IMBR White Papers
We have done extensive research into the brainwave patterns found in different types of meditations and different levels of expertise. We have summarized what we have learned from 600+ academic research papers in these IMBR White Papers. We recommend reading the first three papers first. They establish the fundamental science behind all the IMBR research.
Each white paper is about 5-10 pages. Tap on any one to download a PDF.
What is Meditation Depth?
In 1999, Harald Piron set out to find out if one could create a single depth index that worked across several meditation traditions. He asked 45 teachers from six traditions to classify 30 depth-related statements regarding meditation states...
A New Taxonomy for
Meditation Brainwave Research
Proper taxonomy accelerates research results. Until the turn of the century, most cancer research was organized by where the cancer showed up in the body. When we started looking for subtypes by molecular classification it led to more targeted therapeutic approaches and improved patient outcomes...
Fixing the Replication Crisis in EEG research
In 2015, Nosek et al. dropped a bombshell when their study found that only 36% of 100 studies published in three top psychology journals could be replicated. Ten years later, a lot of hand-wringing has taken place about questionable research practices (QRP)...
The Brainwaves of
Open Presence Meditations
The goal of Open Presence (OP) meditations is to be fully into the present moment by letting go of all doing and entering into a blissful, thoughtless state of merging with ultimate reality. Popular OP meditations include Vedic practices such as Transcendental Meditation (TM), Ziva, Zen Shikantaza, & Yoga Nidra.
The Brainwaves of
Focused Awareness Meditations
The goal of Focused Awareness (FA) meditations is to direct and sustain one's full attention to a chosen meditation object, ultimately culminating in effortless single-pointed concentration and total absorption. Popular FA meditations include breath watching, body scanning (Goenka Vipassana), Samatha, Jhanas, etc.
The Brainwaves of
Open Heart Meditations
The goal of Open Heart (OH) meditation is to enhance your ability to experience and express love, kindness, compassion, and other positive emotions. Popular OH meditation practices include Loving-Kindness, Metta, Tonglen, and HeartMath.
The Brainwaves of
Open Monitoring Meditations
The goal state in Open Monitoring (OM) meditation is to open one's aperture of focus to take in all sensations without judgment, resistance, or engagement. Popular OM meditation practices include Mindfulness, Insight Vipassana, Dhyana, and Mahasi Noting.
The Brainwaves of
Non-Dual Meditations
The Nondual (ND) family of meditations serves as a pathway to experiencing a unified state of consciousness, where the distinction between self/other and subject/object dissolves. Nondual is both the highest expression of each type of meditation and a completely different state...
