Elena Antonova, PhD - The Brain of a Mental Olympian
Dr. Elena Antonova, neuroscientist and researcher, discusses the effects of long-term meditation practice on the brain on The FitMind Podcast episode 84.
You can also listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or any other major podcast platform.
Episode Overview
Dr. Elena Antonova is a neuroscientist and senior lecturer in psychology at Brunel University London.
Her research focuses on the effects of long-term mindfulness meditation practice in the hope of promoting mental wellbeing in the general population.
On this episode, we dive into the different approaches to meditation and the 4 levels of meditation practice development.
We also discuss what goes on in the brains of elite meditators and what it takes for the average person to reap the benefits from a meditation practice.
Hope you enjoy!
P.S. — If you’re serious about starting or deepening your meditation practice, check out the FitMind meditation app.
Elena Antonova, PhD Bio
Dr. Antonova has a PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London.
She has been actively involved with the Mind & Life Institute for over a decade. In 2017, Dr. Antonova was elected a Mind & Life Research Fellow for her contribution to contemplative science— the highest honor in her field.
Show Notes
0:00 | Introduction to Elena Antonova, PhD
4:28 | Categorizing Meditation Practices
7:15 | Why Breath Focus is Fundamental
10:19 | Constructivist vs. Innateist Approach to Meditation
12:08 | 4 Levels of Meditation Practice Development
17:12 | Mental Fitness Defined
20:19 | Brains of Mental Olympians
24:10 | Default Mode Network Differences
32:00 | Field of Awareness Described
35:45 | Habituation of the Attention System
46:45 | Eye Movement Paradigm Study
54:00 | Balancing Brain’s Predictive Nature with the Present Moment
57:10 | Measurable Changes with Just 10 Minutes a Day
59:14 | Rapid Fire Questions