The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) and the Five Aggregates (skandha-s) of the Early Buddhism: Parallels and Differences on Understanding of Human Mind
- 1Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- 2Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
Abstract
The research domain criteria (RDoC) was launched by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to provide a framework towards development of neurobiological models and novel treatment methods for mental health disorders. Here we elucidate the possible parallels between the RDoC and the understanding of human mind by the early Buddhism, conceptualized as the five aggregates (skandha-s). They both define the function of human mind as a collective operation of de-centralized systems. The state-of-art neuroscience and the long tradition of empirical observation and practice of introspection converges on human mind as division into dimensional sub-sets that can sometime coordinate but often do not. We argue that this similarity not only brings academic interest, but also clinical and practical purposes of incorporating the theoretical framework and empirical data of the early Buddhism into the daily execution of tools originated from this tradition, including the mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs).
Related
- From Splicing to Survival: Understanding the Molecular Basis of Prognostic Differences in advanced Small Intestine Neuroendocrine Tumors
- Diagnostic criteria for adrenal overt Cushing syndrome: prepared jointly by the Japan Endocrine Society and the Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant (Research on Intractable Diseases) Research Group on Disorders of Adrenal Hormones
- Burkitt lymphoma: current understanding, unmet needs, and research directions∗
- Emotional vulnerability and research capacity in medical postgraduates: toward understanding the reciprocal relationship and proposing targeted interventions
- Research priorities and knowledge gaps in understanding hepatobiliary disease in cystic fibrosis.
BibTeX
@article{kang2026research,
title = {{The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) and the Five Aggregates (skandha-s) of the Early Buddhism: Parallels and Differences on Understanding of Human Mind}},
author = {Sung Yong Kang and Soonjo Hwang},
journal = {Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.9758/cpn.26.1421},
url = {https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.26.1421},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) and the Five Aggregates (skandha-s) of the Early Buddhism: Parallels and Differences on Understanding of Human Mind
AU - Sung Yong Kang
AU - Soonjo Hwang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/27
JO - Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
DO - 10.9758/cpn.26.1421
UR - https://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.26.1421
AB - The research domain criteria (RDoC) was launched by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to provide a framework towards development of neurobiological models and novel treatment methods for mental health disorders. Here we elucidate the possible parallels between the RDoC and the understanding of human mind by the early Buddhism, conceptualized as the five aggregates (skandha-s). They both define the function of human mind as a collective operation of de-centralized systems. The state-of-art neuroscience and the long tradition of empirical observation and practice of introspection converges on human mind as division into dimensional sub-sets that can sometime coordinate but often do not. We argue that this similarity not only brings academic interest, but also clinical and practical purposes of incorporating the theoretical framework and empirical data of the early Buddhism into the daily execution of tools originated from this tradition, including the mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs).
SN - 1738-1088
SN - 2093-4327
ER -