Meditation Experiences, Self, and Boundaries of Consciousness

Abstract

Our experiences with the external world are possible mainly through vision, hearing, taste, touch, and smell providing us a sense of reality. How the brain is able to seamlessly integrate stimuli from our external and internal world into our sense of reality has yet to be adequately explained in the literature. We have previously proposed a three-dimensional unified model of consciousness that partly explains the dynamic mechanism. Here we further expand our model and include illustrations to provide a better conception of the ill-defined space within the self, providing insight into a unified mind-body concept. In this article, we propose that our senses "super-impose" on an existing dynamic space within us after a slight, imperceptible delay. The existing space includes the entire intrapersonal space and can also be called the "the body's internal 3D default space". We provide examples from meditation experiences to help explain how the sense of 'self ' can be experienced through meditation practice associated with underlying physiological processes that take place through cardio-respiratory synchronization and coherence that is developed among areas of the brain. Meditation practice can help keep the body in a parasympathetic dominant state during meditation, allowing an experience of inner 'self '. Understanding this physical and functional space could help unlock the mysteries of the function of memory and cognition, allowing clinicians to better recognize and treat disorders of the mind by recommending proven techniques to reduce stress as an adjunct to medication treatment. allows us to experience an internal representation of the external environment. In the following sections we discuss the purpose of brain oscillations in consciousness, and further explain the formation of our previously proposed 3D default space theory, see [11]. Brain oscillations and the 3d default spaceWe consider brain oscillations dynamic because sensory and cortical information is organized around the thalamus which allows us to experience the external world. Alpha, gamma, retinogeniculo-cortical, and corticothalamic oscillations are essential in forming the 3D default space because they allow constant and continuous communication between the brain and the body-without them, we do not think that consciousness can emerge.Alpha oscillations vibrate at 8-14 Hz, strongly influencing brain activity [12,13] It is through these fast alpha and gamma oscillations that we suggest an 'internal' neural space is formed, providing an infrastructure for visual consciousness. Neuronal synchronization with the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) through oscillations at 60-120 Hz is indicated by oscillatory activity in the retina, LGN, and cortex [21,22], which allows the brain and retina to receive and process visual stimuli as one organ. These retinogeniculocortical oscillations assist in the formation of the dynamic template that reduces external space into our internal world space we call the 3D default space. These fast oscillations an...

The Default Space Theory of Consciousness: Phenomenological Support from Personal Observations and Clinical Deficits

“…The experience of pure consciousness during the practice of Transcendental Meditation is one of "self" awareness or "self" referral [40]. Reportedly, advanced practitioners of various meditation techniques experience unbounded space and time [41], supporting our theory that the default space is a borderless intrapersonal space and is what meditators become more aware of during their sessions [42].…”

“…The previously proposed dark space is the idling foundation of the default space [42]. This dark space is the infrastructure of consciousness, ready to instantly be filled with qualia derived from the external world [42].…”

Conceptual Advances in the Default Space Model of Consciousness

“…This "naked", intra-personal space which becomes clothed by sensory qualia is the base form of the default space which we have termed the "Dark Space". This dark space is normally undetected by a person, and exists continuously, even when free of filled sensation [7]. This dark, neural-sensory-memory space is formed and maintained by the default mode network, resting state networks, and reticular activating system [8].…”

Critique and Comparison of Prevailing Consciousness Models with a Novel Embodied Cognition Model

“…IIT assumes that concepts such as the "chairness" described, can also reach conscious awareness due to these concepts being involved in the overall informa-tional system of the brain. While it describes the spatially structured nature of consciousness through its composition axiom [47], IIT lacks the important explanation of the "world simulation" function of consciousness that the DST [21] and other authors [97] The DST describes how during meditation, some can achieve an awareness of this unconscious spatial matrix, leading to experiences of identifying with and experiencing a vast, boundary-less, empty space [102]. Unlike GWT, IIT identifies a baseline, silent, or naked state of experience which can be reached via meditation [103] due to silent but functionally connected neurons which while are not actively transmitting information, are part of a complex with positive Φ [92].…”