Autogenic meditation training in a randomized controlled trial: A framework for promoting mental health and attention regulation in children

Effortless Attention Trainings: The Intersection of Attention and Mental Health in Children and Teenagers

“…(1) Therefore, to achieve attentional efficiency, an optimal activation level is crucial, a concept supported by the Yerkes-Dobson law [22], which shows that performance improves with moderate activation levels. (2) Because humans receive an infinite number of stimuli and have many thoughts running through their minds, it is necessary to select what to pay attention to. This selection process can be exogenous, bottom-up, reacting to external stimuli or endogenous, top-down, based on intention [23].…”

“…Fresh forehead. For a detailed explanation of the method, a protocol of autogenic group meditation, adapted for children and adolescents, is freely available [131]. In order to gain a better understanding of autogenic meditation, it is also recommended to read the work of González de Rivera [132].…”

“…Almost a century after the origin of autogenic training through concentrative relaxation, a contemporary explanation of the standard training, framed as autogenic meditation, is presented. It is important to note that under the original labels of 'passive concentration and passive acceptance' , the practice of autogenic meditation involves the two attentional skills elucidated in current contemplative science: Focused Attention Meditation (FAM) and Open Monitoring of attention (OM) [2]. Autogenic meditation facilitates an expanded state of consciousness by exercising FAM or 'passive concentration' on six specific formulas or dual meditation objects.…”

“…Attention is the interface of consciousness, and its education is a relevant aspect in the adaptation and mental health of the individual [1,2]. Childhood and adolescence constitute a sensitive period for shaping its capacity [3,4].…”

Ampliación del Informe de Sanidad: Evidencia sobre la Seguridad y Eficacia del Entrenamiento Autógeno

“…El objetivo de esta carta es detallar aspectos específicos del entrenamiento autógeno y aportar evidencia complementaria que respalda su eficacia y seguridad. En primer lugar, el entrenamiento autógeno se define como una terapia de autorregulación psicofisiológica (Luhte, 1963) que ejercita un estado atencional menos esforzado (Guiote et al, 2022(Guiote et al, , 2023 y no como una relajación basada en la inducción de sensaciones corporales (Álvarez-Pérez et al, 2024). En segundo lugar, el entrenamiento autógeno surge en el ámbito científico (Schultz, 1932) y se detalla rigurosamente la evidencia clínica de su eficacia en diversos manuales, entre otros, Autogenic Therapy, vol.2 Medical Aplication (Luthe y Schultz, 1969b).…”