Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
08:16
Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory
Published on: May 11, 2020
8.8K
Behavioral, experiential, and physiological signatures of mind blanking
Esteban Munoz-Musat1,2, Arthur Le Coz1,3, Andrew W Corcoran4
1Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute (ICM, INSERM, CNRS, APHP), Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris 75013, France.
Summary
Mind blanking (MB), an emptiness of mind, involves genuine thought gaps. This study reveals MB disrupts conscious access to sensory information, challenging the idea that wakefulness equals constant consciousness.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Consciousness is often assumed to be continuous when awake.
- Mind blanking (MB) is characterized by an "emptiness of mind."
- Distinguishing MB from mind wandering (MW) and on-task (ON) states is crucial for understanding conscious dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral and neurophysiological signatures of mind blanking (MB).
- To compare MB with mind wandering (MW) and on-task (ON) states.
- To determine if MB represents genuine gaps in conscious thought.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a sustained attention task with electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring in 62 participants.
- Analyzed behavioral lapses, oscillatory activity, functional connectivity, and event-related potentials (ERPs).
- Employed source reconstruction and temporal decoding techniques for neurophysiological analysis.
Main Results:
- MB showed distinct behavioral lapses and decreased posterior fast oscillatory activity and complexity compared to MW.
- Reduced long-range interareal functional connectivity was observed during MB versus ON and MW states.
- Disrupted visual processing, affecting conscious access to sensory information, was identified during MB.
Conclusions:
- Mind blanking (MB) represents genuine gaps in the stream of consciousness, not just a lack of attention.
- MB arises from disruptions in the generation or accessibility of thought content.
- EEG-derived markers offer a more granular view of conscious dynamics than subjective reports alone.
More Related Videos
08:08Using Wavelet Entropy to Demonstrate how Mindfulness Practice Increases Coordination between Irregular Cerebral and Cardiac Activities
Published on: May 10, 2017
15.1K
09:37Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
Published on: July 5, 2015
9.4K
Related Concept Videos
01:19High-Level and Low-Level Awareness
602
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
602
01:15Subconsciousness and No Awareness
611
The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
611
01:06Altered States of Awareness
956
Altered states of consciousness represent significant deviations from one's normal mental state. These deviations can range from subtle changes in awareness to profound transformations in perception, thought processes, and sensory experiences. Altered states of consciousness can be triggered by various factors, including drug use, meditation, hypnosis, illness, or even intense fatigue.
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain...
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain...
956
00:57Deindividuation
30.2K
Deindividuation is a form of social influence on an individual’s behavior such that the individual engages in unusual or non-normal behavior while in a group setting. Why? Because in these group settings, the individual no longer sees themselves as an individual anymore, disinhibiting their behavior and personal restraint.
30.2K
02:07Blind Procedures
12.8K
Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which...
12.8K
01:11Blinding
3.8K
Blinding is a commonly used method of not telling participants which treatment a subject is receiving. Blinding is a critical part of a randomized control trial or RCT. It reduces the bias that affects the results. In an RCT, blinding is used in the form of a placebo. A placebo effect occurs when untreated subjects falsely believe they have received the treatment and report improved symptoms. A placebo or a dummy treatment is administered to subjects to negate the bias caused by such an effect.
3.8K