Prof. Ekaterina Denkova , University of Miami, will lecture on "From Mind Wandering Research to Mindfulness Training Implementation."
Abstract: In this presentation, I will explore two intertwined lines of research that highlight (i) the mechanisms underlying mind wandering, and (ii) the potential for mindfulness training to enhance attention in various applied settings. Mind wandering, defined as internal thought that is decoupled from the task-at-hand, has emerged as a prominent topic in cognitive and contemplative neuroscience. In the first part, I will discuss a series of studies using the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) to investigate the behavioral and neural correlates of focused attention and mind wandering. In the second part, I will present findings from implementation studies of mindfulness training, emphasizing its promise as an effective tool to enhance attention and mitigate the effects of mind wandering. By integrating basic research with implementation efforts, this presentation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how mindfulness can help cultivate attention focus.