Creating an Internal Environment of Cognitive and Psycho-Emotional Well-Being through an External Movement-Based Environment: An Overview of Quadrato Motor Training

Abstract

In this overview, we discuss the internal and external environmental factors associated with cognitive and psycho-emotional well-being in the context of physical activity and Mindful Movement. Our key argument is that improved cognitive and emotional functions associated with mental well-being can be achieved by an external, Mindful Movement-based environment training called Quadrato Motor Training (QMT). QMT is a structured sensorimotor training program aimed at improving coordination, attention, and emotional well-being through behavioral, electrophysiological, neuroanatomical, and molecular changes. In accordance with this argument, we first describe the general neurobiological mechanisms underpinning emotional states and emotion regulation. Next, we review the relationships between QMT, positive emotional state, and increased emotion regulation, and discuss the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these relationships. We consider the relationships between motion, emotion, and cognition, and highlight the need for integrated training paradigms involving these three trajectories. Such training paradigms provide cognitively engaging exercises to improve emotion regulation, which in turn affects adaptive behaviors. Finally, we address the broader implications of improving cognitive and emotional functioning through Mindful Movement training for environmental research and public health.

Correlates of Silence: Enhanced Microstructural Changes in the Uncinate Fasciculus

“…Mindful movement further engages “higher-order” inhibition and response selection that underlie attention and cognitive control that require moment-by-moment sensorimotor updating ( Clark et al, 2015 ; Kimmel and Rogler, 2018 ). In line with this, QMT requires second-by-second mindful awareness for attending the upcoming next command ( Ben-Soussan et al, 2014b ; De Fano et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Mindful movements are characterized by a focus on movement in the present moment while excluding other thoughts and body movements ( Kabat-Zinn, 2009 ; De Fano et al, 2019 ). Mindful movement practices involve key aspects of mindfulness such as preparation and execution of movement, regulation of attention, working memory, and decreased mind-wandering ( Russell and Arcuri, 2015 ), mind-wandering being a construct opposing that of mindfulness ( Mrazek et al, 2012 ).…”

“…Mindful movement practices involve key aspects of mindfulness such as preparation and execution of movement, regulation of attention, working memory, and decreased mind-wandering ( Russell and Arcuri, 2015 ), mind-wandering being a construct opposing that of mindfulness ( Mrazek et al, 2012 ). QMT involves each of these aspects: regulation of divided attention, working memory updating (e.g., noting one’s current location to know where to move to next), and prevention of mind-wandering via a need to be “in the here and now” due to constantly updating commands ( Ben-Soussan et al, 2014b ; De Fano et al, 2019 ). Mindful movement further engages “higher-order” inhibition and response selection that underlie attention and cognitive control that require moment-by-moment sensorimotor updating ( Clark et al, 2015 ; Kimmel and Rogler, 2018 ).…”

“…QMT (for a recent review see De Fano et al, 2019 ) is a movement meditation in which both individual experience and brain functioning have been examined. During QMT, practitioners step in different directions on a square delineated on the floor.…”

“…These results related to the relationship between reappraisal, mindfulness and neurophysiological changes are further in line with different models of consciousness, such as the Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART) model ( Vago and David, 2012 ) and the Sphere Model of Consciousness (SMC, Paoletti, 2002 ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2019 , 2020 ; Paoletti et al, 2020 ). According to the SMC, reappraisal and voluntary movement toward a state of contentless consciousness, also defined as momentary silent consciousness ( Baars, 2013 ; Josipovic, 2019 ) may have a decisive role in the experience ( Paoletti et al, 2020 ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2020 ), in which focusing one’s attention on silence can be used as a paradigm for facilitating better internal communication through an internal environment intentionally created ( Paoletti and Selvaggio, 2013 ; Paoletti et al, 2017 ; De Fano et al, 2019 ). Consequently, in this study, silence was operationalized as self-reported absence of thoughts and a subjective experience of mental quietness as suggested by various authors ( Rudrauf et al, 2003 ; Hinterberger et al, 2014 ; Josipovic, 2014 , 2019 ; Winter et al, 2019 ; see Table 1 ), thus describing a state in which participants spontaneously experienced and reported a sort of contentless consciousness.…”