Sebastian Ehmann

My research program encompasses two primary domains of investigation: 

1. the study of advanced meditation and meditative development and
2. the transdiagnostic exploration of aberrant self-processing from a clinical consciousness perspective. 

Leveraging a multimethod multimodal (fMRI, EEG) approach and using transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS), psychedelic compounds, and meditative interventions, this research investigates spatiotemporal neural dynamics and phenomenological correlates in both clinical populations and advanced meditators.  Through this work, I aim to gain insight into the clinical benefits, the neurocognitive mechanisms, and ontological implications underlying deep self-transformation and self-transcendence.

Research Interests:

• Clinical-Consciousness Research
• 4E Cognition—Enactivism
• Hermeneutic Phenomenology
• Aberrant Self-Processing, Self-Transformation, and Self-Transcendence
• Advanced Meditation and Meditative Development
• Psychedelics and Transcranial Focused Ultrasound

Selected Publications:

• Ehmann, S., Sezer, I., Treves, I. N., Gabrieli, J. D. E., & Sacchet, M. D. (2025). Mindfulness, cognition, and long-term meditators: Toward a science of advanced meditation. Imaging Neuroscience, 3, IMAG.a.82. https://doi.org/10.1162/IMAG.a.82
• Ehmann, S., & Gawrysiak, M. (2025). Unveiling the pathways: The effects of mindfulness and recreational psychedelic experiences on well-being—The mediating roles of nondual awareness, prosociality, and meaning in life. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000443  
• Ehmann, S., Pohlig, R. T., Chaoul, A., Cuzzupe, J., Vaughn, M., Rocco, G., Wangyal, T., Gawrysiak, M. (2025). Bridging the Soteriological-Secular Divide: A 9-Month Online Tibetan Mind-Body Practice Program Enhances Eudaimonic Well-Being and Non-Dual Awareness. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/6cze8_v1 
• Ehmann, S., Lord, B., Lord, E. N., Brookman, H. B., Roces, J. A., Peck, T.,  Young, S., Sacchet, M. D., Allen, J. J. B., Sanguinetti, J. L. (2025). Enhancing Meditative Development with Transcranial Focused Ultrasound: A Mixed-Methods Phenomenological Study of Neuromodulation in Experienced Meditators During a Ten-Day Retreat. OSF. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/uxrwy_v1
• Ehmann, S., Sezer, I., Keller, A. S., Treves, I. N., & Sacchet, M. D. (2025). Attention and Meditative Development: A Review and Synthesis of Long-Term Meditators and Outlook for the Study of Advanced Meditation. OSF. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/fh3py_v1

Courses Taught:

TA for:

• PSY 230 - Introduction to Statistics (2025)
• PSY 352 - Personality Psychology (2025)

*Year listed indicates when this individual last taught the specified course.

Updated: 10/01/25