Matthew D. Sacchet
@matthewsacchet.bsky.social
Associate Professor and Director of the Meditation Research Program at Harvard Medical School / Mass General (MGH)
https://meditation.mgh.harvard.edu/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ckejHQkAAAAJ&hl=en
https://meditation.mgh.harvard.edu/
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ckejHQkAAAAJ&hl=en
I recently spoke with New Scientist, one of world’s major weekly science-and-technology magazines, to share how our work is revealing one of the most promising frontiers in human development, and may also be part of a bigger story about our collective potential and evolution.
⤵️
⤵️
November 10, 2025 at 11:34 AM
I recently spoke with New Scientist, one of world’s major weekly science-and-technology magazines, to share how our work is revealing one of the most promising frontiers in human development, and may also be part of a bigger story about our collective potential and evolution.
⤵️
⤵️
Have you ever wondered whether you’ll be able to access advanced and transformative meditation?
Or do you doubt whether the science of advanced meditation will ever extend beyond the laboratory, or beyond the rare achievements of a handful of very accomplished practitioners?
⤵️
Or do you doubt whether the science of advanced meditation will ever extend beyond the laboratory, or beyond the rare achievements of a handful of very accomplished practitioners?
⤵️
October 29, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Have you ever wondered whether you’ll be able to access advanced and transformative meditation?
Or do you doubt whether the science of advanced meditation will ever extend beyond the laboratory, or beyond the rare achievements of a handful of very accomplished practitioners?
⤵️
Or do you doubt whether the science of advanced meditation will ever extend beyond the laboratory, or beyond the rare achievements of a handful of very accomplished practitioners?
⤵️
Can meditation be understood as systematic mental training?
Despite the obvious appeal of thinking of meditation training like a workout for the mind, as the gym is for muscles, and its wide usage across communities practicing and researching meditation...
Despite the obvious appeal of thinking of meditation training like a workout for the mind, as the gym is for muscles, and its wide usage across communities practicing and researching meditation...
October 20, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Can meditation be understood as systematic mental training?
Despite the obvious appeal of thinking of meditation training like a workout for the mind, as the gym is for muscles, and its wide usage across communities practicing and researching meditation...
Despite the obvious appeal of thinking of meditation training like a workout for the mind, as the gym is for muscles, and its wide usage across communities practicing and researching meditation...
What if it takes losing our minds to save our minds?
For centuries, enlightenment, known by many names, has been considered largely in myth, metaphor, or mystical verses. In most secularized contexts, it has been treated as a beautiful but largely superstitious story.
⤵️
For centuries, enlightenment, known by many names, has been considered largely in myth, metaphor, or mystical verses. In most secularized contexts, it has been treated as a beautiful but largely superstitious story.
⤵️
October 7, 2025 at 11:15 AM
What if it takes losing our minds to save our minds?
For centuries, enlightenment, known by many names, has been considered largely in myth, metaphor, or mystical verses. In most secularized contexts, it has been treated as a beautiful but largely superstitious story.
⤵️
For centuries, enlightenment, known by many names, has been considered largely in myth, metaphor, or mystical verses. In most secularized contexts, it has been treated as a beautiful but largely superstitious story.
⤵️
Powerful scientific clues to the mystery of consciousness are emerging from its very absence.
Advanced meditation research seeks to scientifically understand profound and powerful shifts in consciousness that can arise from contemplative mastery. One such shift, which we call...
Advanced meditation research seeks to scientifically understand profound and powerful shifts in consciousness that can arise from contemplative mastery. One such shift, which we call...
September 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Powerful scientific clues to the mystery of consciousness are emerging from its very absence.
Advanced meditation research seeks to scientifically understand profound and powerful shifts in consciousness that can arise from contemplative mastery. One such shift, which we call...
Advanced meditation research seeks to scientifically understand profound and powerful shifts in consciousness that can arise from contemplative mastery. One such shift, which we call...
Advanced meditation ushers in incredible new possibilities for the science of consciousness.
In the first-ever fMRI study of Extended Cessation (EC), for which we’ve just preprinted, my colleagues and I examine this advanced meditative event—where consciousness is deliberately switched off and...
In the first-ever fMRI study of Extended Cessation (EC), for which we’ve just preprinted, my colleagues and I examine this advanced meditative event—where consciousness is deliberately switched off and...
September 23, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Advanced meditation ushers in incredible new possibilities for the science of consciousness.
In the first-ever fMRI study of Extended Cessation (EC), for which we’ve just preprinted, my colleagues and I examine this advanced meditative event—where consciousness is deliberately switched off and...
In the first-ever fMRI study of Extended Cessation (EC), for which we’ve just preprinted, my colleagues and I examine this advanced meditative event—where consciousness is deliberately switched off and...
For thousands of years, Theravāda Buddhism—an ancient tradition with origins in India—has described what is considered the highest meditative attainment, called nirodha samāpatti, regarded as deeply connected to nirvana/enlightenment.
For the first time, we have been able to use brain imaging...
⤵️
For the first time, we have been able to use brain imaging...
⤵️
September 15, 2025 at 10:53 AM
For thousands of years, Theravāda Buddhism—an ancient tradition with origins in India—has described what is considered the highest meditative attainment, called nirodha samāpatti, regarded as deeply connected to nirvana/enlightenment.
For the first time, we have been able to use brain imaging...
⤵️
For the first time, we have been able to use brain imaging...
⤵️
No single tradition owns meditation — and science promises to finally help us find common ground.
🧵
🧵
August 26, 2025 at 1:16 PM
No single tradition owns meditation — and science promises to finally help us find common ground.
🧵
🧵
Advanced meditation may not just transform individual lives — it may change the moral future of society itself.
🧵
🧵
August 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Advanced meditation may not just transform individual lives — it may change the moral future of society itself.
🧵
🧵
Has the modern worldview overlooked a major dimension of human development—simply because we are afraid of death?
🧵
🧵
August 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Has the modern worldview overlooked a major dimension of human development—simply because we are afraid of death?
🧵
🧵
What if advanced meditation is the next stage in human development?
The idea that human development doesn’t stop after adolescence is hardly new. What is new, and what’s emerging from our research at the Meditation Research Program, is a growing recognition that advanced meditation may ...
🧵
The idea that human development doesn’t stop after adolescence is hardly new. What is new, and what’s emerging from our research at the Meditation Research Program, is a growing recognition that advanced meditation may ...
🧵
August 6, 2025 at 11:29 AM
What if advanced meditation is the next stage in human development?
The idea that human development doesn’t stop after adolescence is hardly new. What is new, and what’s emerging from our research at the Meditation Research Program, is a growing recognition that advanced meditation may ...
🧵
The idea that human development doesn’t stop after adolescence is hardly new. What is new, and what’s emerging from our research at the Meditation Research Program, is a growing recognition that advanced meditation may ...
🧵
Delighted to share our new publication in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, entitled:
“Integrated phenomenology and brain connectivity demonstrate changes in nonlinear processing in jhana advanced meditation”
🧠🧘♀️🔬
🧵
“Integrated phenomenology and brain connectivity demonstrate changes in nonlinear processing in jhana advanced meditation”
🧠🧘♀️🔬
🧵
July 29, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Delighted to share our new publication in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, entitled:
“Integrated phenomenology and brain connectivity demonstrate changes in nonlinear processing in jhana advanced meditation”
🧠🧘♀️🔬
🧵
“Integrated phenomenology and brain connectivity demonstrate changes in nonlinear processing in jhana advanced meditation”
🧠🧘♀️🔬
🧵
What is the influence of long-term meditation on attention?
How might attentional changes relate to the emergence of advanced meditative states and traits?
🧵
How might attentional changes relate to the emergence of advanced meditative states and traits?
🧵
July 24, 2025 at 12:34 PM
What is the influence of long-term meditation on attention?
How might attentional changes relate to the emergence of advanced meditative states and traits?
🧵
How might attentional changes relate to the emergence of advanced meditative states and traits?
🧵
Describe an experience of derealization to a Western clinician, and you may receive a psychiatric diagnosis—and strong medication.
Describe the same experience to a seasoned meditation teacher, and you may be congratulated. In their eyes, you might be waking up!
So, who’s right?
🧵
Describe the same experience to a seasoned meditation teacher, and you may be congratulated. In their eyes, you might be waking up!
So, who’s right?
🧵
July 21, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Describe an experience of derealization to a Western clinician, and you may receive a psychiatric diagnosis—and strong medication.
Describe the same experience to a seasoned meditation teacher, and you may be congratulated. In their eyes, you might be waking up!
So, who’s right?
🧵
Describe the same experience to a seasoned meditation teacher, and you may be congratulated. In their eyes, you might be waking up!
So, who’s right?
🧵
What happens when meditation turns your world inside out?
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with the Harvard Gazette about an often-overlooked aspect of meditation: the high prevalence of meditation-related altered states of consciousness—and the fact that, for many, these experiences ...
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with the Harvard Gazette about an often-overlooked aspect of meditation: the high prevalence of meditation-related altered states of consciousness—and the fact that, for many, these experiences ...
July 14, 2025 at 1:20 PM
What happens when meditation turns your world inside out?
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with the Harvard Gazette about an often-overlooked aspect of meditation: the high prevalence of meditation-related altered states of consciousness—and the fact that, for many, these experiences ...
Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with the Harvard Gazette about an often-overlooked aspect of meditation: the high prevalence of meditation-related altered states of consciousness—and the fact that, for many, these experiences ...
What is the influence of long-term meditation practice on cognition?
How might this relate to advanced meditation—access to meditative states, stages, and endpoints?
In our new review titled “Mindfulness, cognition, and long-term meditators: Toward a science of advanced meditation,” we aimed ...
How might this relate to advanced meditation—access to meditative states, stages, and endpoints?
In our new review titled “Mindfulness, cognition, and long-term meditators: Toward a science of advanced meditation,” we aimed ...
July 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
What is the influence of long-term meditation practice on cognition?
How might this relate to advanced meditation—access to meditative states, stages, and endpoints?
In our new review titled “Mindfulness, cognition, and long-term meditators: Toward a science of advanced meditation,” we aimed ...
How might this relate to advanced meditation—access to meditative states, stages, and endpoints?
In our new review titled “Mindfulness, cognition, and long-term meditators: Toward a science of advanced meditation,” we aimed ...
Announcing our new preprint on the neuroscience of cessation events as informed by brain criticality
The manuscript is titled:
“Brain Criticality and Advanced Meditation ‘Cessation’ Events: An Intensively Sampled Electroencephalography Case Study”
In this intensively sampled case study, ...
The manuscript is titled:
“Brain Criticality and Advanced Meditation ‘Cessation’ Events: An Intensively Sampled Electroencephalography Case Study”
In this intensively sampled case study, ...
July 1, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Announcing our new preprint on the neuroscience of cessation events as informed by brain criticality
The manuscript is titled:
“Brain Criticality and Advanced Meditation ‘Cessation’ Events: An Intensively Sampled Electroencephalography Case Study”
In this intensively sampled case study, ...
The manuscript is titled:
“Brain Criticality and Advanced Meditation ‘Cessation’ Events: An Intensively Sampled Electroencephalography Case Study”
In this intensively sampled case study, ...
How can lived experience be mathematically formalized, and what might computational models reveal about the depths of consciousness during advanced meditation?
As research on advanced meditation enters a new era, a powerful question emerges: Can we mathematically model meditative experience ...
As research on advanced meditation enters a new era, a powerful question emerges: Can we mathematically model meditative experience ...
June 24, 2025 at 10:03 AM
How can lived experience be mathematically formalized, and what might computational models reveal about the depths of consciousness during advanced meditation?
As research on advanced meditation enters a new era, a powerful question emerges: Can we mathematically model meditative experience ...
As research on advanced meditation enters a new era, a powerful question emerges: Can we mathematically model meditative experience ...
Meditation research is entering its most daring phase yet.
The first wave focused on the benefits of meditation. The second wave brought greater methodological rigor and began exploring the mechanisms behind those benefits. Now, the third wave shifts the spotlight to largely unexplored ...
The first wave focused on the benefits of meditation. The second wave brought greater methodological rigor and began exploring the mechanisms behind those benefits. Now, the third wave shifts the spotlight to largely unexplored ...
June 17, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Meditation research is entering its most daring phase yet.
The first wave focused on the benefits of meditation. The second wave brought greater methodological rigor and began exploring the mechanisms behind those benefits. Now, the third wave shifts the spotlight to largely unexplored ...
The first wave focused on the benefits of meditation. The second wave brought greater methodological rigor and began exploring the mechanisms behind those benefits. Now, the third wave shifts the spotlight to largely unexplored ...
What does neuroscience really know about focused attention meditation? And what’s next?
Focused attention meditation (FA) is a class of practice involving intentionally directing attention to a single object, such as the breath or bodily sensations, while consistently bringing your focus back ...
Focused attention meditation (FA) is a class of practice involving intentionally directing attention to a single object, such as the breath or bodily sensations, while consistently bringing your focus back ...
June 10, 2025 at 3:26 PM
What does neuroscience really know about focused attention meditation? And what’s next?
Focused attention meditation (FA) is a class of practice involving intentionally directing attention to a single object, such as the breath or bodily sensations, while consistently bringing your focus back ...
Focused attention meditation (FA) is a class of practice involving intentionally directing attention to a single object, such as the breath or bodily sensations, while consistently bringing your focus back ...
Does brain stimulation increase levels of mindfulness in PTSD?
Our new study, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, offers preliminary evidence that repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can enhance dispositional (trait) mindfulness in individuals with post-traumatic stress ...
Our new study, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, offers preliminary evidence that repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can enhance dispositional (trait) mindfulness in individuals with post-traumatic stress ...
May 13, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Does brain stimulation increase levels of mindfulness in PTSD?
Our new study, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, offers preliminary evidence that repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can enhance dispositional (trait) mindfulness in individuals with post-traumatic stress ...
Our new study, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, offers preliminary evidence that repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can enhance dispositional (trait) mindfulness in individuals with post-traumatic stress ...
How does meditation affect our nervous system, especially after years of practice?
What we often label as “mindfulness stress relief” barely captures the full physiological complexity of long-term meditation practice.
In our new review in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Idil Sezer ...
What we often label as “mindfulness stress relief” barely captures the full physiological complexity of long-term meditation practice.
In our new review in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Idil Sezer ...
May 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
How does meditation affect our nervous system, especially after years of practice?
What we often label as “mindfulness stress relief” barely captures the full physiological complexity of long-term meditation practice.
In our new review in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Idil Sezer ...
What we often label as “mindfulness stress relief” barely captures the full physiological complexity of long-term meditation practice.
In our new review in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Idil Sezer ...
At our Meditation Research Program at Mass General and Harvard Medical School, my team and I are on a mission to demystify and democratise advanced meditation and related altered states of consciousness—from mystical and ecstatic experiences to perceptual distortions and far beyond. ...
May 6, 2025 at 1:12 PM
At our Meditation Research Program at Mass General and Harvard Medical School, my team and I are on a mission to demystify and democratise advanced meditation and related altered states of consciousness—from mystical and ecstatic experiences to perceptual distortions and far beyond. ...
Have you ever used psychedelics and later had interesting, out-of-the-ordinary experiences like these?
🌙 Felt the world was dreamlike or cartoonish?
🌿 Experienced a deep sense of unity with life?...
🌙 Felt the world was dreamlike or cartoonish?
🌿 Experienced a deep sense of unity with life?...
May 1, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Have you ever used psychedelics and later had interesting, out-of-the-ordinary experiences like these?
🌙 Felt the world was dreamlike or cartoonish?
🌿 Experienced a deep sense of unity with life?...
🌙 Felt the world was dreamlike or cartoonish?
🌿 Experienced a deep sense of unity with life?...
People sometimes have sudden, powerful experiences they describe as ‘spiritual, mystical, energetic, or magical.’ But did you know that almost half of the general population report having had such unusual experiences?
These phenomena, also called altered states or emergent phenomena, are ...
These phenomena, also called altered states or emergent phenomena, are ...
April 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
People sometimes have sudden, powerful experiences they describe as ‘spiritual, mystical, energetic, or magical.’ But did you know that almost half of the general population report having had such unusual experiences?
These phenomena, also called altered states or emergent phenomena, are ...
These phenomena, also called altered states or emergent phenomena, are ...