Investigation of advanced mindfulness meditation “cessation” experiences using EEG spectral analysis in an intensively sampled case study

Towards an Active Inference Account of Deep Meditative Deconstruction

“…358, 363;Sayadaw, 2016, pp. 445-446;Berkovich-Ohana, 2017;Chowdhury et al, 2023). This can be accessed without having previously attained (1) (Bodhi, 2001;Gunaratana, 1980) via cessations described in (5) 13 , or, via having previously attained 'supramundane absorption' as described in (1).…”

“…One only has to look to the absorption states, known as the jhānas, to find defabricated states of perceptual experience, which are claimed to be devoid of materiality, to feature infinite contentless space, or that utterly cease perceptual experience. These states are claimed to be accessible to contemporary practitioners of Buddhist meditation today, with many such states already under active scientific investigation (Laukkonen et al, 2023;Chowdhury et al, 2023;Yang et al, 2023). While this emerging field offers exciting possibilities, much speculation remains regarding the phenomenology and cognitive mechanisms of defabrication (Dahl et al, 2015;Schoenberg & Vago, 2019;Nave et al, 2021;Repetti, 2022;Brandmeyer et al, 2019).…”

Nothingness in Meditation: Making Sense of Emptiness and Cessation

“…As one practices insight meditation (vipassanā), it is said that certain predictable stages of insight unfold and lead meditators through various cognitive and perceptual transformations, culminating in the event of cessation (Sayadaw, 2016). Recent research suggests that adept meditators may be able to swiftly traverse these stages, creating the conditions for a cessation event (Chowdhury et al, 2023;Yang et al, 2023). Furthermore, advanced meditators who have experience with nirodha claim to be able to train themselves to intentionally enter longer periods (up to seven days) of cessation, known as nirodha samāpatti, which literally translates to the cessation attainment (Laukkonen, Sacchet, et al, 2023).…”

“…In contrast to emptiness (no-thingness), several recent neuroimaging studies have investigated the cessation of consciousness (nothingness); which, although rare, is comparatively easier to study. An investigation into spectral analyses of EEG data surrounding cessation events in advanced meditators uncovered a reduction in large-scale alpha-power approximately 40 seconds prior to the cessation event, with the lowest alpha-power recorded immediately following cessation (Chowdhury et al, 2023). Furthermore, when examining specific regions-of-interest (ROIs), it was observed that this alpha suppression showed a linear decrease in the occipital and parietal regions of the brain leading up to cessation.…”

Volitional mental absorption in meditation: Toward a scientific understanding of advanced concentrative absorption meditation and the case of jhana

“…At the culmination of meditative development, one will find certain meditative endpoints. These endpoints could be represented in various forms, including cessation events that trigger profound clarity and openness to the meditator [ 8 , 9 ].…”