Distinguishing the Attentional Mechanisms of Distinct Mindfulness States: A Computational Modeling Comparison of Focused Attention and Open Monitoring.
Yanli Lin, Grant S Shields
Mindfulness 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s12671-026-02781-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subject crossover protocol Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 29 |
| Population | Meditation-naïve participants |
| Intervention | Active control |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Attentional control Focused attention Open monitoring Shrinking spotlight |
| Key points | Focused attention meditation narrows attentional scope and slows the rate of narrowing, while open monitoring meditation accelerates attention narrowing and increases nondecision time. |
Abstract
Focused attention (FA) and open monitoring (OM) meditation are theorized to confer distinct neurobehavioral influences, yet the specific cognitive mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. This study leveraged computational modeling to formally test and distinguish how these two mindfulness states modulate theoretical processes of attention control. We analyzed flanker task data from a prior study in which 29 meditation-naïve participants completed a fully within-subject crossover protocol, involving brief state inductions of FA, OM, and active control. We then fit a shrinking spotlight (SSP) computational model to quantify parameters of attentional scope, decision thresholds, and nondecision-related processing. As hypothesized, FA decreased the maximum "width" of the attentional spotlight compared to OM and control conditions (all t >|8.43|, all p < 0.001), while slowing the rate of narrowing (all t >|7.29|, all p < 0.001). In contrast, OM accelerated the rate of attention narrowing (t(82) = 2.18, p = 0.032) and increased nondecision time (all t > 2.01, all p < 0.048). These results indicate that FA narrows attentional scope, possibly reducing initial distraction but with limitations to rapidly recalibrate attention beyond the initial scope of focus. In contrast, OM appears to improve the speed of selecting relevant targets, while slowing perceptual-motor encoding and motor execution. Together, these findings provide model-based evidence for the distinct attentional mechanisms of FA and OM and illustrate the utility of computational cognitive modeling for testing key theories within mindfulness science. This study was not preregistered.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 18
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- The Effect of Mindfulness-based Programs on Cognitive Function in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Neuropsychology Review August 4, 2021
- Comparing impacts of meditation training in focused attention, open monitoring, and mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy on emotion reactivity and regulation: Neural and subjective evidence from a dismantling study Psychophysiology February 19, 2022
- Short-term Focused Attention Meditation Restricts the Retrieval of Stimulus-Response Bindings to Relevant Information Mindfulness March 9, 2021
and 13 more in the library