All Here at CNS Boston 2025 — Bringing Brain Science and Meditation to Center Stage

All Here scientists made a significant impact at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) Annual Meeting — a prestigious gathering that brought together over 2,000 neuroscience experts from around the world.

Our Chief Scientific Director, Prof. Christoph Michel, and EEG Neuroscientist, Dr. Lionel Newman, presented groundbreaking findings from years of research conducted at All Here. Their work focused on brain-based benchmarks for focal attention, mind-wandering, self-awareness, and inner-body experiences during meditation.

Dynamic Neuroimaging

Prof. Michel is a pioneer in the emerging field of EEG microstate analysis. These “microstates” — brief, recurring patterns of brain activity — are often referred to as the “atoms of thought” due to their short duration and foundational role in cognitive function.

One such microstate, linked to the brain's Default Mode Network and associated with mind-wandering and self-talk, was shown to decrease during focused attention meditation. Conversely, two other microstates tied to attentional regulation and internal awareness were found to increase during meditative practice, indicating measurable neural shifts during skillful meditation.

Inner Body and Slow Waves

Dr. Newman shared additional EEG benchmarks for focal attention and inner-body awareness, particularly in experienced meditation practitioners. The data revealed that expert meditators show increased activity in ultra-low-frequency “infraslow” brain waves, while simultaneously suppressing alpha waves — a combination correlated with the experience of transcending bodily self-awareness.

Historically overlooked as noise, these infraslow waves were found to consistently rise with the onset of deep meditation and fall once the meditation ends. These findings suggest that meditation involves not only relaxation or cognitive inhibition, but active engagement with a deeply internalized state of awareness.

Collaborative Momentum

The conversations at CNS 2025 sparked by these findings were vibrant and far-reaching. From new collaborative possibilities to reconnecting with long-time peers, the enthusiasm around science-based meditation tracking is rapidly expanding — and All Here is at the forefront of that evolution.

What’s Next

We are actively deepening our dialogues with researchers at institutions including Harvard, MIT, the University of Toronto, ETH Zurich, Campus Biotech, the University of Geneva, and leading research centers in India, Japan, and Thailand. Our goal is to continue advancing the intersection of meditation, neuroscience, and technology.

Acknowledgments

We extend our sincere gratitude to the CNS organizers and all our collaborators for their engagement and support. We look forward to ongoing exchanges that will continue to shape this exciting field.