Mindfulness and training attention

Abstract

Mindfulness meditation depends heavily on brain areas involved in executive attention. Imaging studies of executive attention reveal a brain network that includes the anterior cingulate, anterior insula, and striatum. This brain network is responsible for the resolution of conflict and is more generally critical to self-regulation. The efficiency of the executive network can be improved by two forms of training. One form involves sustained practice on the conflict tasks that activate this network. A second form involves changing one’s brain state through the use of mindfulness meditation, as captured in Integrative Body-Mind Training. In this chapter, we first briefly introduce the attentional networks and then discuss the two forms of training. In the latter case, we also discuss the downstream effects of training on improving attention, emotion and stress regulation, and reduction of some forms of psychopathology.