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Dave Vago

@contemplativeneuro.bsky.social

580 followers 570 following 65 posts

Cognitive & Affective Neuroscientist | Contemplative & Mind Body Research | Exploring awareness one moment at a time | #mindfulness #meditation #psychedelics #self #contemplativeneuroscience https://contemplativeneurosciences.com/ https://iscrsociety.org

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Dec 8

Hey Bluesky Explorers. I'm a neuroscientist who is interested in accelerating science-backed innovation in digital health/wellbeing & elevating contemplative science & research, including meditation, mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, subtle energy & psychedelics.

Follow for relevant research & musings

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Sep 2

Temporal coordination (phase synchrony) of gamma signalling is a fundamental mechanism of information processing. www.nature.com/articles/s41... #neuroscience #gamma #attention

Gamma-band synchronization between neurons in the visual cortex is causal for effective information processing and behavior - Nature Communications

The brain’s ability to route information selectively is vital for perception and behavior. Here, the authors demonstrate that routing causally depends on the precise synchronization of rhythmic neuron...

www.nature.com

Reposted by Dave Vago

debburns.bsky.social @debburns.bsky.social · Jun 27

The RFP for Music Based Interventions and Pain pilot studies are out! audioanalgesia.org/2025-call-fo...

2025 Call for Pilot Research Applications | audioanalgesia

audioanalgesia.org

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Aug 10

nice review reflecting on the potential of meditation apps. what we know and where is the field going? #contemplativeresearh #meditationapps psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?d...

APA PsycNet

psycnet.apa.org

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Jul 16

Nondual awareness scale - State and Trait differences. #contemplativeresearch #nondualawareness link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...

Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment (NADA)

Two versions of the Nondual Awareness Dimensional Assessment-Trait (NADA) were developed as self-report measures of nondual awareness. The trait version of the NADA (NADA-T) was developed to assess du...

link.springer.com

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Jul 7

great reflections on meaning-engendering, an ‘ecology’ of bodily, sociotechnical and moral frameworks, and using technology from a contemplative lens #contemplativeresearch link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Beyond the attention economy, towards an ecology of attending. A manifesto - AI & SOCIETY

We endorse policymakers’ efforts to address the negative consequences of the attention economy’s technology but add that these approaches are often limited in their criticism of the systemic context o...

link.springer.com

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Jun 18

Time-frequency decomposition for
cue- and target-locked dat.... from all electrodes with complex Morlet wavelets that had theta frequencies.for fc - they calculated a "phase lag index" targeting 6 Hz was calculated and averaged across all trials, separately for cue- and target-locked data"

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Jun 18

so cool. functional bioluminescence detected in the form of Ultraweak photon emissions (UPEs) - could be a very new way to image activity from brain and body #photoencephalography #neuroscience www.cell.com/iscience/ful...

Exploring ultraweak photon emissions as optical markers of brain activity

Cognitive neuroscience; Neuroscience

www.cell.com

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Jun 18

interesting findings on low-frequency theta and attentional control - #contemplativeresearch #attention #eeg #neuroscience sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

Your brain has a hidden beat — and smarter minds sync to it

When we focus, switch tasks, or face tough mental challenges, the brain starts to sync its internal rhythms, especially in the midfrontal region. A new study has found that smarter individuals show mo...

sciencedaily.com

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Reposted by Dave Vago

FRINGE QUEST @fringequest.bsky.social · Feb 25

Etzel Cardeña: What psi research can – and cannot – say about ‘mind beyond the brain’

What psi research can – and cannot – say about ‘mind beyond the brain’

Research on parapsychological (psi) phenomena is very relevant in the discussion of whether mental processes might go beyond the known limits of brain capacities. Nonetheless, most scientific and p...

www.tandfonline.com

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Jun 12

#contemplativeresearch #meditation

Simon Goldberg, PhD @sgoldbergphd.bsky.social · Jun 12

Amazing new research study being launched at U of Melbourne on meditation practice across the globe! Please consider participating and sharing in your network: psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au/CSC/research...

@christianwebb.bsky.social @drericgarland.bsky.social @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social

World Meditation Survey

psychologicalsciences.unimelb.edu.au

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Jun 6

Tonglen effects on HRV and physiology #contemplativeresearch #meditation #tonglen link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Investigating the Psychophysiological Effects of Tonglen Compassion Meditation in Healthcare Workers - Mindfulness

Objectives Compassion is a valuable, trainable skill which can bring significant benefits to oneself and others. One method for developing compassion towards others is Tonglen, a Tibetan Buddhist medi...

link.springer.com

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Jun 5

Webinar! Join us Thursday, June 12th Noon EST - Neural & Psychological Mechanisms of #Mindfulness and #Psychedelic Interventions for Pain & Opioid Use Disorders @drericgarland.bsky.social & @fadelzeidan.bsky.social will share new findings #contemplativeresearch #meditation iscrsociety.org/webinars/

Webinars - iscrsociety.org

iscrsociety.org

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Reposted by Dave Vago

Mind & Life @mindandlife.bsky.social · Jun 5

The 2025 Summer Research Institute is happening now— and it’s not too late to register! Erin McCarthy, our Director of Research, invites you to join the livestream for talks, panels, and meditations on reimagining education.

Register now! www.mindandlife.org/events/summe...

#ContemplativeEducation

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · May 29

#contemplative research #mindfulness

Ted Meissner @tedmeissner.bsky.social · May 28

Resh Gupta joins us to speak about the latest research moving forward in understanding how mindfulness can influence anxiety. #mindfulness #cognitivecontrol #anxiety

Be sure to visit mindfulness.voyage for more shows and mindfulness content!

youtu.be/Ksk3IzTuDPk

Mindfulness, Anxiety, and Cognitive Control

YouTube video by Mindfulness Voyage

youtu.be

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · May 26

New consensus paper on Redefining respiratory sinus arrhythmia as respiratory heart rate variability: an international Expert Recommendation for terminological clarity #HRV #RSA #RespHRV www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Redefining respiratory sinus arrhythmia as respiratory heart rate variability: an international Expert Recommendation for terminological clarity

Nature Reviews Cardiology - The physiological phenomenon whereby heart rate varies in phase with breathing in vertebrates has been known as ‘respiratory sinus arrhythmia’. In this...

www.nature.com

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · May 24

Are You Happy While You Work? Interesting to see the list of activities that people report doing at their happiest #happiness #wellbeing url:https://academic.oup.com/ej/article-abstract/127/599/106/5067823

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · May 2

Where is my mind? A neurocognitive investigation of mind blanking www.cell.com/trends/cogni... #contemplative #research

Where is my mind? A neurocognitive investigation of mind blanking

During wakefulness, our thoughts transition between different contents. However, there are moments that are seemingly devoid of reportable content, referred to as mind blanking (MB). It remains unclea...

www.cell.com

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Apr 26

join the @mindandlife.bsky.social summer research institute virtual livestream on Contemplative Education

Mind & Life @mindandlife.bsky.social · Apr 25

Why join the 2025 Mind & Life SRI livestream? Meena Srinivasan shares why this gathering matters. No application needed—just register to access keynotes, panels, and meditations from anywhere.

Join us online! 🔗 www.mindandlife.org/events/summe...

#ContemplativeEducation #MindfulnessInEducation

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Apr 26

The Teacher Matters: The Role and Impact of Meditation Teachers in the Trajectories of Western Buddhist Meditators Experiencing Meditation-Related Challenges www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1... #meditation #contemplative #research #adverse

The Teacher Matters: The Role and Impact of Meditation Teachers in the Trajectories of Western Buddhist Meditators Experiencing Meditation-Related Challenges

Although meditation is often treated as an individual practice, meditation teachers can play an important role. Drawing on the mixed-methods dataset of the Varieties of Contemplative Experience pro...

www.tandfonline.com

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Apr 26

Exploring Phenomenological Characteristics of Thinking in Individuals with Maladaptive Daydreaming Tendencies: Insights from Ecological Momentary Assessment - osf.io/f52z4/resour... #meditation #contemplative #research #ema #neuroscience

OSF

osf.io

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Mar 27

Fantastic weekend at Google X’s Moonshot Factory in Mountain View, 150 of the brightest minds in neuroscience, AI, & human flourishing gathered for the BrainMind Science Collective. There was a high-energy exchange of ideas #BrainMindScience2025 #Neuroscience #AI #Consciousness #MindBody #brainmind

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Mar 8

🧠✨ New #Research on #Meditation

Jhana meditation alters brain networks, as shown via geometric eigenmode analysis of 7T fMRI data. academic.oup.com/cercor/artic...

#Mindfulness #Meditation #Neuroscience #MentalHealth

Investigating the complex cortical dynamics of an advanced concentrative absorption meditation called jhanas (ACAM-J): a geometric eigenmode analysis

Abstract. Advanced meditation has been associated with long- and short-term psychological changes such as bliss, profound insight, and transformation of we

academic.oup.com

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Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Mar 7

A small win indeed.

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Mar 7

Certainly makes it clear that federally funded science will have a more narrow agenda dictated by the priorities of a select few. :(

Dave Vago @contemplativeneuro.bsky.social · Mar 7

Big change for NIH study sections - now a centralized process only. www.nih.gov/news-events/...

NIH centralizes peer review to improve efficiency and strengthen integrity

The proposed approach is expected to save more than $65 million annually.

www.nih.gov

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