Computational modelling approaches to meditation research: why should we care?

Computational modeling can illuminate how meditation alters cognition and predict how those effects transfer to new tasks. The authors argue that such models clarify similarities and differences among meditation practices, helping map the landscape of contemplative techniques. Although computational modeling has rarely been applied to meditation research, the authors contend it holds significant promise for advancing the field.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Computational modeling and meditation are not frequently mentioned in the same breath. However, in this article we argue that computational modeling can provide insights into the mechanisms by which meditation produces its effects on cognition. Moreover, computational modeling allows the researcher to make predictions about how effects of meditation will generalize to other contexts such as other tasks, which can be tested in subsequent experiments. In addition, computational theories can help to clarify similarities and differences between meditation practices, which is crucial for mapping out the space of contemplative practices. In short, even though computational modeling has not yet been used extensively, we think this approach can make important contributions to the field of meditation research.