08 — Toward an Empirical Specification of Tranquil States: A Co-Attenuation Framework for Meditation and Consciousness
Thyagarajan Shivashanmugam, Anish Mehta
Open Mind 2026 preprint DOI: 10.17605/osf.io/rz9np (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Default mode network Meditation |
| Keywords | Component thermodynamics Falsifiability Consciousness Empirical research Trait Artificial neural network Artificial intelligence Cognitive psychology Mode computer interface Baseline sea Cognitive science Empirical evidence |
| Key points | Proposes that tranquil states are characterized by the co-attenuation of default mode network activity and salience-network baseline drive, distinct from trait effects or generalized neural reductions. |
Abstract
This component develops a constraint-based framework for the empirical specification of tranquil states in meditation research. The manuscript proposes that tranquil states are characterized by the co-attenuation of default mode network activity and salience-network baseline drive, while distinguishing this configuration from broader trait effects, altered states, or generalized reductions in neural activity. Drawing on evidence from functional neuroimaging, meditation research, and large-scale network dynamics, the paper develops falsifiable predictions regarding state–trait dissociation, amplitude–connectivity relationships, thalamic involvement, and graded depth transitions. The framework aims to provide an operational and empirically testable specification of tranquil conscious states within the broader COBRA architecture.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |