Mental Training Affects Distribution of Limited Brain Resources

Abstract

The information processing capacity of the human mind is limited, as is evidenced by the so-called “attentional-blink” deficit: When two targets (T1 and T2) embedded in a rapid stream of events are presented in close temporal proximity, the second target is often not seen. This deficit is believed to result from competition between the two targets for limited attentional resources. Here we show, using performance in an attentional-blink task and scalp-recorded brain potentials, that meditation, or mental training, affects the distribution of limited brain resources. Three months of intensive mental training resulted in a smaller attentional blink and reduced brain-resource allocation to the first target, as reflected by a smaller T1-elicited P3b, a brain-potential index of resource allocation. Furthermore, those individuals that showed the largest decrease in brain-resource allocation to T1 generally showed the greatest reduction in attentional-blink size. These observations provide novel support for the view that the ability to accurately identify T2 depends upon the efficient deployment of resources to T1. The results also demonstrate that mental training can result in increased control over the distribution of limited brain resources. Our study supports the idea that plasticity in brain and mental function exists throughout life and illustrates the usefulness of systematic mental training in the study of the human mind.

Control over experience? Magnitude of the attentional blink depends on meditative state

“…were not meditating during AB task performance (Slagter et al, 2007(Slagter et al, , 2009van Leeuwen et al, 2009), and extends these findings by showing that different meditative states may differentially affect the AB.…”

“…Based on these descriptions and the previous study by Slagter et al (2007Slagter et al ( , 2009, we predicted that OM meditation-with its emphasis on non-reactively monitoring the content of experience from moment-to-moment, without focusing on any explicit object-would be associated with a smaller AB than FA meditation due to reduced attentional capture by T1 during OM meditation. In contrast, we predicted that T1 accuracy, the simple ability to perceive stimuli, would not be affected differentially by OM vs. FA, because even though Slagter et al…”

“…Participants engaged in an attentional blink task in which they had to detect two digits embedded in a rapid serial visual stream of 13 to 17 letters (adapted from Slagter et al, 2007Slagter et al, , 2009). Each letter (0.8 • x 0.8 • ) was randomly drawn from the set of letters of the alphabet excluding B, I, O, Q, and S, and presented for 50 ms, followed by a 34-ms blank.…”

Meditators and Non-Meditators: EEG Source Imaging During Resting

“…In a longitudinal study, Slagter et al (2007) found a reduced attentional-blink deficit after a 3-month period of intensive Vipassana meditation. Newberg et al (2001) reported regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) findings concerning a thalamic laterality index difference between Tibetan Buddhist meditators and controls at rest, with meditators showing relative higher rCBF right than controls.…”

Placebo-mediated, Naloxone-sensitive suggestibility of short-term memory performance

“…Recently, several studies have provided evidence that following targeted interventions, and with the appropriate training, at least some cognitive functions, including fluid intelligence (Feuerstein, 1980;Jaeggi, Buschkuehl, Jonides, and Perrig, 2008), attentional states (Slagter, Lutz, Greischar, Francis, Nieuwenhuis, Davis, and Davidson, 2007;Tang and Posner, 2009) and working memory capacity (Klingberg, Fernell, Olesen, Johnson, Gustafsson, Dahlstrom, Gillberg, Forssberg, and Westerberg, 2005).…”