Ann N Y Acad Sci
April 1, 2016
Eric L Garland
136 citations
Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) restructures reward processing to remediate hedonic dysregulation in addiction, stress, and pain. The approach targets novel therapeutic mechanisms that address how the brain processes pleasure and reward, offering a potential intervention for conditions where this system is disrupted.
Ann N Y Acad Sci
October 9, 2024
Angélique Lebert, Óscar Vilarroya
22 citations
Experiential learning and 4E cognition, despite different origins and methods, share a common view of cognition as arising from interactions with the physical and social environment. The article argues that integrating these frameworks can mutually enhance understanding of learning and cognition. It outlines their historical roots and underlying assumptions, focusing on embodiment, embeddedness, extended cognition, and enactive processes. The concept of "concrete experience"—active engagement with surroundings—is proposed as a unifying element that bridges the two approaches, ultimately offering a richer, more holistic understanding of representation.
Ann N Y Acad Sci
March 1, 2026
Meditation may have evolutionary origins in defensive freezing, a survival response observed across species. The paper argues that the capacity for sustained, voluntary stillness in meditation builds upon ancient neural circuits that evolved for threat-induced immobility. This perspective reframes meditation not as a cultural invention but as a biological capacity rooted in ancestral defensive behaviors, with implications for understanding its physiological and psychological effects.
Ann N Y Acad Sci
April 1, 2016
Mindfulness training may alter the way large-scale brain networks interact, but the specific changes remain unclear. This review examines evidence on how mindfulness experience affects the dynamics between the default mode, salience, and central executive networks. The authors suggest that mindfulness practice can reduce default mode network activity and strengthen connectivity between the salience and central executive networks, potentially supporting improved attention and self-regulation. However, the findings are inconsistent across studies, and the direction and magnitude of effects vary. The authors call for more rigorous research to distinguish genuine neural changes from methodological noise.
Ann N Y Acad Sci
January 1, 2014
A systematic review of existing research suggests that meditation may help counteract age-related cognitive decline. The review examined multiple studies and found that meditation practices are associated with improvements in attention, memory, and executive function in older adults. However, the authors note that the evidence is preliminary and limited by small sample sizes, varied meditation techniques, and a lack of rigorous study designs. They conclude that while the findings are promising, more well-controlled research is needed to confirm the benefits and understand the underlying mechanisms.