Frontiers in psychology
January 1, 2015
Tal D Ben-Soussan, Aviva Berkovich-Ohana, Claudia Piervincenzi et al.
48 citations
Four weeks of daily Quadrato Motor Training (QMT), a whole-body movement contemplative practice, increased cognitive flexibility and ideational fluency more than verbal or simple motor training alone. In a pilot longitudinal MRI study, gray matter volume and fractional anisotropy changes in several brain regions, including the cerebellum, correlated positively with cognitive flexibility scores. These preliminary results support a connection between motor practice and creativity, consistent with models integrating cognitive flexibility, embodiment, and the motor system.
Frontiers in psychology
January 1, 2020
Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan, Fabio Marson, Claudia Piervincenzi et al.
12 citations
Silence-related experiences during meditation are linked to changes in brain structure and reduced attentional effort. In a study of Quadrato Motor Training (QMT), participants who reported increased silence-related experiences after six weeks of practice also showed decreased attentional effort and increased fractional anisotropy in the left uncinate fasciculus, a white-matter tract. The findings suggest that silence in meditation involves specific neuroanatomical changes and may reduce the cognitive effort required to maintain attention.
Front Psychol
April 13, 2021
Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan, Narayanan Srinivasan, Joseph Glicksohn et al.
8 citations
This editorial introduces a collection of research exploring the neurophysiology of silence from multiple perspectives, including neuroscience, psychology, education, and contemplative traditions. It argues that silence is not merely the absence of sound but an active state that can influence brain function, cognitive processes, and well-being. The editorial highlights how silence may promote mental clarity, stress reduction, and restorative states, with potential applications in learning and education. It sets the stage for examining how silence affects brain activity, cognitive benefits, and psychological health, suggesting that understanding these mechanisms could inform practices for enhancing mental clarity and knowledge acquisition.