In an interview with the Harvard Gazette, Matthew Sacchet, PhD, Director of the Meditation Research Program at Mass General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, discusses research from his group focusing on experiences of altered states of consciousness occurring in the context of meditation. These experiences, described as mystical, spiritual, energetic, or magical; however, these experiences, including out-of-body experiences and changes in perception, are largely overlooked in modern scientific literature.
Meditation is ascendant in the U.S.
Clinicians recommend the practice to treat anxiety and depression without the risk of drug dependency, and millions practice meditation alone or on retreats. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health found that 17.3 percent of U.S. adults meditated, up from 7.5 percent two decades before.
Its effects are largely positive, shown to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. Neuroimaging studies have explored the neurobiological effects that lead to improved self-awareness, emotional regulation, and attentional control.
But not every experience with meditation provides solace.
Read the full article HERE.
Meditation provides calming solace — except when it doesn’t (Harvard Gazette)
Matthew Sacchet, PhD, is the Director of the Meditation Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. His team studies advanced meditation, focusing on the states and stages of contemplative practice that develop over time and with mastery. He has received significant support from numerous foundations and repeat awards from major U.S. federal funding bodies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
