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 Buddhist Studies Research Seminars Convenors: Kate Crosby, [email protected] Pyi Phyo Kyaw, [email protected] Abstract There are different definitions of mindfulness. These differences exist within Buddhism, and are reflected in its secular reincarnation as a clinical intervention and as an area of scientific research. Furthermore, different stages of mindfulness expertise as a practice and/or as a state will result in distinct phenomenal shifts. Depending on what we mean by ‘mindfulness’ both as a process and a state, we would expect to find different neural dynamics. We would also expect different neural dynamics between the beginners and experts of mindfulness practice. Based on the research done by others and myself, I will map what these different neural dynamics might be. I will also discuss the challenges and limitations of using fMRI to study brain dynamics associated with the so called non-­‐dual mindfulness as practiced within Dzogchen and Mahamudra. Biography Elena Antonova is a Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London. Her main research interest is the neuroscience of mindfulness, particularly structural and functional brain changes in long-­‐term mindfulness practitioners from the Tibetan Buddhist traditions of Dzogchen and M ahamudra. She has been actively involved with the Mind and Life Institute (https://www.mindandlife.org/), an organization that aims to facilitate an inter-­‐disciplinary research into the effects of contemplative p ractices, and co-­‐organised first two European Research Summer Research Institutes (http://esri.mindandlife-­‐
europe.org/about-­‐us/mind-­‐and-­‐life-­‐europe/). Neuroscience of Mindfulness: Western models of consciousness and Buddhist models of awareness Elena Antonova (King’s College London) Friday 27 May 2016 (5.00 pm) Room VWB 3.01, 3rd Floor Virginia Woolf Building 22 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6LE ALL WELCOME. Tea at 4:30pm.