EEG-guided meditation is a unique approach developed by KalpaTaru and BM-Science, where the effect of traditional meditation techniques can be monitored with the help of changes in brain waves. The method provides individual information about the functioning of the brain, on the basis of which the most suitable meditation exercise can be chosen for each individual. As brain functions are optimized, e.g. mental clarity, ability to concentrate and relax improve.
In addition to individual coaching, there are also courses where participants daily do a 20-minute meditation exercise tailored to each person. In addition to the measurements, the program also includes seminars that deepen mental skills, where there is an opportunity to discuss the experiences related to the exercise.
These services are especially useful for those who wish to begin or deepen their meditation practice safely by utilizing objective scientific information about their brain function and mental health.
The approach respects both the ancient wisdom of the East and modern technology. It came about as if by itself, when Tarja Kallio-Tamminen, through the measurement problem of quantum mechanics, realized that the prevailing worldview does not contain sufficient tools to understand the observer's influence and connection with his environment. Renewing the conception of reality requires better modeling of the human mind and consciousness, which led to KalpaTaru's collaboration with BM-Science. At BM-Science, the relationship between the brain and the mind is investigated using neuroscientific methods, using and developing the latest qEEG imaging. Science and technology open up new approaches to solving the psychophysical problem traditionally reflected only by philosophers.
Brain activity and mental contents are closely interrelated. The brain curve (electroencephalogram) measured with quantitative qEEG quite accurately reflects individual's mental states and ways of functioning. On the other hand, measurements also provide information on how brain changes with new thoughts and experiences. These objective findings of neuroscience support the experiential knowledge of the meditative traditions of the East about the possibility of internal growth and development of the human being. Suitable asana, breathing and meditation exercises still work today. Everyone can use them to influence their vitality and the contents of their minds.
The effect of the selected exercise on brain functions can be verified objectively with two qEEG measurements. If the effect of the exercise is favorable, the results are seen in the second measurement to move closer to the area of optimal functioning. The EEG-guided mind control program thus gives the opportunity to optimize the functioning of the brain, which is naturally also visible at the level of mind and behavior. The program relies on two innovative neuroscreening tools developed by BM-Science - Brain and Mind Technologies Research Centre:
- BrainMind Audit provides an illustrative picture of the strengths and weaknesses of an individual's brain functions. It can be used to find out how different training methods affect different areas of brain functions and what kinds of mindfulness exercises that modify concentration and attention (meditation) are best suited for different types of individuals.
For peer-reviewed scientific research, see here.
- Self-Me-I index captures changes in the experience of the self through meditation.
‘Self’ indicates how your experience of agency from the first-person point of view (the witnessing observer) is growing; it is responsible for top-down attentional control, metacognition, loving-kindness and compassion, empathy and joy.
‘Me’ indicates the experience of the self-embodiment and localization within bodily space (representational-emotional agency); it is responsible for the sense of self-ownership for perceptions of objects, explicit self-reference in relation to the body scheme, and autobiographical memories.
‘I’ indicates experience of thinking about oneself (reflective agency); it is responsible for visuospatial and mental imagery, episodic memories retrieval, semantic and logical processing, language comprehension, and narrative thoughts.
Recently there were scientific studies published where the aspects of complex selfhood (such as Self, Me and I) have been studied neurophysiologically as a function of meditation training. Please, see here.
EEG meters are included in some trainings and courses organized by KalpaTaru, and they can be combined with others for an additional fee. The service can also be ordered through Philosophical consultation if you want to independently determine the effect of some changes you are planning. Contact us.
The ultimate goal of the EEG-guided meditation® project is to gain more researched information about the interaction between brain and mind, and about a person's ability to regulate their inner states. In addition, we are looking for safer and more effective meditation methods that are also better suited for therapeutic use. With your permission, your results may also be used for the scientific research purposes.
Docent Paavo Pylkkänen (University of Helsinki) commented on the project:
"Different perspectives on consciousness are combined in a wonderful way in the EEG-guided meditation created as a result of the collaboration between BM-Science and KalpaTaru. The Drs. Fingelkurts brothers' (BM-Science) excellence in EEG analysis meets Dr. Tarja Kallio-Tamminen's (KalpaTaru) in-depth philosophical and natural science vision and the meditation practices based on it. While "hard" natural science and "soft" meditation are often seen as opposites to each other, here they guide and complement each other in a uniquely promising and fruitful way."
Further comments are provided by Tapio Saarinen, M.Sc. (Tech.), who was one of the first users of the EEG-guided meditation project in 2013. He describes his experiences in his own blog part 1 and part 2.
