Mental training affects distribution of limited brain resources. Export

@article{Slagter, abstract = {The information processing capacity of the human mind is limited, as is evidenced by the so-called "attentional-blink" deficit: When two targets (T1 and T2) embedded in a rapid stream of events are presented in close temporal proximity, the second target is often not seen. This deficit is believed to result from competition between the two targets for limited attentional resources. Here we show, using performance in an attentional-blink task and scalp-recorded brain potentials, that meditation, or mental training, affects the distribution of limited brain resources. Three months of intensive mental training resulted in a smaller attentional blink and reduced brain-resource allocation to the first target, as reflected by a smaller T1-elicited P3b, a brain-potential index of resource allocation. Furthermore, those individuals that showed the largest decrease in brain-resource allocation to T1 generally showed the greatest reduction in attentional-blink size. These observations provide novel support for the view that the ability to accurately identify T2 depends upon the efficient deployment of resources to T1. The results also demonstrate that mental training can result in increased control over the distribution of limited brain resources. Our study supports the idea that plasticity in brain and mental function exists throughout life and illustrates the usefulness of systematic mental training in the study of the human mind.}, author = {Slagter, Heleen A. and Lutz, Antoine and Greischar, Lawrence L. and Francis, Andrew D. and Nieuwenhuis, Sander and Davis, James M. and Davidson, Richard J.}, citeulike-article-id = {1284147}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050138}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17488185}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=17488185}, day = {8}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pbio.0050138}, issn = {1545-7885}, journal = {PLoS biology}, keywords = {meditation}, month = {June}, number = {6}, pages = {e138+}, posted-at = {2008-08-01 18:18:37}, priority = {2}, publisher = {Public Library of Science}, title = {Mental training affects distribution of limited brain resources.}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050138}, volume = {5}, year = {2007} }

TY - JOUR ID - Slagter L3 - citeulike-article-id:1284147 N2 - The information processing capacity of the human mind is limited, as is evidenced by the so-called "attentional-blink" deficit: When two targets (T1 and T2) embedded in a rapid stream of events are presented in close temporal proximity, the second target is often not seen. This deficit is believed to result from competition between the two targets for limited attentional resources. Here we show, using performance in an attentional-blink task and scalp-recorded brain potentials, that meditation, or mental training, affects the distribution of limited brain resources. Three months of intensive mental training resulted in a smaller attentional blink and reduced brain-resource allocation to the first target, as reflected by a smaller T1-elicited P3b, a brain-potential index of resource allocation. Furthermore, those individuals that showed the largest decrease in brain-resource allocation to T1 generally showed the greatest reduction in attentional-blink size. These observations provide novel support for the view that the ability to accurately identify T2 depends upon the efficient deployment of resources to T1. The results also demonstrate that mental training can result in increased control over the distribution of limited brain resources. Our study supports the idea that plasticity in brain and mental function exists throughout life and illustrates the usefulness of systematic mental training in the study of the human mind. IS - 6 JF - PLoS biology SN - 1545-7885 TI - Mental training affects distribution of limited brain resources. PB - Public Library of Science VL - 5 SP - e138 KW - meditation AU - Slagter, Heleen AU - Lutz, Antoine AU - Greischar, Lawrence AU - Francis, Andrew AU - Nieuwenhuis, Sander AU - Davis, James AU - Davidson, Richard PY - 2007/06/08/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050138 ER -