Mental Training Affects Distribution of Limited Brain Resources

"In line with our prediction, intensive mental training was associated with a reduction in T1-elicited P3b amplitude over time in no-blink versus blink trials (Figure 3A). Significant Group 3 T2 accuracy 3 Session interaction effects were observed for the early phase of the P3b between 394–450 ms ... and for its later phase between 488–551 ms post T1-onset."

Event-Related Potentials, p. 1230

A reduction of the P3b—often linked to ignition-like conscious access—after training indicates altered large-scale state transitions during target processing .

"A reliable, negative cross-subject correlation was observed between the increase over time in T2 accuracy and the corresponding change in T1-elicited P3b amplitude on no-blink trials for both the early phase ... and the late phase ... of the P3b."

Event-Related Potentials, p. 1231

The stronger the decrease in the ignition-like P3b to T1, the larger the improvement in conscious access to T2, linking ignition dynamics to reportable perception changes .

Figures

Figure 3 (p. 1231) : Shows training-driven reduction of the P3b response to T1, consistent with altered ignition dynamics relevant to conscious access .

Figure 4 (p. 1231) : Demonstrates that decreased P3b amplitude predicts improved conscious detection of T2, tying ignition strength to access outcomes .

Tables

Table 1 (p. 1230) : The behavioral analysis was performed with T2 accuracy as the dependent variable, Interval (long or short) and Session (time 1 or time 2) as within-subject factors, and Group (practitioners or novices) as the between-subject factor.

"Only in no-blink trials, but not in blink trials, a reduction in brain activity in the time window of the T1-elicited P3b was observed (Figure 3B)."

Event-Related Potentials, p. 1232

Selective reduction of T1-related processing in trials with successful T2 detection indicates improved gating/routing of limited resources, a core mechanism for selective routing in conscious access .

"These novel observations indicate that the ability to accurately identify T2 depends upon the efficient deployment of resources to T1 ... Importantly, they demonstrate that through mental training, increased control over the distribution of limited brain resources may be possible."

Discussion, p. 1233

Authors explicitly link performance gains to controllable allocation of processing resources, aligning with selective routing/gating accounts of conscious access .

Figures

Figure 5 (p. 1232) : Shows session- and group-specific reduction of T1 P3b, supporting a routing-based account of how training reallocates processing resources .

Figure 2 (p. 1229) : Behavioral evidence that improved T2 detection accompanies the physiological routing change, tying gating to performance .