

Presentations

• The Enlightened Brain. Talk presented at the 3rd ‘Buddhism and Science’ conference, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Aug. 2011.
• Influence of Nondual Awareness on the Brain. Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, July 2011.
• Default to Nonduality. Talk Presented at the Consciousness and Science Conference, Stockholm, Sweden. May 2011.
• Nonduality and the Brain. Harvard University MGH, May, 2011.
• Brainwave series. Rubin Museum, New York, March 2011.
• Zen and Cognitive Science. (panelist), Columbia University, October, 2010
• Influence of Nondual Awareness on Anti-Correlated Networks. Talk Presented at the Consciousness Conference, Tucson, AZ., April, 2010.
• Music of the Hemispheres, Issue Project, Brooklyn, NY, April 2010.
• Finding Inner Peace. Brainwave series at Rubin Museum, New York, March 2010.

 

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