The influence of focused-attention meditation states on the cognitive control of sequence learning

Consciousness and Cognition. 2017. Vol. 55. P. 11–25.

Chan Russell Weili, Immink M. A., Lushington K.

Cognitive control processes influence how motor sequence information is utilised and represented.
Since cognitive control processes are shared amongst goal-oriented tasks, motor sequence
learning and performance might be influenced by preceding cognitive tasks such as focused-
attention meditation (FAM). Prior to a serial reaction time task (SRTT), participants
completed either a single-session of FAM, a single-session of FAM followed by delay (FAM+) or
no meditation (CONTROL). Relative to CONTROL, FAM benefitted performance in early,
random-ordered blocks. However, across subsequent sequence learning blocks, FAM+ supported
the highest levels of performance improvement resulting in superior performance at the end of
the SRTT. Performance following FAM+ demonstrated greater reliance on embedded sequence
structures than FAM. These findings illustrate that increased top-down control immediately after
FAM biases the implementation of stimulus-based planning. Introduction of a delay following
FAM relaxes top-down control allowing for implementation of response-based planning resulting
in sequence learning benefits.

Ключевые слова: attention, memory, meditation, cognitive control, sequence learning