Research Projects

Developing of a State of Consciousness Monitoring Device

Capitalizing on recent advances in the use of Electroencephalography (EEG) to chart the patterns of neural activity that accompany certain states of consciousness, this project will monitor and map the higher states of consciousness brought about by meditation. It will then use this information to develop a state of consciousness monitoring device which can be further refined into a neurofeedback device to enable people to move more quickly and freely into altered states of consciousness.

Higher states of consciousness (HSC) can be defined as: phenomenal states of awareness where consciousness is experienced in a distinctly different and clearer way from everyday consciousness by the experiencing subject . They have been described as comprising moments of contentless awareness, bliss, broader awareness, all-encompassing compassion and love, awareness of being present and being connected to other beings and/or a transcendent reality, and moments of special insight and knowledge.

This project will follow the long tradition of investigating people in meditative states, or during spiritual practice, using EEG. To extend the findings of previous studies and so develop a deeper understanding of the neurobiological correlates of HSC, we shall focus on developing a more precise phenomenological description of the different HSC, so as to enable the determination of distinct neural activation patterns for distinct states of consciousness. By assessing meditators from a variety of spiritual and religious traditions, we should also develop a view across spiritual traditions and disciplines to enable comparisons between and insights into different meditation techniques.

Having developed these maps of specific HSC, Dr. Hinterberger will use his experience in brain-computer interfacing to develop a state of consciousness monitoring device. This device would enable meditation tutors to monitor their pupil's progress and help guide them towards the desired conscious state, so greatly assisting them in their practice. Through the further development of this monitoring device, it will be able to drive a neurofeedback environment that reacts to a meditator's current state of consciousness and help him or her achieve higher states of consciousness through the use of subtle sound and light stimuli. Neurofeedback techniques are currently being used to facilitate states of deeper relaxation and concentration (as is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD).

This device will enable novice meditators to achieve states normally only reached after years of meditative experience. As meditation is being increasingly used as part of a wide range of therapeutic treatment, this device, which can facilitate and enhance the practice of meditation, could enable the development of a whole new type of treatment, helping patients to restore themselves to health through enhanced meditation. In addition to this, it is hoped that the device could help and encourage more widespread practice of, and benefit from, meditation, thereby promoting increased well-being amongst the non-clinical population.