The W&M Mind, Brain, & Wellness (MBW) Seminar brings together William & Mary faculty, staff, and students interested in the interdisciplinary study of mind, brain, and consciousness. Participants come from across the university to explore questions that no single discipline can adequately address.
Through a reading group, discussions, and in-person meetings, the MBW Seminar creates opportunities for interdisciplinary conversation and helps generate new ideas, teaching, and research collaborations. The seminar is deliberately wide-ranging and welcomes perspectives from the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and contemplative traditions. All W&M faculty, staff, and students are welcome.
Join the Conversation
The MBW Seminar is open to all William & Mary faculty, staff, and students, regardless of disciplinary background or previous experience.
To join, contact Patton Burchett or Greg Conradi-Smith to be added to the MBW Seminar Blackboard site. Members receive seminar announcements, readings, meeting information, and other MBW communications.
What We Explore
The interests of the MBW community continue to evolve, but current areas of inquiry include:
Contemplation & Consciousness — mindfulness and other forms of meditation; contemplative practice and well-being; cultural, motivational, and metaphysical influences on contemplative experience
Breath, Breathing & Consciousness — neurophysiology of breathing; breathwork; breathing and altered states; mental well-being
Neurophysiology of Consciousness— neural correlates of consciousness; neural networks and connectivity; mathematical modeling; genetics and epigenetics
Altered States of Consciousness— psychedelics; anesthesia and other drugs; music; asceticism; trauma
Theories of Consciousness — Integrated Information Theory (IIT); Global Workspace Theory (GWT); Higher-Order Theories (HOT); Predictive Processing; Orch-OR; non-materialist theories; perspectives from philosophy and Religious Studies
Cultural Perspectives on Consciousness — local theories of mind; non-Western epistemologies and consciousness-altering practices; critical examination of assumptions underlying modern Western scientific approaches to mind and brain
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
