Mindfulness Meditation Influences Implicit but Not Explicit Coding of Temporal Simultaneity
Journal of Cognitive Enhancement October 11, 2021 Mark A. Elliott, Monika Zalewska, Marc Wittmann 5 citations
In a meditative state, time seems to slow and the present moment feels expanded. This study tested whether a mindfulness intervention changes the minimal duration of the psychological moment—the measurable "now." Participants completed a simultaneity-detection task before and after either a mindfulness exercise or listening to classical music. No overall difference in the psychological moment was found between groups or before versus after the interventions. However, a bias against reporting simultaneity after a subthreshold asynchrony—which normally shortens the psychological moment—was reduced after mindfulness. This suggests that brief mindfulness meditation can sharpen attentional focus and help normalize the perception of psychological time.