Modulation of sensory attenuation by intensive meditation practice: an active inference perspective

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Psychology

Background:

• Active inference posits motor actions are prediction-driven, attenuating sensory prediction errors.
• Meditative practices emphasize bodily sensations, potentially influencing proprioceptive suppression.
• Understanding meditation's effect on somatosensory attenuation is key to active inference.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if intensive mindfulness meditation alters somatosensory attenuation.
• To explore the relationship between mindfulness traits and somatosensory attenuation.
• To examine meditation's impact on active inference mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• 42 experienced meditators and a control group performed a tactile force-matching task.
• Measurements were taken before, during, and after a 10-day mindfulness retreat.
• Somatosensory attenuation and mindfulness traits were assessed.

Main Results:

• A general somatosensory attenuation effect was observed, negatively correlating with mindfulness.
• Intensive meditation did not globally reduce somatosensory attenuation.
• Meditators showed altered regression-to-the-mean effects, suggesting modified prior expectation formation.

Conclusions:

• Intensive mindfulness meditation may not globally reduce somatosensory attenuation.
• Meditation might influence the formation and influence of prior expectations in active inference.
• Further research is needed to understand complex effects on proprioceptive active inference.