Focus on the Breath: Brain Decoding Reveals Internal States of Attention During Meditation

Weng, Helen Y.; Lewis-Peacock, Jarrod A.; Hecht, Frederick; Uncapher, Melina R.; Ziegler, David A.; Farb, Norman A. S.; Goldman, Veronica; Skinner, Sasha; Duncan, Larissa G.; Chao, Maria T.; Gazzaley, Adam

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2020.00336

Cited by 33 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Norman et al, 2006;Haxby et al, 2014) to accommodate structural and functional neural diversity. The EMBODY framework uses MVPA applied to fMRI data to learn and decode mental states during meditation, producing novel individuallevel metrics of internal attention during meditation, such as the percentage time attending to the breath (Weng et al, 2020).…”

Section: Participant Demographics and Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The EMBODY framework was initially tested in 16 participants, which confirmed the individualized methods were feasible for most participants (87.5%) and all 8 experienced meditators. Using the same EMBODY fMRI protocol and data analyses as Weng et al (2020), this brief description highlights how the idiographic approach of the Intersectional Neuroscience framework produces person-specific attention metrics using individualized brain signals. We tested whether the individualized EMBODY task would be feasible in 15 diverse meditators from EBMC.…”

Section: Participant Demographics and Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even in this simple practice, the focus of attention will fluctuate over time between attention to the breath, mind wandering, and engaging in self-referential processing (Hasenkamp et al, 2012;Lutz et al, 2015). In the EMBODY task (Evaluating Multivariate Maps of BODY Awareness), we trained MVPA classifiers with fMRI data to recognize five foci of internal attention states (breath, feet, mind wandering, self-referential processing, sounds), which were directed via audio instructions (Weng et al, 2020). Unique brain patterns for each condition were recognized in 14 out of 16 participants (87.5%, including 8 experienced meditators and 6 novice controls).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These brain patterns were then used to decode the presence of mental states during 10 min of breath-focused meditation, which characterized the unique fluctuation of internal attention states for each meditator. To our knowledge, this task was the first to provide brainderived estimates of attentional focus during meditation at the individual level, such as the percentage time focused on the breath (Weng et al, 2020). Importantly, this individualized multivariate approach is well-suited to studying diverse populations because it allows for individual variability of neural representations of mental states.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To conduct community engagement activities, researchers used grant funding to support EBMC for community consultation, space rental, and providing food for events. each meditator, and (iii) quantify individual-level attention metrics such as the percentage time attending to the breath (Weng et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Toward a Compassionate Intersectional Neuroscience: Increasing Diversity and Equity in Contemplative Neuroscience

Weng

Ikeda²,

Lewis-Peacock

et al. 2020

Front. Psychol.

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Mindfulness and compassion meditation are thought to cultivate prosocial behavior. However, the lack of diverse representation within both scientific and participant populations in contemplative neuroscience may limit generalizability and translation of prior findings. To address these issues, we propose a research framework called Intersectional Neuroscience which adapts research procedures to be more inclusive of under-represented groups. Intersectional Neuroscience builds inclusive processes into research design using two main approaches: 1) community engagement with diverse participants, and 2) individualized multivariate neuroscience methods to accommodate neural diversity. We tested the feasibility of this framework in partnership with a diverse U.S. meditation center (East Bay Meditation Center, Oakland, CA). Using focus group and community feedback, we adapted functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) screening and recruitment procedures to be inclusive of participants from various under-represented groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, gender and sexual minorities, people with disabilities, neuropsychiatric disorders, and/or lower income. Using person-centered screening and study materials, we recruited and scanned 15 diverse meditators (80% racial/ethnic minorities, 53% gender and sexual minorities). The participants completed the EMBODY task – which applies individualized machine learning algorithms to fMRI data – to identify mental states during breath-focused meditation, a basic skill that stabilizes attention to support interoception and compassion. All 15 meditators’ unique brain patterns were recognized by machine learning algorithms significantly above chance levels. These individualized brain patterns were used to decode the internal focus of attention throughout a 10-min breath-focused meditation period, specific to each meditator. These data were used to compile individual-level attention profiles during meditation, such as the percentage time attending to the breath, mind wandering, or engaging in self-referential processing. This study provides feasibility of employing an intersectional neuroscience approach to include diverse participants and develop individualized neural metrics of meditation practice. Through inclusion of more under-represented groups while developing reciprocal partnerships, intersectional neuroscience turns the research process into an embodied form of social action.

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Section: Participant Demographics and Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Participant Demographics and Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Toward a Compassionate Intersectional Neuroscience: Increasing Diversity and Equity in Contemplative Neuroscience

Weng

Ikeda²,

Lewis-Peacock

et al. 2020

Front. Psychol.

Self Cite

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Adaptive and Maladaptive Bodily Awareness: Distinguishing Interoceptive Sensibility and Interoceptive Attention from Anxiety‐Induced Somatization in Autism and Alexithymia

2020

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There is growing interest in “interoception” (i.e., detection and interpretation of internal body signals) as a relevant mechanism contributing to certain symptoms and features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and alexithymia. However, inconsistent measurement and operationalization of interoception has led to confusion and inconsistent findings in the literature. In this commentary, we present alternative interpretations of findings from existing studies to demonstrate that ASD and alexithymia are conditions associated with reduced adaptive forms of interoceptive attention (i.e., attention toward bodily signals) but heightened maladaptive forms of interoceptive attention related to anxiety‐induced somatization. Differentiating adaptive and maladaptive forms of interoceptive attention reveals a clearer pattern of findings in the research literature for further investigation of interoceptive processes that are involved in the neurobiology of ASD. However, interoception is a complex and multi‐faceted construct that requires continual refinement in conceptualization and operationalization. Interoception research may benefit from self‐report measures that clearly differentiate adaptive and maladaptive forms of bodily awareness. Lay Summary Some research suggests that autistic people have difficulty understanding bodily feelings such as hunger, illness, or emotions, whereas some studies have reported the opposite pattern of findings. We argue that this latter subset of studies reached false conclusions from using measures of bodily awareness that largely measure physical symptoms of anxiety. While attention to unpleasant bodily signals is an important ability necessary for maintaining healthy bodily functioning, excessive attention, and worry toward bodily signals can increase anxiety and be harmful.

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Enhancement Methods of Sustained Attention in Complex Systems: A Review

Tang,

Gao

2024

Lecture Notes in Computer Science

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Focus on the Breath: Brain Decoding Reveals Internal States of Attention During Meditation

Cited by 33 publications

References 34 publications

Toward a Compassionate Intersectional Neuroscience: Increasing Diversity and Equity in Contemplative Neuroscience

Toward a Compassionate Intersectional Neuroscience: Increasing Diversity and Equity in Contemplative Neuroscience

Adaptive and Maladaptive Bodily Awareness: Distinguishing Interoceptive Sensibility and Interoceptive Attention from Anxiety‐Induced Somatization in Autism and Alexithymia

Enhancement Methods of Sustained Attention in Complex Systems: A Review

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