Dr Steven Laureys for "Akogo?" Foundation
On the occasion of the Coma Patient Day celebrated on April 18th, Katarzyna Kasica, coordinator of scientific and research projects of the Ewa Błaszczyk's "Akogo?" Foundation, met again for an online conversation with Dr. Steven Laureys.
Dr. Steven Laureys is a Belgian neurologist recognized worldwide as one of the leading experts in the field of consciousness research. He founded and directs the Cerveau Center at the University Hospital of Liège and the GIGA Consciousness research unit at the University of Liège. He is also the founder of the Coma Science Group, a research group specializing in disorders of consciousness.
Dr. Laureys has over 560 scientific publications and six bestselling books to his credit, including "The No Nonsense Meditation Book", translated into 17 languages.
Since March 26th, 2025, thanks to the Czarna Owca publishing house, Dr. Laureys' book "The Sense of Meditation" is also available in Polish.
Dr. Laureys' research focuses on neuroplasticity, neuroimaging, and neuromodulation techniques, as well as the impact of meditation, hypnosis, and sleep on brain function.
Dr. Steven Laureys is also a visiting professor at Laval University in Canada.
The conversation began with a discussion of Dr. Laureys' upcoming visit to Poland, the Polish premiere of his book "The No- nonsense Meditation Book," and the benefits of meditation practices for brain function and mental well-being.
Laureys shared his personal experience with meditation that led him to write the book, and emphasized the universal nature of meditation, not limited to the Buddhist tradition.
Steven highlighted the benefits of meditation and its beneficial effects on the structure and function of the brain. He emphasized that meditation is not reserved for monks only – anyone can learn it and adapt it to their own needs. He also emphasized the importance of preventive medicine and the need for greater investment in this area. He mentioned that meditation can be as effective as medication in treating conditions such as anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Steven also suggested that meditation should be taught in schools to promote mental well-being from a young age. He expressed his joy and sense of honor at being able to share his knowledge with others.
Steven discusses the importance of meditation and emotional well-being in today’s technological society, emphasizing their complementary role to traditional medical practices. He explains how meditation can support the treatment of various health problems and encourages people to try it, noting that there are many forms of practice that are easily accessible. Steven also discusses his work with coma patients and near-death experiences, inviting Polish scientists to collaborate on research in these areas. He emphasizes the complexity of consciousness and how our understanding of this phenomenon has evolved – especially in relation to patients with impaired consciousness, newborns and animals.
Prof. Laureys invited people from Poland to share their near-death experiences as part of his ongoing research and send their testimonies to the following email address:
nde@universityleval.ca
During the conversation, we discussed the development of technology and the potential of artificial intelligence, the importance of introducing meditation techniques in early school education to develop emotional intelligence and creativity in the youngest, and exchanged knowledge and experiences regarding the challenges and opportunities in providing care to patients with quantitative disorders of consciousness. Finally, we touched on the topic of potential forms of cooperation and ways to support Ewa Błaszczyk's "Akogo?" Foundation. Steven suggested the possibility of collecting and analyzing data to identify patterns and improve the effects of treatment in our patients. We also talked about the potential of using neurostimulation devices and the possibility of families referring to Dr. Steven Laureys for private video consultations.
https://www.drstevenlaureys.org
If you have any questions about science and research in the field of quantitative disorders of consciousness, please contact us.
fundacja@akogo.pl, k.kasica@akogo.pl
