The exploration of meditation in the neuroscience of attentionand consciousness

摘要

Many recent behavioral and neuroscientificstudies have revealed the importance of investigatingmeditation states and traits to achieve an increasedunderstanding of cognitive and affective neuroplasticity,attention and self-awareness, as well as for their increas-ingly recognized clinical relevance. The investigation ofstates and traits related to meditation has especially pro-nounced implications for the neuroscience of attention,consciousness, self-awareness, empathy and theory ofmind. In this article we present the main features of med-itation-based mental training and characterize the currentscientific approach to meditation states and traits withspecial reference to attention and consciousness, in light ofthe articles contributed to this issue.