Defining Japanese Style Meditation Techniques for Use in Neuroscience Research

This research will explore the history and differences of Japanese meditative techniques, as well as what science has revealed about meditation. It is important to know the history and techniques of meditation as well as the science behind it to integrate meditation into new neuroscience research. One aspect of integrating these disciplines is operationally defining meditation. The pertinent question is then, How can meditation be defined to successful integrate it within traditional laboratory setting, and how has this been attempted already? Learning about the Soto and Rinzai school’s meditative techniques will include but is not limited to topics such as mantras, koan, and shikantaza. Neuroscience journals can identify what meditation techniques neuroscientists are using in their research.