Welcome!

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Mind & Life Europe, we are delighted to welcome you at the second workshop of the European Neurophenomenology, Contemplative, and Embodied Cognition Network (ENCECON) at Schloss Buchenau, Germany.

Te main aim of the ENCECON workshops is to Each workshop day is structured to allow time provide for an in-depth and integrated discussion for theoretical discussions, methodological of what is known, what is not known, and what brain-storming sessions, and frst-hand approaches could be taken to address outstanding explorations of states of consciousness under questions in a particular feld related to the the question, in addition to brief presentations understanding of mind and consciousness from of key fndings from each feld. We have also the frst- and third-person perspectives. scheduled time on our last day together for the discussions of manuscripts as a workshop output, Te initial ENCECON meeting took place in June as well as collaborative networks for joint grant 2016, exploring three topics related to contemplative applications. : 1) the role of the brain resting state in , 2) the role of the body in meditation, We hope that the experiences of our time together 3) neuro-phenomenology. Te feedback has been will not only bring increased knowledge and deeper very positive with the speakers/participants keenly insights into our work, but forge new relationships looking forward to further meetings. and create new opportunities to advance the future research into the nature of human consciousness. In this second workshop, themed ‘States of Consciousness: Comparing Meditation, Hypnosis, Trance and Psychedelics from a frst- and third- person perspective’, we would like to explore the similarities and diferences in phenomenology and the neural dynamics of meditation, hypnosis, With warm wishes from the members of the trance, and psychedelics. planning committee:

Tania Singer, Steven Laureys, Antoine Lutz, Diego Hangartner, Cornelius Pietzner (Director MLE), Elena Antonova (chair)

3 Te second ENCECON Workshop is organized Planck Society Berlin), Steven Laureys (Coma by Mind & Life Europe in collaboration with the Science Group at GIGA (ULg) and Department planning committee members chaired by Elena of Neurology, Liège University Hospital), Antoine Antonova (Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology Lutz (Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Lyon and Neuroscience, King’s College London), 1 University), and Diego Hangartner (Te Wheel Tania Singer (Social Neuroscience Lab, Max of Mental Balance).

4 5 Biographies & Abstracts

startle habituation paradigm and found that people who meditate more intensely habituated less to auditory startles compared to meditation- naïve individuals and meditators with more moderate mediation practice regime, with the degree of habituation being directly related to the intensity of practice (Antonova, Chadwick, Kumari, 2015). By the of being anchored in the present-moment experience, mindfulness should also result in less anticipatory attention and therefore better performance on the tasks where anticipation would be detrimental for the task performance.

We tested this prediction using eye-movement paradigm and observed fewer catch-up errors Elena Antonova in anticipatory saccades, as well as lower intra- Torsten Barnhofer Prisca Bauer individual variability of gain and spatial error over Dr Elena Antonova is a Lecturer at the Institute trials in meditators compared with meditation- Torsten Barnhofer is a Professor of Clinical Prisca Bauer is a post-doc at the Lyon Neuroscience of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s naïve controls (Kumari et al, 2017). Furthermore, Psychology at the University of Surrey, where he Research Center, France. She obtained her MD from College London, UK. better smooth pursuit and antisaccade conducts research into the use of mindfulness-based Utrecht University, Te Netherlands, and her PhD in performance was associated with higher scores on interventions for the prevention and treatment of Epileptology and Neurophysiology from University She has obtained BSc in Psychology from the University observe and non-reactivity facets of the Five Facet mental disorders. He has a particular interest in the College London, UK in 2016. In 2017 she was awarded College London, UK, in 2000 and the PhD in Cognitive Mindfulness Questionnaire (Baer et al, 2006) in mechanisms through which mindfulness meditation a two-year Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship to Psychology from the Institute of Psychiatry, UK, in meditators, but not in controls, suggesting that it is benefts adaptive psychological and neural functioning study the neural correlates of mindfulness meditation 2004. Her main research interest is the neuroscience of only practicing mindfulness as a state that results across the life span. and hypnosis in the team of Dr. Antoine Lutz. In mindfulness using psychophysiology and in diminished anticipatory attention as a trait. addition, she is involved in developing mindfulness- methods with the application to the prevention and Together, our research shows that mindfulness based approaches to improve the quality of life in people management of psychosis and schizophrenia. Dr practice exerts measurable efects on mechanisms Mindfulness training in the treatment with epilepsy. During her fellowship, she developed a Antonova held Templeton Positive Neuroscience Award that are thought to be hard-wired and normally of persistent depression: can it reverse strong interest in (micro-)phenomenology, and its use between 2011-2013 for the project investigating the stable as a psychophysiological trait. maladaptive plasticity? in scientifc and clinical contexts. efect of mindful attention on sensory information processing in expert mindfulness practitioners (http:// In many patients, depression takes a recurrent or www.posneuroscience.org/research-awards.html). She chronic course in which maintaining mechanisms Te relation between trait measures of has been actively involved with Mind and Life Europe become increasingly engrained, and repeated stress mindfulness meditation and hypnosis since 2013. Her contribution to the feld of contemplative translates into signifcant changes in biological science has been recognized with an election as the functioning. Te introduction of mindfulness Aptitude to enter states of hypnosis (hypnotisability) Mind & Life Research Fellow in November 2017. training has brought a paradigmatically new and mindfulness meditation vary from person Dr Antonova has a strong interest in the Philosophy approach to the treatment of persistent courses to person, and may be linked to specifc traits. It of Mind, both Western and Eastern schools of thought, of depression that promises to counter such is unclear how hypnotisability and mindfulness with the application to the foundational issues in mechanisms and thus ofers potential to eventually traits are linked with each other. It was previously neuroscience and psychiatry. reverse maladaptive plasticity. However, research hypothesised that people who are highly on biological mechanisms of mindfulness training hypnotisable have lower measures of mindfulness Website: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/elena. in this domain is still widely lacking. and vice versa. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated antonova.html hypnotisability using the Harvard Group Scale In this talk I will present fndings from a form A, and trait mindfulness using the Five Facet study that investigated the efects of a brief Mindfulness Questionnaire in hundred healthy Probing state and trait efects of mindfulness mindfulness training on resting state parameters adult participants. We found no correlation between meditation using psychophysiological measures in EEG and MRI and discuss the fndings in a these two measures. Traits linked to mindfulness broader framework that is aimed at helping our and hypnotisability are thus not mutually exclusive. Mindfulness is the awareness of the present- understanding of how efects of the training Tis study highlights fundamental diferences moment experience without preference or may translate into more lasting efects that may in the way hypnotisability and mindfulness are judgement. As such, mindfulness as a state should eventually help to counter psychobiological measured, and the need for more refned tools to result in openness to repetitive stimuli, even of maintenance mechanisms. measure traits and aptitude for these states. aversive. We tested this expected efect using

6 7 practice of shamans and others in traditional smaller-scale societies. Te messages conveyed through visionary and revelatory experiences typically bear an intelligible relationship to the personal or collective context of practitioners. Tey can be evoked through the use of hallucinogens (such as ayahuasca), meditation and ritual (such as tantra, Chod or possession cults), and the use of suggestion in hypnosis. Revelatory experiences raise several interlocking questions. How can such radical dissociations of self-experience arise, and why can they be evoked by such diverse means? Why are revelatory experiences such a widespread mechanism for the disclosure of salient information about the self and world? And what distinguishes revelatory experience from psychopathology? Olaf Blanke Rael Cahn Quinton Deeley Prof. Olaf Blanke, MD, is Bertarelli Foundation Rael Cahn is Assistant Professor with the Department I am Senior Lecturer in Social Behaviour and Chair in Cognitive Neuroprosthetics at the Swiss of Psychiatry at the USC Brain and Creativity Neurodevelopment at the Institute of Psychiatry, Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), where he Institute. He has been conducting neuroscientifc Psychology, and Neuroscience (IOPPN), King’s College directs the Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience at research on meditation and psychedelics since 2001 London. I am also Consultant Neuropsychiatrist in Geneva’s Campus Biotech. He founded and directed and has published numerous basic neuroscience the National Autism Unit and Neuropsychiatry Brain EPFL’s Center for Neuroprosthetics (2012-2018) and investigations of meditation and psilocybin- Injury Clinic at the Maudsley and Bethlem Hospitals. is Professor at Geneva University Hospital. Blanke’s induced states and traits of consciousness. Dr Cahn’s I chair the Maudsley Philosophy Group, and Social and research focuses on the neuroscience of multisensory current research investigates: i) the neurophysiologic Cultural Neuroscience Group at the IOPPN. I have perception, consciousness, and the self. Most recently, mechanisms underlying non-dual and narrative-free researched the relations between culture, cognition and Blanke has pioneered cognitive neuroprosthetics - the awareness in long term meditators; ii) clinical benefts brain function since studying Teology and Religious development and integration of robotic and virtual of mindfulness practices for depression, trauma, Studies at Cambridge University, and later medicine reality technology with neuroscience and medical anxiety and addictions; iii) epigenetics underlying at Guys and St Tomas’ Medical School, London, and research. His medical activities are dedicated to the the clinical efcacy of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy psychiatry at the Maudsley and Bethlem Hospitals. application of these neuroprosthetic innovations to for PTSD; and iv) clinical and neuroscientifc efects My work brings cognitive neuroscience research diagnostics and therapeutics (in neurological and of the synergistic use of psychedelic medicines and methods into dialogue with humanities scholarship psychiatric patients) as well as well-being and contemplative practices for potentiating their benefts to improve understanding of religious cognition, meditation. for psychological health and well-being. experience, and behaviour. Current research topics include researching voice hearing in patient groups Websites: https://lnco.epf.ch/ and http://cnp. and cultural practitioners, and how cognitive and epf.ch/ Neurophysiology of meditative and psychedelic brain processes involved in the formation of beliefs states – Insights into the healing potential and experiences can be infuenced by cultural practices of contemplative practices and psychedelics such as ritual. Marie-Elisabeth Coupling inner and outer body for self- Faymonville consciousness Dr. Cahn will provide an overview on the Website: https://www.csnlab.co.uk neurophysiology of meditative and psychedelic Marie-Elisabeth Faymonville is a specialist in Based on latest evidence on the relevance states of mind and the relation between these Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine. She of interoceptive bodily signals (cardiac and mind-brain states and healing mechanisms for Revelatory and visionary experience as developed, in 1992, a new method of anaesthesia: respiratory signals) and multisensory exteroceptive anxiety, depression, obsessionality, and existential dissociation of the self hypnosedation. Tis original approach was evaluated bodily signals for self-consciousness, I will propose sufering. He will present his research fndings by retrospective and prospective clinical studies, which an integrated neural system reconciling these assessing the efects of both meditation and Reports of supernatural agents (such as God were published in a number of prestigious national two largely separated views. I argue that such the psychedelic agent psilocybin on the brain or gods, demons, or spirits) speaking or acting and international journals. Since 1994, she has been an integrated system is based on torso-centered correlates of sensory and cognitive processing, through humans are present across cultures and teaching this technique in a free course at the University signals in a distributed cortical network and highlighting areas of similarity and diferences. periods of history in experiences of revelation and of Liege where more than 450 participants, coming delineate how it accounts for fundamental aspects He will then use recent neurophysiologic fndings possession. Indeed, revelatory experiences form a from 4 diferent European countries, have already of self-consciousness such as self-identifcation, to draw hypotheses about the potential of these key part of the formation and development of major received this training. Her original clinical approach of experienced global unity, and temporal continuity. approaches for providing relief from sufering and world religions through fgures such as prophets, the use of hypnosis in surgery, chronic pain, oncologic enhancing well-being and psychological fexibility. visionaries, and yogins, as well as in the religious and palliative care enabled her to promote hypnosis as

8 9 a particularly interesting tool in modern medicine. Her combined with that she also unconscious states, with a clear-cut diference at retreats, worked as an interpreter, translating Tibetan work and her scientifc notoriety, in the feld of hypnosis, uses to evaluate other modifed states of consciousness the individual level. into many languages, and published a few books. On make of her an expert at an international level. such as hypnosis, meditation and cognitive trance. returning to Europe in 2003, he taught widely, and Moreover, she is interested in pharmacological (e.g., TMS-EEG is also sensitive to changes in the organized several large events with His Holiness the Website: http://www.algologie.ulg.ac.be/ apomorphine, zolpidem) and brain stimulations (e.g., content of consciousness, within the range of Dalai Lama (Switzerland 2005, Hamburg 2007), repetitive TMS, vagal nerve stimulation) treatments wakefulness. Indeed, we could detect diferent and participated in research aimed at exploring the for post-comatose patients. changes in brain reactivity during meditation benefts of meditation as a long-term practitioner. Hypnosis, what about clinical research? practices (open presence and self-induced Collaborations with many universities and research Olivia was a post-doctoral researcher for 3 years at cognitive opacity) and during cognitive trance. institutes, such as the ‘Max Planck Institute’, EPFL, Hypnosis is widely used in clinical to alleviate pain, the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA with Local and global aspects of cortical reactivity can University of Zurich, etc.. decrease side efects of treatments, and improve Pr G. Tononi doing sleep research, and with Pr. thus be willfully modulated. Anecdotally, TMS emotional regulation as well as global well-being B. Postle doing working memory research. In the perturbation may also induce or suppress content Diego is associated and worked with the Mind and of patients. We currently need robust clinical last years, she has also performed several editorial of consciousness (e.g., induce phosphene in dreams Life Institute since the 1990’s: he was Mind and Life’s research paradigms to objectivize how hypnosis works, including editing the second edition of “the and reduce the ability to remain in a trance state). COO from 2009 – 2012 in the USA, co-founded efectively afects the quality of life of patients. We Neurology of Consciousness”, being an associate Mind & Life Europe, and was its director until 2015. will discuss about clinical application of hypnosis editor for the journal Clinical Neurophysiology, and TMS-EEG is a great tool to study consciousness Diego founded the “Institute of Mental Balance and combined to self-care learning in diferent hosting two research topics on consciousness for the that does not depend on the integrity of sensory Universal Ethics” (IMBUE), an interdisciplinary population of patients (chronic pain, oncology, journals Frontiers. and motor pathways, bypasses subcortical and initiative, to develop and provide tools and programs etc.). Our studies showed that hypnosis/self-care thalamic gates, and that does not require language that foster mental balance. He created and teaches “Te learning is associated with patients’ evolution of comprehension nor active participation of subjects. Wheel of Mental Balance”, a methodology to cultivate coping strategies from passive to active, allowing Dealing with Cultural Diversity: It is a reliable diagnostic method for patients with a healthy and resilient mind. Diego is also a certifed them to reduce pain perception and improve their TMS-EEG in altered states of consciousness disorders of consciousness after a coma, but the coach (CPCC, CTPC), working with individuals and global impression of treatment efectiveness. We heavy and expensive setup as well as the need of teams with a special focus on fulflment, fourishing will present how neuroimaging results allowed Transcranial magnetic stimulation strong expertise currently prevent its use in clinical and development. to understand these modifcations of perception, (TMS) combined with high-density routine. More work is needed to make TMS-EEG especially pain perception. electroencephalography (EEG) has been used to accessible to all. Website: www.diegohangartner.org assess brain functions in physiological (e.g., sleep, meditation, cognitive trance), pharmacological (e.g., propofol, ketamine, xenon, midazolam- Te Subtle Mind: Essence and Interdependence induced anesthesia) and pathological (e.g., vegetative/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, Te Buddhist tradition has developed a wide range minimally conscious state) alterations of of practices and technologies to explore the mind consciousness. TMS induces focal neuronal and to cultivate healthy qualities of the mind such discharge at the cortex surface and EEG as wisdom, focus and . Furthermore, measures cortical electrical responses locally and the Buddhist lineages have created a huge body of at distance sites. In this way, single pulses TMS- philosophical, epistemological and methodological EEG combined with a neuronavigation system frameworks to explain the workings of the mind. allows to study cortical excitability and long range cortical efective connectivity with good In my presentations I will provide practical tools spatio-temporal resolution. for improving meditation, linking those practices to the framework of the twelve interdependent links - Our previous studies showed that in unconscious a key explanation of why ignorance lies at the root states such as in non-rapid eye movement sleep, of an untrained mind, in turn leading to sufering, propofol anesthesia and unresponsive post-coma delusions, concepts, clinging and aversion. patients, TMS triggers a stereotypical slow wave that mostly remains local and short lasting. In I will also provide a framework for the reasons Olivia Gosseries conscious states like in normal wakefulness, in Diego Hangartner why Buddhist philosophy and practice speaks minimally conscious patients or when dreaming, of diferent levels of mind - even the possibility Olivia Gosseries, PhD, is a neuropsychologist working brain activation patterns to TMS are widespread, Diego Hangartner [b. 1962] completed his studies of more subtle aspects that are not limited to at the GIGA-Consciousness at the University of diferentiated and long lasting. Te perturbational in pharmacology at the ETHZurich, specializing in biological functions. Liege with Pr. Laureys. Her work mainly focuses complexity index (PCI) was subsequently psychopharmacology and addiction. His main interest on clinical assessments and electrophysiological developed to quantify these brain responses, by is to understand what constitutes a healthy mind, and measures of consciousness in patients with disorders calculating the spatial and temporal response how to cultivate it. He lived for 11 years in Dharamsala, of consciousness after a coma. Her tool of choice is of the brain to the TMS perturbation. PCI India, learned Tibetan, and studied for 7 years at the the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) successfully diferentiates between conscious and Institute of Buddhist Dialectics. He completed several

10 11 diverse states of consciousness implies addressing the Can science explain consciousness? Lessons question of the variety of forms of meditation, and from coma and related states the diferences and similarities between this variety of forms themselves, and the other consciousness Understanding consciousness remains one of states. Attention can be seen a common feature the greatest mysteries for science to solve. How of all meditative practices. Meditation states may do our brains work? Will we ever be able to read vary by the type of attention they draw on: focused minds? How can we know if some patients in attention (on breath for mindfulness or on a mantra coma have any consciousness left and how could for transcendental meditation) or open monitoring. we communicate with them? What are near- How are the other states of consciousness related to death experiences? What is brain death? What attentional processes? happens in our brains during dreaming, hypnosis or meditation? At present, nobody understands Te deliberate cultivation of attention seems how matter (our trillions of neural connections) to be at the core of most meditation practices becomes perception and thought. while hypnosis, trance and psychedelics may involve automatic responses that are externally We will here briefy review some neurological facts Ilios Kotsou induced. However, auto-hypnosis also involves Steven Laureys on consciousness and impaired consciousness. intentionality. What could be said about trance, While philosophers have pondered upon the Passionate about everything related to relationships, hypnosis and psychedelics on the questions of Steven Laureys, MD PhD, FEAN, is a neurologist mind-brain conundrum for millennia, scientists especially by the richness give to our lives, Ilios ‘training the mind’? Another question is about working at the Coma Science Group and GIGA have only recently been able to explore the Kotsou is active in the felds of emotional intelligence, the suggestions that are present in hypnosis. Consciousness Research Unit of the University connection analytically through measurements organisational change and mindfulness. He holds a Does guided also imply a kind of Hospital and University of Liège, Belgium. He is and perturbations of the brain’s activity. Tis Master in Labour Sciences, is trained in brief therapy suggestion? Several forms of meditation involve Research Director at the Belgian National Fund ability stems from recent advances in technology (Palo Alto model) and mindfulness ( MBSR and MBCT the awareness of the body and body sensations. for Scientifc Research. His team explores human and especially from emerging functional ). He has a phD in psychology from the Université Libre What about the other consciousness states? Some consciousness and brain function in health and disease. neuroimaging and electrophysiology studies. Te de Bruxelles. He worked for 4 years as a researcher at meditative states invite to observe one’s experience Using the latest technological tools they study the mapping of conscious perception and cognition the Faculty of Psychology at UCL and remain involved without adding any mental content, while some workings of the mind in coma and related states (brain in health (e.g., conscious waking, sleep, dreaming, in several universities (ULB Brussels, University of other forms of concentrative or visualizations death, unresponsive wakefulness, minimally conscious hypnosis, meditation, trance, sleepwalking and Savoie). Expert and trainer in the feld of management, meditations are more content based. Can the latter and locked-in syndrome), near-death experiences, anesthesia) and in disease (e.g., brain death, coma, he worked for numerous Belgian and international be seen as altered states of consciousness? concussion, anesthesia, hypnosis, meditation, trance near-death, “vegetative” unresponsive wakefulness, organizations and has collaborated with Medecins Sans and dreamlike states. He has published over 400 minimally conscious state, locked-in syndrome, Frontières for the training of feld coordinators. Author of Many meditation practices are related to meta- scientifc papers and 12 books and is founder and chair seizures, hallucinations etc) is providing exiting several books including “Éloge de la lucidité”, “Petit cahier awareness, as an awareness of one’s own mental of the World Federation of Neurology and European new insights into the functional neuroanatomy d’exercices de pleine conscience” and “ Psychologie positive processes. De-automatization is therefore also a Academy of Neurology Research Groups on coma of human consciousness. Our perception of the : le bonheur dans tous ses états ,” or “ Change yourself, central theme of these meditative practices, both and disorders of consciousness. Te team of Professor outside world (sensory awareness; what we see, change the world”, in collaboration with Matthieu on its phenomenological or scientifc accounts. As Laureys is internationally recognized for their hear, etc.) and our awareness of an inner world Ricard, Jon Kabat- Zinn, Pierre Rabhi and Caroline an example, it appears that meditation practices expertise in altered states of consciousness following (self-awareness; the little “voice” inside that Lesire. Ilios Kotsou is very interested in the interaction as mindfulness or choice less awareness lead severe brain injury. Patients are being admitted to “speaks” to ourselves) seemingly depend on two between basic science and feld practice and is actively to desactivation of the default mode network their expert center from all over Europe. separate “awareness” networks. involved in Emergences ( www.emergences.org ) whose (related to automatic mind wandering) when mission is to share knowledge in the areas of empathy, transcendental meditation seems to be related to References: References: of altruism and mindfulness and fund humanitarian high activation of this mode. How do the other - Meditation-induced modulation of brain - Measuring consciousness in severely damaged projects. His latest book “Éloge de la lucidité » was consciousness states relate to the question of meta- response to transcranial magnetic stimulation. brains. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2014;37:457-78. published by Robert Lafont. Meditator-activist, he awareness and de-automatization? Compassion Brain Stimul. 2018 11(6):1397-1400. - Consciousness supporting networks. Curr Opin puts his energy at the service of the link between inner has a central place in several meditation practices - Resting state networks and consciousness: Neurobiol. 2013 Apr;23(2):239-44 transformation and social change. (loving-kindness, caring mindfulness). Can it be alterations of multiple resting state network considered as being a core feature of all meditation connectivity in physiological, pharmacological, Website: http://www.ilioskotsou.com/ practices? What could be said about hypnosis, and pathological consciousness States. Front trance and psychedelics on that point? Psychol. 2012 27; 3:295. - Neurophysiology of hypnosis. Neurophysiol Diferent forms of meditation may share Clin. 2014 44(4):343-53. similarities and diferences in diferent ways with Hypnosis, Trance and Psychedelics Websites: http://www.coma.ulg.ac.be and www.comascience.org Exploring similarities and diferences between theses

12 13 to say that those who hear voices are mad. And taxonomy by fusing large-scale neuroinformatic associated with altered states of consciousness. yet, in many cultural contexts around the world, tools (e.g., text mining and automated meta- healthy people deliberately train their minds analyses) and brain-computer interface technology Building up on these results, in a recent proof- to surrender the feeling of agency over their at the subject level. Tis also involves thinking about of-principle study with 14 stroke patients, we own inner speech. Tulpamancy is an emergent novel eforts of how to advance explanatory insights demonstrate that the approach can be applied internet-based community that revolves around into the causal network mechanisms that underlie to reliably identify (dys-)functional profles of a rigorously training the imagination to cultivate cognition, for which I currently explore deep learning frontoparietal network on a subject-level basis. friendly dialogues with invisible companions techniques and computational modelling. Equally, called “tulpas”, or thought-forms. In this talk, I am fascinated about studying altered states of In addition to providing a new way to study inter- I will describe preliminary fndings from an consciousness (e.g., meditation and psychedelics) individual diferences in cognition, neuroadaptive ongoing multi-methods project that brings and am long-term collaborator of the Psychedelic approaches have the potential to advance together phenomenological interviews, cognitive Research group, led by Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris the study of experiential states in meditation, assessments, and functional neuroimaging to group at Imperial College London. psychedelics and hypnosis within the framework investigate the mechanisms of tulpamancy. Tis of neurophenomenology by linking neural research illustrates how novel cultural forms Website: www.romylorenz.com (third-person perspective) and experiential- can open new modes of subjectivity and pattern phenomenological (frst-person perspective) states. Michael Lifshitz fundamental domains of human experience, right down to the basic feeling of agency over one’s Towards neuroadaptive technology for Michael is interested in the plasticity of human innermost private thoughts. neurophenomenology consciousness. His research investigates practices that aim to transform subjective experience— Te classic taxonomy of cognitive processes is based from meditation and hypnosis to placebos, , on cognitive psychology theory and was developed and contemplative therapies. He works from an largely blind to the functional organization of the interdisciplinary perspective, combining cognitive, brain. Terefore, classic cognitive tasks tend to tap neurobiological, sociocultural, and phenomenological multiple cognitive processes that involve multiple approaches to shed light on mechanisms of self- brain networks. Resolving this many-to-many regulation in both health and pathology. mapping problem between cognitive tasks and brain networks is practically intractable with standard Michael completed his PhD in neuroscience at functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) McGill University and is currently working with methodology as only a small subset of all possible T. M. Luhrmann as a postdoctoral fellow in the cognitive tasks can be tested. Tis is problematic, department of anthropology at Stanford. His as studying only a fraction from the large space of work has been supported by the Natural Sciences cognition has resulted in over-specifed inferences and Engineering Research Council of Canada about functional-anatomical mappings with a (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities misleadingly narrow function being proposed as the Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Bial defnitive role of a network, concealing the broader Foundation, and the Mind & Life Institute. Before role a network may play in cognition. his doctorate, he completed a master’s in neuroscience Antoine Lutz and an undergraduate with honours in psychology Here, I present an alternative approach that Dr. Antoine Lutz is a director of research at the French and minors in philosophy and world religions, all at Romy Lorenz resolves these problems by combining real- Medical Research Institute (INSERM) in the Lyon McGill. time fMRI with a branch of machine learning, Neuroscience Research Center (CNRL). He did his I am a cognitive neuroscientist with a Bayesian optimization. Neuroadaptive Bayesian PhD in cognitive in Paris, France, with multidisciplinary background in psychology and optimization is a powerful strategy to efciently Francisco Varela an EEG neurophenomenological Learning to hear voices: Te phenomenology biomedical engineering. I received my PhD in explore more experimental conditions than is study of attention. During his postdoctoral work with and mechanisms of tulpamancy Neurotechnology from Imperial College London currently possible with standard methodology Richard Davidson, at the University of Madison- in 2017, for which I have developed a novel in a single individual. I will present results Wisconsin, he pioneered the neuroimaging study of Most of us hear voices in our head all of the time. brain-computer interface combining real-time from a study where we used this method to meditation practices in expert meditators and in We ponder our decisions and ruminate over our neuroimaging with machine-learning (“Te AI understand the unique contributions of two novices who learnt to meditate using the Mindfulness- mistakes, relive the conversations we’ve had and Neuroscientist”). Currently, I am a Sir Henry frontoparietal networks in cognition. Our Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR). MBSR rehearse those we might hope to have. What is Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellow at the University fndings deviate from previous meta-analyses and is a secular meditation intervention routinely used more unusual, however, is to have the sense that of Cambridge, Stanford University and the Max hypothesized functional labels for these networks. in hospitals in the North-America and Europe. In some of the voices in our head really don’t belong Planck Institute for Human Cognitive & Brain Using this approach, I aim to bring forward a 2008, Richard Davidson and him were awarded to us. In our medicalized western culture, we Sciences. My research vision lies in revisiting the neurobiologically-derived cognitive taxonomy; an a NIH-NCCAM grant to fund in Madison the usually think of this kind of “not me” experience classic taxonomy of cognitive processes and bringing important step also for making further progress in frst American Center of Excellence on Research as pathological, psychotic, or delusional. We tend forward a neurobiologically-derived cognitive understanding the changes in network function dedicated to neurophysiological study of meditation

14 15 practices. After working for ten years in the US as a research scientist, he joined the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center in France in January 2013. His current research group focuses on investigating the neurophysiological basis of mindfulness and compassion meditations and their impact on consciousness, attention and regulations, and pain perception as measured by cognitive, afective and social neuroimaging paradigms using EEG, MEG, intra-cortical EEG, and fMRI. Tis research is currently funded by an European ERC consolidator grant (Brain&Mindfulness, 2014-2019). He also collaborates to a European research consortium investigating the impacts of meditation practices on ageing and well-being as measured by brain imaging (PET, IRMf, DTI, EEG), biomarkers of ageing, and psycho-afective and cognitive behavioural Giuseppe Pagnoni Claire Petitmengin Fabienne Picard measures (Meditageing, H2020, 2016-2021, study coordinated by Gaël Chételat, INSERM Caen). He Giuseppe Pagnoni is Associate Professor at the After studies in Buddhist philosophy and ten years Dr Fabienne Picard is a neurologist. She is currently recently started a collaboration investigating the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of of experience in information system design, Claire Senior consultant in the EEG and Epilepsy Unit of neurocomputational principles of meditation (ANR Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. After a Master Petitmengin, completed her PhD thesis under the Neurology Department at the University Hospital MindMadeClear, coordinated by Hugues Mounier, in Physics, he completed a PhD in Neuroscience and the supervision of Francisco Varela at the Ecole of Geneva. She holds a MD degree in medical studies CNRS, Supélec, Paris). has worked for several years in the Department Polytechnique in Paris, on the subject of the lived in Neurology as well as a Diploma of Advanced of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, at Emory experience that accompanies the emergence of an Studies (DEA) in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Website: https://crnl.univ-lyon1.fr/index.php/fr/ University, Atlanta (GA), USA. He has led and intuition. She is presently Professor Emerita at the with a major in neurobiology, from the Faculty of Accueil/ERC-Brain-Mindfulness-A.-Lutzm collaborated to neuroimaging studies on diverse Institut Mines-Télécom and member of the Archives Medicine of Strasbourg, France. In 1995 she joined the topics including reward processing, the interaction Husserl (Ecole Normale Supérieure) in Paris. University Hospitals of Geneva where she obtained a of immune and brain function, social cognition, title of privat-docent and senior lecturer at the Faculty Dual and non-dual mindfulness meditation intrinsic brain activity, pain processing, mental Her research focuses on the usually unrecognized of Medicine of Geneva. Internationally renowned in during pain efort, meditation. He is currently interested in the dynamics of lived experience and “micro- the feld of epilepsy genetics, she has published about 80 application of the predictive coding framework to the phenomenological” methods enabling us to articles in peer-reviewed journals. Over the last few In this presentation, I will frst present a study of contemplative practices. become aware of it and describe it. She studies the years, she has been particularly interested in the role conceptual framework mapping various styles epistemological conditions of these methods, as well of the insula in self-awareness and positive emotions of mindfulness-related practices along specifc as their contemplative, educational, therapeutic, through the study of “ecstatic” epilepsy. phenomenological dimensions. In particular, I will Living in the present, seeing things as and artistic applications. She has written numerous distinguish between the so-called dual and non- they are, and the empty mind: our favorite scientifc articles and two books: L’expérience dual mindfulness meditations. “contemplatitudes” through the lenses of intuitive, and Le chemin du milieu: Introduction à Epilepsy and ecstatic experiences predictive coding la vacuité dans la pensée bouddhiste indienne. She I will then use this framework to interpret a recent also edited Ten years of viewing from within: Te While epilepsy is classically associated with loss experimental study on the cognitive mechanisms Predictive coding, especially in the free-energy legacy of Francisco Varela, which commemorates of consciousness, there is a form of focal epilepsy, of pain regulation in mindfulness meditation minimization principle formulation by Karl the tenth anniversary of the publication of Te View i.e. related to an epileptic discharge starting in in expert and novice meditators. Finally, I will Friston, is a recent theoretical framework with from Within, wherein Francisco Varela designed the one region of one hemisphere, manifesting by a speculate on the possible use of this framework a potentially unparalleled explanatory power foundations of a research program on lived experience. sense of certainty, a feeling of bliss and a sense to explore the similarities and diferences between in neuroscience. In this talk, I will present of timelessness, without loss of awareness of the mindfulness meditations and hypnosis. some refections and insights inspired by the Website: http://www.clairepetitmengin.fr/ and external world. Tis state seems to correspond to adoption of such perspective for the study of http://www.microphenomenology.com an extreme in the moment present centeredness contemplative practice. I believe that this holds and may thus mimic some states induced by great potential for advancing our understanding meditation. In addition to the ecstatic aura of the mechanisms of action of meditation, where (beginning of the seizures), the patients may both traditional notions and phenomenological sufer from secondary tonic-clonic seizures. accounts come to be seen under a novel light. It is my hope that this brief introduction will help Te study of patients sufering from this type of stimulating further interest and discussions. epilepsy may help to better understand the neural network implied in present moment awareness and sense of being in an eternal now. We could

16 17 show that the ecstatic symptoms are related to a focuses primarily on brain mechanisms underlying brain network which includes the dorsal anterior acute pain perception and pain communication and insula, which is known to process interoception. examines the efects of attention, emotion, expectation, Some patients had an increased blood fow empathy, and learning & memory. Tis work is within the anterior insula during the seizures relevant to non-pharmacological interventions for (ictal SPECT- single photon emission computed pain relief, including hypnosis, placebo, meditation, tomography). We could reproduce the ecstatic music, etc., and to the understanding of biopsychosocial symptoms by the electrical stimulation of the risk factors (e.g. stress) that contribute to chronic pain. insula in other patients who were implanted for a pre-surgical evaluation of their drug-resistant Website: https://www.researchgate.net/profle/ ecstatic epilepsy. Connectivity studies showed Pierre_Rainville that the dorsal anterior insula is the leading https://scholar.google.com/ structure of a network responsible for the ecstatic citations?user=tjPuHTwAAAAJ&hl=fr symptoms. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ pubmed?cmd=search&term=Rainville+P In the concept of the brain functioning as a « predictive machine », we hypothesize that Andreas Roepstorf Tania Singer the ictal discharge within the insula prevent Pavlov meets the Zen brain: Insights it to generate the prediction errors in the feld on the efects of mindfulness on pain, fear, Andreas Roepstorf is a professor in cognition, Tania Singer is Professor and head of the Social of interoception, which are usually constantly and sufering communication and culture at the department of Neuroscience Lab of the Max Planck Society in produced in response to the real internal incoming Culture and Society and the department of Clinical Berlin. After completion of her psychology studies at signals (from the inside of the body), modulated Pain is an aversive experience signaling an Medicine at Aarhus University, Denmark. He works the Technical University in Berlin in 1996, Tania and contextualized by the external signals from immediate threat to the body and involving at the interface between anthropology, cognitive Singer received her PhD in Psychology at the Max external world. distributed brain networks underlying immediate science and neuroscience, ans is equally interested in the Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin perceptual, afective, cognitive, physiological workings of the mind and brain, and in how cognitive in 2000. Tereafter, she became a Post-doctoral Fellow and behavioral responses, as well as associative science and brain imaging, as felds of knowledge at the same institution, at the Wellcome Department processes underlying secondary cognitive- production, relate to other scientifc and public felds. of Imaging Neuroscience, and at the Institute of afective elaborations. Te adaptive aversive He has formal training in social anthropology and Cognitive Neuroscience in London. In 2006, she function of acute pain may further generalize in neurobiology and has published both within these went to the University of Zurich as Assistant through fear-learning mechanisms allowing for disciplines as well as in various collaborations across Professor and became later Inaugural Chair of Social the prediction of future pain. Mindfulness-based other felds. Neuroscience and Neuroeconomics and Co-Director meditation has been associated with a reduction in of the Laboratory for Social and Neural Systems pain sensitivity and with a modifcation of pain- He is the director of the Interacting Minds Centre at Research. From 2010 to 2018 she was Director of the related brain responses. Such changes may lead Aarhus University and is involved in a number of department of Social Neuroscience at the Max Planck us to predict a reduction in fear-learning driven transdisciplinary collaborations, focusing on aspects of Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in by pain. However, recent psychophysiological human interaction. He has a long-standing research Leipzig. studies from our laboratory suggest that learning interest in cognitive aspects of contemplative practices. processes allowing for the generation of valid Her research focus is on the investigation of human predictions of pain occurrence are preserved in sociality and social emotions such as empathy and experienced meditators along with basic protective compassion. She is founder and principal investigator (refexive) responses to the noxious input. In of the ReSource project, a large-scale longitudinal contrast, the hyperalgesic efects of fear-learning study on the efects of mental training on brain were reduced or blocked in meditators. Tis is plasticity, mental and physical wellbeing and prosocial consistent with the notion that the frst arrow behaviour. She further holds a cooperation with the of pain triggers adaptive responses, including macro-economist Prof. Dennis Snower on the topic Pierre Rainville associative learning processes underlying valid of Caring Economics. In the context of her long- Pierre Rainville, Ph.D., is trained in Biology, pain prediction, and that mindfulness practice may time membership at the Mind and Life Institute, she Neuropsychology and Neuroscience, and is currently help protect against the second arrow involving helped organize together with Matthieu Ricard two full Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry of the the maladaptive anticipation, elaboration and large-scale conferences with the Dalai Lama in 2010 Université de Montréal, and director of the rumination underlying pain sufering. Tis basic in Zürich on “Caring Economics” and in 2016 in Laboratory of Neuro-Psycho-Physiology of Pain research may help delineate the alleged benefts Brussels on “Power and Care” with two resulting book (LaNeP3) at the « Centre de recherche de l’Institut of mindfulness-based interventions and improve publications respectively. universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal » (CRIUGM). our understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Research methods used in his lab include psychophysics, Website: https://www.social.mpg.de/2766/en psychophysiology, and brain imaging. His research

18 19 Meditation: A Method to Alter States of any human being to reach such a state in a self-induced and with full reversibility. It appears to be a Hallucination Machine: A Virtual Reality Consciousness, Change Traits or Shift your way, lead her to develop with E. Le Quéméner valuable neuroscientifc tool to study functional Platform for Studying Altered Perceptual Way of Being? (Research Expert, INRA, France) Cognitive Trance brain and its mind correlated functions. Phenomenology Training, a sound-loop based program to help people In my short talk, I will explore how much experience a trance state and teach them how to self Altered states of consciousness, such as psychotic contemplative sciences so far can tell us about induce it. Tested in various research settings and or pharmacologically-induced hallucinations, how diferent types of meditation techniques can workshops, a 80% average of the people underwent provide a unique opportunity to examine the alter states of consciousness, change psychological a trance state. It opens door to inducing trance to mechanisms underlying conscious perception. traits or even our whole way of being. I will non-trained people as a means to discover some of the Virtual reality has been used for simulating discuss the importance of embedding meditation neurologic processes at work during the induction. such atypical experiences (e.g. the out-of-body in a compassion-based and ethical framework New researches are under way in Belgium with experience), employing its multisensory and and fnish with pointing out some of the short- Steven Laureys at Liege University. immersive nature. In this talk, I will introduce comings of current research. a new virtual reality platform, the Hallucination Corine collaborates extensively with artists, by Machine, which comprises a novel combination leading workshops exploring the infuence of trance of two powerful technologies: deep convolutional on creativity (e.g. at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure neural networks (DCNNs) and ‘substitutional des Beaux-Arts in France) and more recently with reality’. Specifcally, we apply bespoke visualisation the HEC Paris Executive Education by leading methods for DCNNs to panoramic video, with Cognitive Trance Training programs. She has the resulting footage viewed immersively through written several books translated into many languages, a head-mounted display. By doing this, we are including In Geronimo’s footsteps, Les esprits de able to simulate visual hallucinatory experiences la steppe and Mon initiation chez les Chamanes in a biologically plausible and ecologically (in the process of being adapted for cinema). valid way. Te Hallucination Machine ofers a valuable new technique for simulating altered Website: www.corinesombrun.com phenomenology without directly altering the underlying neurophysiology.

Cognitive trance, a universal human potential inherited from shamanic heritage - Te most Keisuke Suzuki recent data of neuroscientifc studies of cognitive trance states. Keisuke Suzuki obtained his Ph.D in Artifcial Life from the University of Tokyo in 2007. He stayed as Cognitive Trance, a state of consciousness a research fellow in RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Corine Sombrun stemming from shamanic practices, has been working on human cognitive functions in virtual established by C. Sombrun as being accessible, by reality environments (2008-2011). Here, with his Corine Sombrun grew up in Africa and returned to and large, by most humans. Processes to induce colleagues, he developed a novel virtual reality system France to study musicology, piano and composition. trance are related to acoustic efects, but though called Substitutional Reality. In this setup, people She settled in London in 1999 as a musician but also extracted for drum records, do not contains believe they are experiencing real-world scenes even undertook projects for the BBC World Service. the main rhythmic characteristics supposedly though they are just exposed to pre-recorded ones. In irreducible to trance induction. Understanding 2011 he joined the Sackler Centre for Consciousness One of those reports (2001) took her to Mongolia, the activity of brain leading to a specifc state Science at the University of Sussex as a post-doctoral where a highly respected Dahrad shaman recognized of mind has been C. Sombrun search for some research fellow. her as having unique shamanistic capabilities. time. She collaborated with neuroscientists who She was invited to spent several months a year at eventually demonstrated cognitive trance not to Keisuke’s research focuses on the study of consciousness the border with Siberia to undertake the rigorous be neither a pathologic state nor a trasvesty of in terms of embodied cognition, investigating ideas training to become a Shaman. After eight years she spiritual state. It is the purpose of this oral to like body ownership, feeling of agency, sense of presence, thus became the frst Western woman fully trained present the most recent neuroscientifc data of etc. His approach builds on state-of-the-art virtual Francis Taulelle in the Mongolian shamanic tradition. Her unique such trance state recorded at diferent places and reality setups for the study of conscious presence and experience in the practice of shamanic trance and explain the main trends of these observations. the bodily-self, complemented by theoretical modelling Francis Taulelle started his research career after her ability to self-induce it have been a topic of Such states, very diverse, cover a large score of embodied self-consciousness. Recently, his work has studying at the Ecole Normale Supérieure of Cachan interest for scientists. She has been collaborating of brain correlated to mind states that can be extended to the study of hybrid setups, combining and Orsay University, France. CNRS Researcher, with researchers since 2006, in order to show that compared to previous analyses of other trance Virtual Reality and Artifcial Intelligence, opening to he specialized in investigating crystallization, and this shamanic trance indeed modifes the circuits of states. It can be deduced that cognitive trance new ways of studying human perception, cognition, crystal structure of materials by using Magnetic cerebral functioning (Flor-Henry et al. 2017) states are generating, on laymen, a wide variety of and consciousness. Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS/NMR) and is the Further research into it, including in the capacity of brain/mind states without altering their behavior founder of NMR crystallography. He has been

20 21 working in a variety of laboratories (Paris, Orléans, dimensions of conscious experience. Our fndings Modifcation of self-awareness in hypnosis Strasbourg, Versailles in France) setting up NMR indicate the potential relevance of using DMT in facilities and published more than 300 scientifc the context of consciousness research as well as During the normal wake state, a negative articles. He is CNRS research Director emeritus, and providing proof-of-concept methods for the use correlation between external (environment) Professor at KU Leuven, physical-chemist of materials of second-person approaches in the study of non- and internal (self) awareness has been observed and Scientifc advisor of the NMR center. ordinary states of consciousness. in healthy volunteers. Increased intensity of internal awareness reports have been related Since 2012 he collaborates with Corine Sombrun, to increased connectivity in the default mode in order to contribute to understanding the state of network, whereas increase in external awareness consciousness occurring during her trances issued has been associated with increased connectivity from shamanic traditions and those induced by a in the external control network. We will present sound-loop based program, called Cognitive Trance how the neuronal and behavioral counterparts Training to help people experience a trance state and of awareness are modifed during hypnosis teach them how to self induce it: 80% of people succeed as compared to normal wakefulness. We also in entering a trance state, a way to discover neurologic propose to discuss our last high-density-EEG processes at work during induction and trance. results on hypnotic state. Finally, we will present Francis Taulelle is now president of “TranceScience” Christopher a new way to disentangle highly hypnotizable the funding structure of TranceScience Research from low hypnotizable subjects. Tis new way Institute, the mission of which is to bridge traditional Timmermann of measurement is useful, especially in clinical modulation of consciousness and its neuroscientifc research, since it is challenging to defne the level characterization. Christopher Timmermann obtained a BSc in of hypnotizability of patients. Indeed, current Psychology in Santiago, Chile and a MSc in Cognitive standardized scales of hypnotizability are 45 to Neuroscience at the University of Bologna in Italy. He 90 minutes longer, and are not easily applicable Cognitive trance, a universal human potential is currently completing a PhD in Imperial College in clinical practice. inherited from shamanic heritage - Te most London, leading a project focusing on the efects of recent data of neuroscientifc studies of psychedelic compound DMT in the cognitive trance states and experience. He is interested in the use of methods bridging the relationship between experience and Cognitive Trance, a state of consciousness changes in brain activity in non-ordinary states of Audrey stemming from shamanic practices, has been consciousness, as well as the impact of psychedelics at Vanhaudenhuyse established by C. Sombrun as being accessible, by diferent temporal and spatial scales, both within and and large, by most humans. Processes to induce between individuals. Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse is a neuropsychologist, PhD trance are related to acoustic efects, but though in Medical Sciences. She is interested in consciousness, extracted for drum records, do not contains altered (e.g. coma, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, the main rhythmic characteristics supposedly A neurophenomenological approach for the minimally conscious sate) and modifed (e.g. hypnosis, irreducible to trance induction. Understanding study of non-ordinary states of consciousness trance) states of consciousness processes. She is currently the activity of brain leading to a specifc state using DMT working in the Algology Department of the University of mind has been C. Sombrun search for some Hospital of Liège and she is heading the Sensation and time. She collaborated with neuroscientists who Te use of second-person approaches provides Perception Research Group of the GIGA Consciousness eventually demonstrated cognitive trance not to a unique opportunity to understand the of the University of Liège. Te aim of her clinical be neither a pathologic state nor a trasvesty of trajectories the mind-body systems may take researches is developing paradigms to evaluate the spiritual state. It is the purpose of this oral to when undergoing transitions of consciousness beneft on global well-being, sleep difculties and present the most recent neuroscientifc data of states such as wake-sleep, disruptions in self- cognitive complains of hypnosis/self-care learning as such trance state recorded at diferent places and related processing, contemplative practices well as virtual reality in diferent pathologies (chronic explain the main trends of these observations. and psychedelic states. DMT is a serotonergic pain patients, patients in oncology, patients in intensive Marieke van Vugt Such states, very diverse, cover a large score psychedelic known for inducing rich experiences care units, etc). With functional magnetic resonance of brain correlated to mind states that can be characterised by feelings of deep immersion imaging and high-density electroencephalography, she Marieke van Vugt is an assistant professor in the compared to previous analyses of other trance into subjectively-felt alternate ‘realities’ or is also studying the neurophysiological mechanisms of Bernoulli Institute for Mathematics, Computer states. It can be deduced that cognitive trance ‘dimensions”. In our research we studied the hypnosis and other modifed states of consciousness in Science and Artifcial Intelligence at the University of states are generating, on laymen, a wide variety of efects of DMT in humans by using a multimodal healthy subjects and patients. Groningen. brain/mind states without altering their behavior brain imaging approach combined with a range and with full reversibility. It appears to be a of measures of subjective efects inspired in a Website: https://www.gigaconsciousness.uliege.be Her research aims to understand how, when, and valuable neuroscientifc tool to study functional neurophenomenological approach. Results reveal why we mind-wander. She uses a multimodal brain and its mind correlated functions. a close relationship between diferent measures approach that combines computational modeling, of brain activity and dynamic shifts in diferent scalp and intracranial EEG, behavioral studies,

22 23 and eye-tracking. In addition, she is interested in Phenomenology and prediction of acute how meditation practice afects our cognitive system, and sustained response to psychedelic and she investigates meditation in both Western psilocybin in mediation experts in a practitioners and Tibetan monks. She became a mindfulness group retreat member of the Young Academy of Groningen in 2017. Meditation and psychedelics have played key roles Website: mkvanvugt.wordpress.com in humankind’s search for self-transcendence and altered consciousness. However, neither their possible synergistic efect, nor related state and Using computational models as a comparative trait predictors have been experimentally studied. framework to describe the cognitive To elucidate these issues, we administered and emotional processes in meditation and double-blind the psychedelic drug psilocybin other practices (315 µg/kg PO) or placebo to expert meditators (n = 39) during a 5 day mindfulness group While the practice of meditation is very simple, retreat. Psilocybin increased meditation depth understanding its efects on the mind is actually and incidence of positively experienced self- quite complex. To begin to understand the efects Franz X. Vollenweider dissolution, with no concomitant anxiety. Patrik Vuilleumier of meditation, and how those are similar and diferent from those of psychedelics, hypnosis, Dr. Franz X. Vollenweider is currently Co-Director Openness, , mediation depth, and Patrik Vuilleumier is a neurologist and professor and trance, I think it is important to use of the Center for Psychiatric Research, Director of the emotional reappraisal were predictors of the acute of neuroscience at the Medical School of University computational modeling. Computational models Neuropsychopharmacology and Brain Imaging Unit, response. Compared with placebo, psilocybin of Geneva and Campus Biotech. He specialized are very useful in this context, because those can and Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine, enhanced post-intervention mindfulness and in behavioral neurology, neuropsychology, and use a uniform language in which the diferent University of Zurich. He is also the Director of the produced larger positive changes in psychosocial neuroimaging with functional MRI and EEG. practices can be expressed. I will explain how Hefter Research Center Zürich for Consciousness functioning at 4 month follow-up, which were His work focusses on brain circuits of cognitive our initial cognitive modeling of the meditation Studies (HRC-ZH), which he founded in 1998 and mediated by the self-dissolution. Tese fndings and afective processes, including attention, vision, process was able to explain meditation-related incorporated in his research group. highlight the interaction of non-pharmacological and social emotion perception, as well as their improvements on two diferent attention tasks. and pharmacological factors, and the role of disturbances due to neurologic or psychiatric illnesses. I will then speculate about how changes in Dr. Vollenweider received his MD degree at the emotion/attention regulation in shaping the He conducted numerous studies on behavioral efects emotional processing can be modeled, and how University of Zurich. He completed his doctoral thesis experiential quality of deep psychedelic states, and neuroanatomical substrates of both conscious and cognitive models could explain similarities and in experimental medicine at the Institute of Toxicology as well as the experience of selfessness as a non-conscious processes in perception, particularly in diferences between meditation, psychedelics, of the University and ETH of Zurich, was trained modulator of behavior and attitudes. relation to spatial neglect and blindsight after brain hypnosis, and trance. in neurochemistry at the Brain Research Institute lesion, emotion recognition and emotion regulation, as of the University of Zurich, and in neuroimaging well as neural mechanisms responsible for disorders in at the PET Centre of the PSI-ETH. In 1994 he self-awareness associated with hypnosis and functional/ became certifed in the specialities of psychiatry and psychogenic neurological disorders (hysteria). psychotherapy. His research interests encompass the area of psychopathology, cognitive neuroscience, and Website: https://www.unige.ch/medecine/neuf/ behavioural psychopharmacology of psychotic and en/research/grecherche/patrik-vuilleumier/ afective disorders.

Current research focuses on the investigation of Brain networks underlying the generation, the functional networks and transmitter dynamics distortion, and loss of perceptual awareness underlying the experience of self, visual perception, cognitive and emotional processes and the dysfunctions Our research investigates neural mechanisms of these processes in human models of psychoses and subserving normal conscious awareness and psychiatric patients. Multiple approaches including its impairment in various situations with both measures of information processing, event-related healthy individuals and brain-damaged patients. potentials, and brain imaging techniques are used for From visual perception and attention studies, we studying these functions. study how sensory processing in low-level cortical areas is modulated by top-down signals related to goal-directed attentional processes or other (e.g. Website: https://www.dppp.uzh.ch/en/research/ afective or motivational signals). We fnd that psychiatric/neuropsychopharma/brainimaging.html such top-down signals can amplify activity along sensory pathways, while their loss after lesions in fronto-parietal attention networks may reduce

24 25 (in low-level areas) or even abolish (in higher Khenpo Kunga, Mingyur Rinpoche’s main Khenpo. level areas) neural responses to incoming sensory In 2010, he ordained as a novice Buddhist monk information. Tis work allows not only better under the tutelage of Mingyur Rinpoche, splitting understanding of neuropsychological disorders his time between monastic settings in Asia and associated in disorders in perceptual awareness, Dharma centers in the West. such as spatial neglect, but also ofers novel way to regulate and restore awareness through various Holger Yeshe has a particular interest in the approaches, including real-time neurofeedback to intersection between the meditative arts and western boost residual non-conscious activity in sensory Scientifc modes of inquiry. In 2018, Holger Yeshe pathways. In other studies using hypnosis in attended his frst Mind & Life Europe Summer healthy individuals, we fnd that perceptual or Research Institute which he is a great place motor functioning can be impaired by hypnotic to continue to explore this dialogue. He currently suggestions through a distinctive modulation of helps co-direct Tergar Germany, ofering meditation corresponding brain areas, and link these efects seminars in both English and German, coordinating to top-down infuences from higher level areas in community outreach, and providing individual both attention and memory-related systems. Tis instruction for students of Mingyur Rinpoche. may in turn help understanding not only hypnosis but also psychiatric conditions associated with abnormal subjective experience of movement or perception, such as functional neurological symptoms (conversion). Altogether, these data converge with the notion that conscious experience is shaped by an integration of bottom- up, physically-driven and top-down, internally- generated signals in the brain.

Holger Yeshe Born in Nürnberg, Germany, Holger Yeshe began practicing Buddhism in 1999. Since that time, he has studied and practiced extensively in both the Teravadan and Tibetan Buddhist lineages. In 2005, he met his main teacher, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche with whom he has practiced with ever since. During his two decades of intensive study and practice, Holger Yeshe became fuent in Tibetan language and now serves as primary interpreter for

26 27 Schedule ENCECON Workshop

Schedule Tuesday, 11 June 2019 Wednesday, 12 June 2019 Tursday, 13 June 2019 Friday, 14 June 2019 Saturday, 15 June 2019

Time Arrival & Welcome Teme: Consciousness Teme: Self Teme: States vs Traits, Ethical Values Wrap-up & Departure

Meditation Meditation Meditation Meditation 07:45-08:30 Diego Hangartner Holger Yeshe Diego Hangartner Holger Yeshe

08.30-09.30 Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast

09:30-11.00 Morning Session I Morning Session I Morning Session I: States vs Traits 09:30-09.40 Franz Vollenweider (psychedelics) Olaf Blanke (noc*/embodiment) Tania Singer (contemplative practices) 09:40-09:50 Marie-Elisabeth Faymonville (hypnosis) Quinton Deeley (hypnosis) Elena Antonova (meditation) Morning Session I 09:50-10:00 Steven Laureys (noc*/coma science) Marieke van Vugt (meditation) Torsten Barnhofer (MBI for depression) Group Discussion on publishing 10:00-10:10 Antoine Lutz (meditation) Michael Lifshitz (meditation/hypnosis) Prisca Bauer (meditation/hypnosis) workshop proceedings and theoretical 10:10-10:20 Corine Sombrun & Francis Taulelle Romy Lorenz (real-time fMRI methods Fabienne Picard (epilepsy) manuscript 10:20-10:30 (cognitive trance, 20 min) Rael Cahn (psychedelics & meditation) Contemplative View by Diego Hangartner 10:30-11:00 Group Discussion Group Discussion Group Discussion

11:00-11:30 Cofee/tea break Cofee/tea break Cofee/tea break Cofee/tea break

11:30-13:00 Morning Session II Morning Session II Morning Session II 11:30-11:40 Giuseppe Pagnoni (meditation) Patrik Vuilleumier (noc*) Patrik Vuilleumier (noc*) 11:40-11:50 Pierre Rainville (meditation) Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse (hypnosis) Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse (hypnosis) Morning Session II 11:50-12:00 Christopher Timmerman (psychedelics) Ilios Kotsou (meditation) Ilios Kotsou (meditation) Group Discussion on collaborative 12:00-12:10 Olivia Gosseries (noc*/coma science) Keisuke Suzuki (VR psychedelics) Keisuke Suzuki (VR psychedelics) grant applications 12:10-12:20 Contemplative View by Contemplative View by Holger Yeshe Contemplative View by Holger Yeshe 12:20-12:30 Diego Hangartner (20 min) (20 min) (20 min) 12:30-13:00 Group Discussion Group Discussion Group Discussion

13:00-14:30 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch and departure

Afternoon Session I: Afternoon Session I: Afternoon Session I: 14.30-16.00 1st Person Methods Workshop Hypnotic Induction & Debrief Hypnotic Induction & Debrief *noc = neuroscience of consciousness Claire Petitmengin Marie-Elisabeth Faymonville Marie-Elisabeth Faymonville P

16.00-16.30 Cofee/tea break Cofee/tea break Cofee/tea break

16.30-17.30 Arrival & registration Methodological brainstorming session Methodological brainstorming session Methodological brainstorming session

17.30-18.00 Break Break Break

18.00-19.30 Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner

Welcome remarks by Evening Session: Evening Session: Evening Session: Elena Antonova, 20.00-22.00 Cognitive Trance & Debrief Cognitive Trance & Debrief Cognitive Trance & Debrief Tania Singer and Steven Laureys Corine Sombrun and Francis Taulelle Corine Sombrun and Francis Taulelle Corine Sombrun and Francis Taulelle Blitz Introductions (2 min/participant)

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