Richard Smith B.S

I am a Researcher primarily using high-density EEG to investigate the neural correlates of sleep and consciousness. For over a decade, I have worked on various projects, including helping to train on best practices for acquiring and analyzing HD-EEG data. My primary interest and work have been investigating long-term meditators during sleep, normal waking, and altered states of consciousness to explore how meditation induces neural plasticity and to test hypotheses related to the integrated information theory of consciousness. I received my BS in neurobiology and psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I am also the Spiritual Director of the Madison Zen Center and have been practicing meditation for the past two decades. Prior to working at the Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness, I worked in Anthony Stretton’s lab at the University of Wisconsin–Madison using mass spectrometry to explore novel neuropeptides in the nematode Ascaris suum.

Research Interests: meditation, consciousness, sleep, dreaming, EEG.