Investigating the Mind's Attention Mechanisms A Formal Inquiry of Conciousness through Meditation

Date of Award

2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

Second Department

Humanities

First Advisor

Beulig, Alfred

Keywords

Meditation, Visual Attention, Conciousness, Attention Mechanism, Visual Awareness

Area of Concentration

Biology

Abstract

The objective of this thesis was to synthesize the literature on attention mechanisms and consciousness in the human brain while focusing on the visual system and various meditative tasks to determine long-term mind and body effects. Included are summaries of relevant experiments and theories that relate attention mechanisms to consciousness through the study of neurological and physiological effects of attention tasks. Some major findings include advancements in biological equipment, Eastern and Western philosophic and scientific explanations of consciousness, attention, and their affiliated neuronal mechanisms, and mental and physiological effects of various forms of meditations. Conclusive data from research provides answers to four major questions and validates the effectiveness of meditation as preventative medicine and a strengthener of attention mechanisms. There are measurable effects that prove it worthy of integration into medical practice and into people's lives. Also, the rising interest of this method for wellness deems it worthy of further study.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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