Attention regulation and monitoring in meditation.
Antoine Lutz, Heleen A. Slagter, John D. Dunne, Richard J. Davidson
Trends in Cognitive Sciences April 1, 2008 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2008.01.005 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMeditation encompasses a family of complex emotional and attentional regulatory training regimes developed for various ends, including the cultivation of well-being and emotional balance. Two commonly studied styles are focused attention meditation, which involves voluntarily focusing attention on a chosen object, and open monitoring meditation, which involves nonreactive monitoring of the content of experience from moment to moment. The potential regulatory functions of these practices on attention and emotion processes could have a long-term impact on the brain and behavior.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Meditation styles, specifically focused attention and open monitoring, may regulate attention and emotion processes with potential long-term impacts on the brain and behavior. |
Abstract
Meditation can be conceptualized as a family of complex emotional and attentional regulatory training regimes developed for various ends, including the cultivation of well-being and emotional balance. Among these various practices, there are two styles that are commonly studied. One style, focused attention meditation, entails the voluntary focusing of attention on a chosen object. The other style, open monitoring meditation, involves nonreactive monitoring of the content of experience from moment to moment. The potential regulatory functions of these practices on attention and emotion processes could have a long-term impact on the brain and behavior.