Dr Peter Malinowski
School of Psychology
Faculty of Health
Email: P.Malinowski@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 6297
Dr Peter Malinowski is a Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience and directs the Meditation Research Lab at LJMU's Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour.
He is the Programme Leader for LJMU's MSc Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Programme and co-directs LJMU's Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour.
In his work he builds on his experience of practicing and teaching meditation for more than 30 years and on his extensive expertise in Cognitive Neuroscience.
His research focuses on investigating the underlying mechanisms of meditation practice with the aim of understanding the resulting changes, ranging from physiological processes, to brain functions to subjective experience.
Dr Malinowski is particularly interested in advancing meditation as a preventative approach and a way of unveiling inherent psychological strengths and qualities of mind. With his work he furthermore aims to ensure that the potentially life-changing effects of meditation practices do not get lost through excessive commodification.
In addition to research concerned with the underlying mechanisms of meditation, Dr Malinowski’s projects also take an applied focus, for example:
1) the role of mindfulness regarding appetite, eating behaviour and eating disorders
2) the question if and how regular meditation practice can help staying cognitively fit in older age,
3) if and how meditation training in the workplace can unfold beneficial effects,
4) whether mindfulness-based surgery preparation can improve recovery and prevent the development of post-operative pain and
5) the long-term effects of regular meditation practice on mind and brain.
6) the combination of mindfulness-based and positive psychology approaches in form of mindfulness-based strengths practice
For achieving these aims he collaborates with colleagues across the globe, including the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, USA and Mexico.
CURRENT RESEARCH STUDENT SUPERVISION:
- Anthony Bennett: Tracking meditation in daily life: Investigating the long-term effects of meditation and mindfulness practice using smart technology
- Rebecca Hort-Atkinson: Persistent post-surgical pain after hysterectomy: a mindfulness-based intervention (PhD, Director of Studies; funded by the Pain Relief Foundation)
PREVIOUS RESEARCH STUDENTS:
- Adele Hurst: Mindfulness, green spaces and well-being (DClinPsy, Supervisor, University of Liverpool)
- Naomi Fisher: Mindfulness and eating behaviour (PhD, Supervisor)
- Katie Ewing: An Investigation of the EEG oscillatory indices of mental effort under - varying conditions of incentive and task demand (PhD, Supervisor)
- Adam Moore: Mindfulness and cognitive ageing (PhD, Director of Studies)
- Kerstin Nilsson: Multicultural aspects in E-Learning (MPhil, Director of Studies)
- Jekaterina Schneider: Mindfulness-based self-regulation training to promote physical activity (PhD, Supervisor)
- Emilia Trapasso: Mindfulness and connection with nature, chronic stress and well-being (PhD, Supervisor, University of Liverpool; Funded by CLAHRC-NWC)
To learn more about Dr Malinowski's work visit: www.petermalinowski.eu/ and https://meditation-research.org.uk
Degrees
2001, University of Konstanz, Germany, PhD (Dr. rer. soc.)
1996, Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, Diplompsychologe (MSc in Psychology)
Certifications
2016, Timeless Impact Academy, Germany, Certified Meditation Trainer
Academic appointments
Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2016 - present
Honorary Lecturer, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, 2015 - 2021
Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, 2003 - 2016
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Konstanz, 2001 - 2002
Associate Research Fellow, Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Liverpool, 2001 - 2002
Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, 1998 - 2000
Research Fellow, Institute of Psychology, Braunschweig University of Technology, 1997 - 1998
Lecturer in Psychology, Braunschweig University of Technology, 1996 - 1997
Highlighted publications
Nicolardi V, Simione L, Scaringi D, Malinowski P, Yordanova J, Kolev V, Mauro F, Giommi F, Barendregt HP, Aglioti SM, Raffone A. 2022. The Two Arrows of Pain: Mechanisms of Pain Related to Meditation and Mental States of Aversion and Identification Mindfulness, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Yordanova J, Kolev V, Nicolardi V, Simione L, Mauro F, Garberi P, Raffone A, Malinowski P. 2021. Attentional and cognitive monitoring brain networks in long-term meditators depend on meditation states and expertise. Scientific Reports, 11 :4909-4909 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Yordanova J, Kolev V, Mauro F, Nicolardi V, Simione L, Calabrese L, Malinowski P, Raffone A. 2020. Common and distinct lateralised patterns of neural coupling during focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation. Scientific reports, 10 :7430 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Schöne B, Gruber T, Graetz S, Bernhof M, Malinowski P. 2018. Mindful breath awareness meditation facilitates efficiency gains in brain networks: A steady-state visually evoked potentials study Scientific Reports, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Malinowski P, Shalamanova L. 2017. Meditation and cognitive ageing: The role of mindfulness meditation in building cognitive reserve Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Malinowski P, Moore AW, Mead BR, Gruber T. 2017. Mindful Aging: The Effects of Regular Brief Mindfulness Practice on Electrophysiological Markers of Cognitive and Affective Processing in Older Adults Mindfulness, 8 :78-94 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Malinowski P. 2013. Neural mechanisms of attentional control in mindfulness meditation. Frontiers in neuroscience, 7 :8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Moore A, Gruber T, Derose J, Malinowski P. Regular, brief mindfulness meditation practice improves electrophysiological markers of attentional control Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Books (authored)
Malinowski P. 2022. Charakterstärke: Mit Achtsamkeit deine positiven Eigenschaften erkennen und entwickeln O.W. Barth 978-3-426-29327-0
Malinowski P. 2019. Vielfalt Meditation: Ein Überblick über Meditations- und Achtsamkeitsübungen Springer Fachmedien. Wiesbaden 9783658245689 DOI Publisher Url
Malinowski P. 2010. Flourishing- Welches Glück hätten Sie gern? Irisiana / Random House. Munich 9783424150773
Conference publication
Malinowski P. 2022. Calm and clear: How mindful breath-awareness meditation changes brain and mind. 10th European Conference on Positive Psychology (ECPP-10)
Raffone A, Yordanova J, Simione L, Kolev V, Kirov R, Malinowski P. 2021. A neurocognitive taxonomy of meditation states and traits: bridging theories of attention, consciousness and executive functions. International Conference on Mindfulness (ICM)
Malinowski P, Schöne B, Gruber T. 2019. Initial effects of mindful breath awareness meditation on meta-cognitive functions: behavioural and neural evidence. International Conference on Mindfulness Asia Pacific (ICM-AP)
Fisher N, Thompson L, Malinowski P. 2016. What is being induced in mindfulness experiments? A systematic analysis 2nd International Conference on Mindfulness (ICM-2)
Trapasso E, Eames C, Malinowski P. 2016. Mindfulness-based connection with nature 2nd International Conference on Mindfulness (ICM-2)
Malinowski P. 2015. Meditation-induced plasticity of meta-cognitive functions Mindfulness and Compassion: The Art and Science of Contemplative Practice. CMC-IA Conference
Schöne B, Malinowski P, Gruber T. 2015. Mindfulness meditation facilitates the formation of expert networks: A steady state visually evoked potential study Psychologie & Gehirn
Malinowski P. 2014. Improving attentional functions through mindfulness practice International Symposium for Contemplative Studies
Pozuelos-Lopez JP, Mead BR, Rueda M, Malinowski P. 2014. Influence of mindfulness training on cognitive control mechanisms: The impact of a short-term mindfulness training on attention-related processes. Neuroscience of Mindfulness Conference
Malinowski P, Gruber T, Supp G. 2012. Does meditation practice modulate the dynamics of attentional neural networks? An EEG study Behind and Beyond the Brain. 9th Symposium of the BIAL Foundation
Mead B, Malinowski P, Lattimore P. 2012. Relationships between impulsivity, mindfulness and scores on the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-3) in an eating disorder sample Appetite, The 36th annual meeting of the British Feeding and Drinking Group 2 :632-632 Publisher Url
Pozuelos-Lopez JP, Mead B, Rueda M, Malinowski P. 2011. Mindfulness and cognitive control: are they really related? Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI) Publisher Url
Malinowski P, Mead B, Pozuelos-Lopez JP. 2011. Individual levels of mindfulness predict brain activity related to inhibitory control and response monitoring Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI) DOI Publisher Url
Malinowski P. 2011. Flourishing through meditation and mindfulness 2nd World Congress on Positive Psychology (IPPA)
Lattimore P, Malinowski P, Fisher N. 2010. “Oops I’ve (over) eaten again!” Mindfulness as a mediator of the relationship between adverse psychological symptoms and opportunistic eating (TEFQ) Appetite, 34th Annual Meeting of the British Feeding and Drinking Group 57 :536-536 DOI Publisher Url
Lattimore P, Malinowski P, Fisher N. 2010. “Over eating… again”: Testing the model of mindfulness as mediator between psychological symptoms and opportunistic eating (TFEQ) Appetite, 34th Annual Meeting of the British Feeding and Drinking Group 57 :536-536 Publisher Url
Malinowski P. 2009. Mental Balance and Well-Being: The Role of Meditation and Mindfulness 1st World Congress on Positive Psychology (IPPA)
Malinowski P. 2009. Mindfulness @ Work: A Mindfulness-Based Approach for Workplace and Higher Education 1st World Congress on Positive Psychology (IPPA)
Lattimore P, Malinowski P. 2008. Watching how you eat!: Mindfulness and disinhibited eating Appetite, Annual Meeting of the British Feeding and Drinking Group 51 :762-762 Publisher Url
Malinowski P. 2008. Meditation practice, mindfulness skills and components of well-being 4th European Conference on Positive Psychology
Boote K, Malinowski P. 2008. Task difficulty and its effect on Steady State Evoked Potential (SSVEP) responses Book of Abstracts, BPS Annual Conference :136-136
Malinowski P. 2006. Attending and ignoring: Investigating selective visual attention with steady-state visual evoked potentials 34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Association for Cognitive Neuroscience
Malinowski P. 2006. Steady-state evoked potentials – current issues and applications Journal of Psychophysiology, 20 :S13-S13
Malinowski P. 2005. Selfhood and personality – a Buddhist perspective. Proceedings of the British Psychological Society, Quinquennial Conference of the BPS: Psychology for the 21st Century 13 :169-170
Andersen S, Muller MM, Malinowski P. 2005. Attentional modulation of object-driven steady-state visual evoked potentials JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 19 :107-107 Author Url
Fuchs S, Muller MM, Malinowski P, Andersen S. 2005. Sustained division of the attentional spotlight within one hemifield JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY, 19 :116-116 Author Url
Malinowski P. 2002. Visual evoked steady-state potentials driven by isoluminant colour and form changes ICON 8
Moore AW. Facilitating Healthy Ageing: Neuroprotective Effects of Mindfulness Practice Malinowski PETER, Tattersall ANDY, Montgomery CATHY. DOI Public Url
Journal article
Nicolardi V, Simione L, Scaringi D, Malinowski P, Yordanova J, Kolev V, Mauro F, Giommi F, Barendregt HP, Aglioti SM, Raffone A. 2022. The Two Arrows of Pain: Mechanisms of Pain Related to Meditation and Mental States of Aversion and Identification Mindfulness, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Carrero G, Makin J, Malinowski P. 2022. A mathematical model for the dynamics of happiness Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 19 :2002-2029 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Yordanova J, Kolev V, Nicolardi V, Simione L, Mauro F, Garberi P, Raffone A, Malinowski P. 2021. Attentional and cognitive monitoring brain networks in long-term meditators depend on meditation states and expertise. Scientific Reports, 11 :4909-4909 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Yordanova J, Kolev V, Mauro F, Nicolardi V, Simione L, Calabrese L, Malinowski P, Raffone A. 2020. Common and distinct lateralised patterns of neural coupling during focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation. Scientific reports, 10 :7430 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Haggarty CJ, Malinowski P, McGlone FP, Walker SC. 2020. Autistic traits modulate cortical responses to affective but not discriminative touch European Journal of Neuroscience, 51 :1844-1855 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Schneider J, Malinowski P, Watson PM, Lattimore P. 2019. The role of mindfulness in physical activity: a systematic review Obesity Reviews, 20 :448-463 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Pozuelos JP, Mead BR, Rueda MR, Malinowski P. 2019. Short-term mindful breath awareness training improves inhibitory control and response monitoring Progress in Brain Research, 244 :137-163 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Schöne B, Gruber T, Graetz S, Bernhof M, Malinowski P. 2018. Mindful breath awareness meditation facilitates efficiency gains in brain networks: A steady-state visually evoked potentials study Scientific Reports, 8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Fisher N, Mead BR, Lattimore P, Malinowski P. 2017. Dispositional mindfulness and reward motivated eating: The role of emotion regulation and mental habit Appetite, 118 :41-48 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Jo HG, Malinowski P, Schmidt S. 2017. Frontal theta dynamics during response conflict in long-term mindfulness meditators Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Malinowski P, Shalamanova L. 2017. Erratum to: Meditation and Cognitive Ageing: the Role of Mindfulness Meditation in Building Cognitive Reserve (Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, (2017), 1, 2, (96-106), 10.1007/s41465-017-0022-7) Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, 1 :107 DOI Publisher Url
Malinowski P, Shalamanova L. 2017. Meditation and cognitive ageing: The role of mindfulness meditation in building cognitive reserve Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Malinowski P, Moore AW, Mead BR, Gruber T. 2017. Mindful Aging: The Effects of Regular Brief Mindfulness Practice on Electrophysiological Markers of Cognitive and Affective Processing in Older Adults Mindfulness, 8 :78-94 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Lattimore P, Mead BR, Irwin L, Grice L, Carson R, Malinowski P. 2017. ‘I can’t accept that feeling’: Relationships between interoceptive awareness, mindfulness and eating disorder symptoms in females with, and at-risk of an eating disorder Psychiatry Research, 247 :163-171 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Fisher N, Lattimore P, Malinowski P. 2015. Attention with a mindful attitude attenuates subjective appetitive reactions and food intake following food-cue exposure. Appetite, 99 :10-16 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Stumbrys T, Erlacher D, Malinowski P. 2015. Meta-awareness during day and night: the relationship between mindfulness and lucid dreaming. Imagination, Cognition, and Personality, 34 :415-433 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Malinowski P, Lim HJ. 2015. Mindfulness at Work: Positive Affect, Hope, and Optimism Mediate the Relationship Between Dispositional Mindfulness, Work Engagement, and Well-Being Mindfulness, 60 :1250-1262 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Malinowski P. 2013. Neural mechanisms of attentional control in mindfulness meditation. Frontiers in neuroscience, 7 :8 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Lattimore P, Fisher N, Malinowski P. 2011. A cross-sectional investigation of trait disinhibition and its association with mindfulness and impulsivity. Appetite, 56 :241-248 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Chiesa A, Malinowski P. 2011. Mindfulness‐based approaches: are they all the same? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67 :404-424 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Moore A, Malinowski P. 2009. Meditation, mindfulness and cognitive flexibility Consciousness and Cognition, 18 :176-186 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Malinowski P. 2008. Mindfulness as psychological dimension: Concepts and applications Irish Journal of Psychology, 29 :155-166 DOI Publisher Url
Malinowski P, Fuchs S, Müller MM. 2007. Sustained division of spatial attention to multiple locations within one hemifield Neuroscience Letters, 414 :65-70 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Müller MM, Andersen S, Trujillo NJ, Valdés-Sosa P, Malinowski P, Hillyard SA. 2006. Feature-selective attention enhances color signals in early visual areas of the human brain Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103 :14250-14254 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Gruber T, Malinowski P, Müller MM. 2004. Modulation of oscillatory brain activity and evoked potentials in a repetition priming task in the human EEG European Journal of Neuroscience, 19 :1073-1082 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Müller MM, Malinowski P, Gruber T, Hillyard SA. 2003. Sustained division of the attentional spotlight Nature, 424 :309-312 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Hübner R, Malinowski P. 2002. The effect of response competition on functional hemispheric asymmetries for global/local processing Perception & Psychophysics, 64 :1290-1300 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Malinowski P, Hübner R, Keil A, Gruber T. 2002. The influence of response competition on cerebral asymmetries for processing hierarchical stimuli revealed by ERP recordings Experimental Brain Research, 144 :136-139 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Malinowski P, Hübner R. 2001. The effect of familiarity on visual-search performance: Evidence for learned basic features Perception & Psychophysics, 63 :458-463 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Hübner R, Malinowski P. 2001. How to produce an absent-advantage in visual search Perception & Psychophysics, 63 :258-271 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Moore A, Gruber T, Derose J, Malinowski P. Regular, brief mindfulness meditation practice improves electrophysiological markers of attentional control Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Book review
Malinowski P. 2017. A snapshot of the science of meditation and mindfulness [Review of the book Presence: How Mindfulness and Meditation Shape Your Brain, Mind, and Life, by P. Verhaeghen] PsycCRITIQUES, 62 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Chapters
Malinowski P. 2017. Mindfulness Schneider S, Velmans M. The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness :203-216 Wiley & Son. Oxford 978-1-119-00220-8 DOI Publisher Url
Malinowski P. 2013. Flourishing through meditation and mindfulness David S, Boniwell I, Conley Ayers A. Oxford Handbook of Happiness :384-396 Oxford University Press. Oxford 9780199557257 DOI Publisher Url
Malinowski P. 2012. Wie fördert Meditation positive psychologische Veränderungen? Zimmermann M, Spitz C, Schmidt S. Achtsamkeit: Ein buddhistisches Konzept erobert die Wissenschaft :91-100 Hans Huber. Bern 9783456851549
Public engagement:
Public talk or lecture, members of European Parliament and their co-workers, Invited speaker, European Parliament / Brussels, Buddhism and Meditation in the 21st Century. 2018
Other: Please specify in text box below, general public, Public roundtable discussion, invited speaker, Coventry University - Brain, Belief and Behaviour Lab, Should children do mindfulness meditation?, http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-directories/research-events/2017/evening-conversations-on-being-human/. 2017
Public talk or lecture, general public, invited speaker, Frankfurt (a.M.), Germany, Scientific and Buddhist views on Meditation - International Buddhist Vesak Festival, http://www.vesak-frankfurt.de/programm.htm. 2016
Public talk or lecture, general public, invited speaker, Sapienza University Rome, Italy, Mindfulness in an ageing society - Open Symposium: Mindfulness and Society, http://www.cmc-ia.org/icm2016rome/open-symposium/. 2016
Public talk or lecture, buddhist communities and general public, invited speaker, Berlin, Germany, Buddha activity in the city. Buddhism in Action - Meeting of the European Buddhist Union, http://europeanbuddhism.org/news/buddhism-in-action/. 2016
Conference organisation:
Meditation – Mindfulness – Skilful Means: 2nd CMC Contemplative Summer Institute, Main organiser, http://www.cmc-ia.org/2017/04/2nd-cmc-contemplative-summer-institute/. 2017
Launch event for All-Party Parliamentary Group Report - Mindful Nation UK, Knowsley Borough Council, Co-organiser. 2016
Cultivating the Mind: Mindfulness Research and Practice Day, Main organiser. 2015
Meditation, Mindfulness and the Judging Mind: CMC – Contemplative Summer Institute, Main Organiser, http://www.cmc-ia.org/events/meditation-mindfulness-and-the-judging-mind-in-andalucia/. 2015
Other invited event:
Empathy and Compassion: From Contemplative Traditions to Neuroscience, Empathy and Compassion: From Contemplative Traditions to Neuroscience; Gerace, Italy (10-14 June 2017), Invited talk. 2017
"Achtsamkeit in Psychologischer Forschung und Anwendung" [Mindfluness in psychological research and practice], Institute of Oriental and Asian Studies, Bonn University, Germany (29 May 2017), Invited Talk. 2017
Neuroscience of mindful attention, Coventry University, Centre for Research in Psychology, Behaviour and Achievement (30 March 2017), Invited Seminar. 2017
Attention in meditation and mindfulness practice, Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Israel (07 January 2016), invited talk. 2016
Mindfulness and cognition: control processes of the mind according to science. International Conference - Mindfulness & Awareness, Lerab Ling Institute of Wisdom and Compassion, France (14-17 May 2015), keynote. 2015
Mindfulness and the brain, International Mindfulness Conference, Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice, University of Bangor; Chester (3-7 July 2015), Invited pre-conference workshop. 2015
Mindfulness in patient-centred care, Albert Einstein University, Mexico City (09-12 June 2015), bespoke professional training in mindfulness practices for healthcare professionals. 2015
Editorial boards:
Mindfulness, Associate Editor, http://www.springer.com/psychology/cognitive+psychology/journal/12671. 2015
Membership of professional bodies:
Member of the Board of Directors, Consciousness Mindfulness Compassion International Association, http://www.cmc-ia.org/. 2014
Teaching qualification:
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. 2005
Media Coverage:
"Should Children Do Mindfulness Meditation?" Public roundtable discussion; hosted by Coventry University and their Brain, Belief, and Behaviour Lab (30 March 2017)
www.coventry.ac.uk
www.youtube.com
Interview on BBC Capital Website: "What you're getting wrong about mindfulness" (03 August 2018)
New York Times (14 Jan 2014): Breathing In vs. Spacing Out.
Fellowships:
Fellow of The Higher Education Academy, The Higher Education Academy.