Vera Rudi
Oberlin College
Project
Taking Monks Out of the MRIs: Understanding the ‘Native’ Context for Meditative Practices
Thailand, India, Japan, South Africa
Neuroscience research indicates that meditation can beneficially affect cognitive performance as well as physical and mental health. As an aspiring neuroscientist, I am curious about what research on atypical modes of attention, specifically meditative practices, may contribute to unraveling mysteries of the brain. What elements are lost when threading contemplative traditions into scientific methodology? My Watson Year will take me from narrow trails through Nepalese villages to remote refugee camps in South Africa; from meetings with Japanese researchers to gatherings with Tibetan monks. I will immerse myself in meditative cultures to sharpen my scientific interest and make rich my understanding of the cultural, historical, sociological, religious and philosophical context of contemplative practices.