The foundation of our products is grounded in the advanced science of the mind and its potential.

Landmark studies and empirical papers

Our key authors have pioneered authoritative works on the potential of training the mind and  Western scientific thought on human flourishing and health. By collaborating with prominent (neuro)scientists at universities in the USA and Europe, they have contributed to seminal research on brain plasticity, and the physical and psychological effects of various meditation practices. They have co-authored notable scientific publications; below is a brief selection along with specific themes.  



 







      
   





    
    
    
    

    
     
    
   

  
 
 





    
    
    
    
    

    
     
    
   

  
     





                

            
    
                
                          
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    King, B., Zanesco, A. P., Skwara, A. C., & Saron, C. (2023). Cultivating Concern for Others: Meditation Training and Motivated Engagement with Human Suffering. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
    
                          
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    Skwara, A.C., King, B.G., Zanesco, A.P. & Saron. (2022) Shifting Baselines: Longitudinal Reductions in EEG Beta Band Power Characterize Resting Brain Activity with Intensive Meditation. Mindfulness, 13(10), 2488-2506.
    
                          
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    ​Skwara, A. C. (2022). Expanding the circle of care: An EEG spectral and microstate analysis of compassion meditation and rest during an intensive meditation retreat (Order No. 28869186). Available from Dissertations & Theses @ University of California; ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I. (2665557840).
    
                          
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    Zanesco, A. P., Skwara, A. C., King, B. G., Powers, C., Wineberg, K., & Saron, C. D. (2021). Meditation training modulates brain electric microstates and felt states of awareness. Human Brain Mapping, 42(10), 3228–3252.
    
                          
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    Shields, G. S., Skwara, A. C., King, B. G., Zanesco, A. P., Dhabhar, F. S., & Saron, C. D. (2020). Deconstructing the effects of concentration meditation practice on interference control: The roles of controlled attention and inflammatory activity. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 89, 256–267.
    
                          
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    Zanesco, A. P., King, B. G., Powers, C., De Meo, R., Wineberg, K., MacLean, K. A., & Saron, C. D. (2019). Modulation of event-related potentials of visual discrimination by meditation training and sustained attention. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 31(8), 1184–1204.
    
                          
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    Pokorny, J. J., Norman, A., Zanesco, A. P., Bauer-Wu, S., Sahdra, B. K., & Saron, C. D. (2018). Network analysis for the visualization and analysis of qualitative data. Psychological Methods, 23(1), 169–183.
    
                          
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    Zanesco, A. P., King, B. G., MacLean, K. A., & Saron, C. D. (2018). Cognitive Aging and Long-Term Maintenance of Attentional Improvements Following Meditation Training. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 2(3), 259–275.
    
                          
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    Zanesco, A. P., King, B. G., MacLean, K. A., Jacobs, T. L., Aichele, S. R., Wallace, B. A., Smallwood, J., Schooler, J. W., & Saron, C. D. (2016). Meditation training influences mind wandering and mindless reading. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 3(1), 12–33.
    
                          
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    Rosenberg, E. L., Zanesco, A. P., King, B. G., Aichele, S. R., Jacobs, T. L., Bridwell, D. A., MacLean, K. A., Shaver, P. R., Ferrer, E., Sahdra, B. K., Lavy, S., Wallace, B. A., & Saron, C. D. (2015). Intensive meditation training influences emotional responses to suffering. Emotion, 15(6), 775–790.
    
                          
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    Saggar, M., Zanesco, A. P., King, B. G., Bridwell, D. A., MacLean, K. A., Aichele, S. R., Jacobs, T. L., Wallace, B. A., Saron, C. D., & Miikkulainen, R. (2015). Mean-field thalamocortical modeling of longitudinal EEG acquired during intensive meditation training. NeuroImage, 114, 88–104.
    
                          
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    Jacobs, T. L., Shaver, P. R., Epel, E. S., Zanesco, A. P., Aichele, S. R., Bridwell, D. A., Rosenberg, E. L., King, B. G., MacLean, K. A., Sahdra, B. K., Kemeny, M. E., Ferrer, E., Wallace, B. A., & Saron, C. D. (2013). Self-reported mindfulness and cortisol during a Shamatha meditation retreat. Health Psychology, 32(10), 1104–1109.
    
                          
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    Saggar, M., King, B. G., Zanesco, A. P., MacLean, K. A., Aichele, S. R., Jacobs, T. L., Bridwell, D. A., Shaver, P. R., Rosenberg, E. L., Sahdra, B. K., Ferrer, E., Tang, A. C., Mangun, G. R., Wallace, B. A., Miikkulainen, R., & Saron, C. D. (2012). Intensive training induces longitudinal changes in meditation state-related EEG oscillatory activity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6.
    
                          
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    Jacobs, T. L., Epel, E. S., Lin, J., Blackburn, E. H., Wolkowitz, O. M., Bridwell, D. A., Zanesco, A. P., Aichele, S. R., Sahdra, B. K., MacLean, K. A., King, B. G., Shaver, P. R., Rosenberg, E. L., Ferrer, E., Wallace, B. A., & Saron, C. D. (2011). Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 36(5), 664–681.
    
                          
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    Garrison, K. A., Scheinost, D., Worhunsky, P. D., Elwafi, H. M., Thornhill, T. A., 4th, Thompson, E., Saron, C., Desbordes, G., Kober, H., Hampson, M., Gray, J. R., Constable, R. T., Papademetris, X., & Brewer, J. A. (2013). Real-time fMRI links subjective experience with brain activity during focused attention. NeuroImage, 81, 110–118.
    
                          
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    Sahdra, B. K., MacLean, K. A., Ferrer, E., Shaver, P. R., Rosenberg, E. L., Jacobs, T. L., Zanesco, A. P., King, B. G., Aichele, S. R., Bridwell, D. A., Mangun, G. R., Lavy, S., Wallace, B. A., & Saron, C. D. (2011). Enhanced response inhibition during intensive meditation training predicts improvements in self-reported adaptive socioemotional functioning. Emotion, 11(2), 299–312.
    
                          
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    MacLean, K. A., Ferrer, E., Aichele, S. R., Bridwell, D. A., Zanesco, A. P., Jacobs, T. L., King, B. G., Rosenberg, E. L., Sahdra, B. K., Shaver, P. R., Wallace, B. A., Mangun, G. R., & Saron, C. D. (2010). Intensive Meditation Training Improves Perceptual Discrimination and Sustained Attention. Psychological Science, 21(6), 829–839.
    
                          
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    Saggar, M., Aichele, S. R., Jacobs, T. L., Zanesco, A. P., Bridwell, D. A., Maclean, K. A., King, B. G., Sahdra, B. K., Rosenberg, E. L., Shaver, P. R., Ferrer, E., Wallace, B. A., Mangun, G. R., Saron, C. D., & Miikkulainen, R. (2010, July). A computational approach to understanding the longitudinal changes in cortical activity associated with intensive meditation training. Nineteenth Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting: CNS 2010, San Antonio, TX, USA.
    
                          
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    Book Chapter: Skwara AC, King BG, Saron CD: Studies of Training Compassion. In The Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science. Edited by Seppala EM, Simon-Thomas E, Brown SL, Worline MC, Cameron CD, Doty JR. Oxford University Press; 2017.​
    
                          
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    Media references: Scientific American, Neuroscience Reveals the Secrets of Meditation’s Benefits. Contemplative practices that extend back thousands of years show a multitude of benefits for both body and mind (2014). News University of Wisconsin-Madison.
    

     
    
                          
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