Contemplative Cognitive Neuroscience

Overview

Integrating Western Science with Eastern Philosophy.

As an experimental psychologist with a Ph.D. in the cognitive neuroscience of mindfulness, my research integrates Western Science and Eastern Philosophy to examine the impact of contemplative practice on brain and behaviour.

Mindfulness Research

Mindfulness involves maintaining awareness of the current experience by sustaining attention to relevant information and disengaging from irrelevant information. Cognitive control refers to the set of processes involved in selecting and monitoring information relevant to our goals, while ignoring or inhibiting information irrelevant to these goals. My research examines the relationship between mindfulness and cognitive control using behavioural and neural markers of cognitive performance.  

Read More

Education & Training

My scientific training began in high school, when I conducted polymer chemistry research in the Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology at McMaster University as a research assistant, resulting in a first-author publication. I transitioned to the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour at McMaster University for my undergraduate and graduate studies, where I earned my Honours Bachelor of Science (Hons. B.Sc.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D. in Science), gaining depth and breadth in experimental psychology. 

Read More

Science Communication

Immersed in the field of contemplative cognitive neuroscience for over ten years, I have extensive experience collaborating, teaching, and developing professional skills in diverse interdisciplinary research environments to facilitate effective science communication and knowledge translation. I passionately enjoy using various graphic design tools to visualize, illustrate, and deliver high-level concepts into accessible content based on scientific principles of applied cognitive psychology and pedagogy.

Read More
Research

Studying the science of mindfulness.

As an experimental psychologist with a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience, my research integrates Western Science and Eastern Philosophy to examine the impact of contemplative practice on brain and behaviour.

What is Mindfulness?

A cognitive neuroscience perspective

Mindfulness is a way of paying attention—on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally. By focusing attention on present goals and redirecting attention from distractions, mindfulness enhances moment-to-moment awareness of fluctuations in cognitive demands.

As a result, meditators can develop greater control over a set of cognitive processes that promote useful behavioural responses.

This deliberate practice overlaps with a construct known as "cognitive control"—a set of cognitive processes that facilitate information processing and behaviour to vary adaptively from moment to moment depending on current goals.

It helps us select and monitor information relevant to our goals, while ignoring or inhibiting information irrelevant to these goals.

By using electroencephalography (EEG) to record ongoing brain activity during tasks that measure cognitive control performance, cognitive neuroscientists can examine the precise neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between mindfulness training and cognitive control.

My research examines the relationship between mindfulness and cognitive control by using EEG to record ongoing brain activity in meditators while they adapt to competing cognitive demands—before, during, and after different styles of daily meditation practice.

Education & Training

Becoming a contemplative cognitive neuroscientist.

During my 10+ years of training as an experimental psychologist, my breadth of focus was broadly in the areas of human and animal psychology, neuroscience and behaviour, with a depth of focus on underlying neural processes related to human cognition and information processing. Although my expertise is in cognitive neuroscience, my research experience is very diverse and interdisciplinary.

Research Experience

Past projects, collaborations, & areas of research interest

Mind-wandering

Identifying EEG/ERP markers of mind-wandering during meditation using mind-wandering probes (longitudinal study)

navigator

Motion Perception in a Virtual Motion Simulator

Collaborations on EEG/ERP motion perception studies during driving & flight navigation using a cutting-edge virtual motion simulator

Clinical Neuropsychology

Examining the moderators of trait mindfulness (or dispositional mindfulness) using various psychological assessments including the Big Five personality traits

Eye-tracking & Pupillometry

Measuring the effects of cognitive control on pupil dilation using pupillometry

awards

Neuroscience of Acting

Investigating the neuroscience of perspective taking in trained actors using fMRI

Multisensory Perception

Investigating the influence of familiarity on the McGurk effect in native and non-native English speakers

Polymer Chemistry

Studying high Tg microspheres by dispersion copolymerization of N-phenylmaleimide with styrenic or alkyl vinyl ether monomers

Science Communication

Science is a social practice.

Scientific progress hinges on its ability to be comprehended. Effective knowledge translation is essential for making science accessible, regardless of one’s background in scientific literacy. That’s why I’m passionate about using various forms of media to visualize, illustrate, and deliver high-level concepts into accessible content based on scientific principles of information processing, applied cognitive psychology, and pedagogy.

Science Communication & Translation

Areas of applied expertise in knowledge dissemination

Publications

Published first and second-authored early career journal articles, with over four first-authorship manuscripts in progress

Project Management, Supervision & Mentorship

Supervised, managed, and mentored over 10 undergraduate and masters students for independent research studies, thesis projects, and externally funded grant projects

Neuroscience Education, Animation & Media Design

Highly proficient at using graphic design tools and office applications to visualize, illustrate, and deliver high-level concepts into accessible content

Data-Driven Storytelling & Public Speaking

Delivered over 15 presentations as an invited speaker, guest lecturer, and selected conference presenter

Teaching & Pedagogy

Completed 14 teaching assistantships for undergraduate university courses with up to 300 students, and offered private educational instruction for over 10 years

Professional Development

Actively engaged in co-curricular leadership experiences centered on equity, diversity, inclusion and conscious allyship

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Science, Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

Honours Bachelor of Science (Hons. B.Sc.), Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario

National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postgraduate Doctoral Scholarship (PGS-D) – $63,000

National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alexander Graham Bell Canadian Graduate Scholarship (CGS-M) – $17,500

University Senate Scholarship, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario – Top 10–15% GPA – $800

Dean’s Honour List (x3), Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario – minimum GPA of 3.5 achieved 

Peer-Reviewed

  1. Grundy, J. G., Krishnamoorthy, S., Shedden, J.M. (2018). Cognitive control as a function of trait mindfulness. Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 2(3), 298-304.
  2. Krishnamoorthy, S., Haria, M., Fortier‐mcgill, B. E., Mazumder, J., Robinson, E. I., Xia, Y., Burke, N. A. D, & Stöver, H. D. (2011). High Tg microspheres by dispersion copolymerization of N‐phenylmaleimide with styrenic or alkyl vinyl ether monomers. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 49(1), 192-202.

Completed Manuscripts

  1. Krishnamoorthy, S. (2022). Mindfulness and Cognitive Control: Examing the Convergence of Two Constructs. [Doctoral dissertation, McMaster University]. Open Access Theses and Dissertations. http://hdl.handle.net/11375/27791
  2. Krishnamoorthy, S., McKinnon, M.C., Key, B.L., Shedden, J.M., & McNeely, H.E. (2022). Dispositional Mindfulness Predicts Cognitive Control Performance. [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
  3. Krishnamoorthy, S., McKinnon, M.C, Shedden, J.M, & McNeely, H.E. (2022). The Impact of Mindfulness Training on Electrophysiological Indices of Cognitive Control. [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
  4. Krishnamoorthy, S., McKinnon, M.C, Shedden, J.M., & McNeely, H.E. (2022). The Impact of Mindfulness Training on Electrophysiological Indices of Cognitive Control When Task Difficulty is Increased. [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
  5. Krishnamoorthy, S., & McNeely, H.E. (2012). Moderators of trait mindfulness. [Unpublished manuscript]. Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

Krishnamoorthy, S., & Shedden, J.M. (2019, December). The effects of mindfulness meditation on cognitive performance. Medical Education Research Group Meeting, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

Krishnamoorthy, S., & Shedden, J.M. (2016, June). Electrophysiological indices of attention and cognitive control after mindfulness training. 26th Annual Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Krishnamoorthy, S., & Shedden, J.M. (2015, June). The unique effects of mindfulness meditation training on cognitive control. 25th Annual Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Krishnamoorthy, S., Grundy, J.G., & Shedden, J.M. (2015, December). Direct effects of mindfulness meditation on cognitive control. Cognition/Perception Seminar Series, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

Krishnamoorthy, S. (2014, January). Starvation. Psychology 3F03 (Human Behaviour and Evolution), Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.

University Instructional Assistantships

  1. PNB 3RM3: Research Methods (2019)
  2. PSYCH 3HP3: History of Psychology (2019)
  3. PNB 2XA3: Human Perception & Cognition (2018)
  4. PNB 2XE3: Descriptive Statistics (2017)
  5. PNB 3XE3: Inferential Statistics (2016)
  6. PNB 4J03: Inquiry in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (2016)
  7. PNB 2XD3: Integration of PNB through Scientific Writing (2015)
  8. PNB 4D09: Senior Honours Thesis (2015)
  9. PSYCH 3F03: Evolution & Human Behaviour (2014)
  10. PNB 2XF3: Perspectives in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour (2014)
  11. PNB 3HP3: History of Psychology (2013)
  12. PSYCH 3AC3: Human Sexuality (2013)
  13. PNB 2XF3: Research Methods (2012)

Private Instruction

  1. Statistics for Nursing
  2. Statistics for Social Sciences
  3. Introductory Psychology
  4. High School Mathematics (U/C grades 9–12)
  • Race, Racialization and Racism (R3) Working Group, President's Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2020–2022)
  • Faculty of Science Allyship Discussion, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2020)
  • Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence Workshop, Equity and Inclusion Office, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2020)
  • The Conscious Use of Power in Crisis Workshop, Anima Café, Anima Leadership, Toronto, Ontario (2020)
  • Challenging Anti-Black Racism in Organizations Workshops, Part 1 & Part 2, Anima Café, Anima Leadership, Toronto, Ontario (2020)
  • Student Advocates for Equity Diversity & Inclusion (SAFEDI) Commitee, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2019–2020)
  • Graduate Council: Supervisor-Student Relationship Working Group, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2019–2020)
  • Essentials of Productive Teams Workshop, Mitacs Step Program, Staybridge Suites, Hamilton, Ontario (2018)
  • Psychology Student Research Ethics Committee, McMaster University Research Ethics Board, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2015–2016)
  • Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2015–2016)
  • Conversations in Academia Graduate Student Initiative Committee, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2014–2015)
  • Networking Skills Workshop, Mitacs Step Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (2014)
  • C/C++
  • Python
  • PsychoPy
  • SPSS
  • JASP
  • R
  • R Studio
  • Linux
  • WordPress
  • Presentation (Neurobehavioural Systems)
  • MATLAB
  • EEGlab
  • ERPlab
  • EEprobe (ANT Neuro)
  • ERPScore
  • Octave
  • SHARCNET
  • Git/Github

Data Science Certificate Program

University of Toronto & University of Waterloo, Ontario
2020–2021

Emotion Focused Therapy

Ten Ways to Enhance Emotions in Therapy, Centre for MindBody Health, Toronto, Ontario
2020

Anti-Oppression Training

CUPE Local 3906, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
2019

Registered Yoga Teacher Training (200 Hours)

De La Sol Yoga Studios, Hamilton, Ontario
2017–2018

Principles & Practices in University Teaching

MIETL, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
2014

to top
Scroll to Top