A Note on Resting States, Resting Brains, and Meditative States A resting state, or ‘somatic rest’, would seem to correspond with a brain at rest or ‘neurologic’ rest, but by definition, somatic and neurologic rest are entirely different things. A resting ‘state’ or somatic rest represents the inactivity of the covert striatal musculature due to the application of resting protocols (continual avoidance of perseverative thought represented by rumination, worry, and distraction). Resting states also are affective states, as they elicit opioid activity in the brain. Resting states in turn may occur in tandem with all levels of non-perseverative thought that are passive or active, from just passively ‘being in the moment’ or being mindful, to actively engaging in complex and meaningful cognitive behavior. The latter cognitive behavior is also additionally affective in nature due to its elicitation of dopaminergic activity, and resulting opioid-dopamine interaction results in a perceived state of ‘bliss’ or ‘flow’. On the other hand, a resting ‘brain’, neurologic rest, or the so-called ‘default mode network’ is a specific type of neural processing that occurs when the mind is in a ‘passive’ state, or in other words, is presented with no or very limited cognitive demands. This results in ‘mind wandering’ that can segue into non-perseverative (creative thought) or perseverative thought (rumination, worry). A resting brain is due to a level of demand, not a kind of demand, as in somatic rest, and the latter may encompass different levels of demand or cognitive states with the same affective outcomes. In other words, affect is not dependent upon neurologic resting states, or the default mode network, as the affective outcomes of meditation are commonly replicated in cognitively active behaviors that are concomitant with somatic rest. It is remarkable that in the literature of meditation, the neurophysiology of rest is not defined, with a similar neglect to how neuro-muscular activity is actively shaped by experience or learning, and how it in turn modulates affect. The importance of meditation is very real, and the meditative community is understandably averse to equating it with rest since it makes meditation less ‘special’ or less marketable. But that is my argument nonetheless, which in the end provides a better advocacy of meditation by denying that meditation elicits a unique physiological process or state, which like the concept of ‘phlogiston’, or the imaginary element that enabled fire, impedes rather than furthers scientific inquiry. From ‘the book of rest, the odd psychology of doing nothing’ by ajmarr on scribd
Could you provide some literature about the two kinds of rest? I don't see why the default mode network is considered as a kind of rest. As far as I know, resting-state fMRI requires subjects should either close their eyes or fix their eyes on a point without any task to perform. There are no clear instructions of what they should do with their mind or thoughts. The default mode network is particularly activated during such resting state, but is not completely deactivated during the performance of cognitive behaviors.
The brain is always dwelling on something, but I might not always notice or remember nonsensical trains of thought, as I sometimes lose self-awareness at times when I don't pay attention to the self. When the Default Mode Network goes online, What is my brain doing when I'm doing nothing? It might be driving my car back and forth to work, perhaps. Well, that sounds really safe and solid-not. Could one say that this might be a biological analogy to a self-driving car? Now I understand what's happening when I get distracted by something and suddenly start to act or move clumsily. It's my default mode network shutting down when an unexpected novel situation arises. The clumsiness comes from the fact that I need to pay attention to something that wasn't within prediction while navigating at the same time. Additionally, I haven't practiced the skills needed to do what the default mode network normally handles. Could that be it?
Wonderful to watch you, Jon! And really insightful in a hands-on way
This was extremely eye opening for me. Thank you!
A Note on Resting States, Resting Brains, and Meditative States
A resting state, or ‘somatic rest’, would seem to correspond with a brain at rest or ‘neurologic’ rest, but by definition, somatic and neurologic rest are entirely different things. A resting ‘state’ or somatic rest represents the inactivity of the covert striatal musculature due to the application of resting protocols (continual avoidance of perseverative thought represented by rumination, worry, and distraction). Resting states also are affective states, as they elicit opioid activity in the brain. Resting states in turn may occur in tandem with all levels of non-perseverative thought that are passive or active, from just passively ‘being in the moment’ or being mindful, to actively engaging in complex and meaningful cognitive behavior. The latter cognitive behavior is also additionally affective in nature due to its elicitation of dopaminergic activity, and resulting opioid-dopamine interaction results in a perceived state of ‘bliss’ or ‘flow’. On the other hand, a resting ‘brain’, neurologic rest, or the so-called ‘default mode network’ is a specific type of neural processing that occurs when the mind is in a ‘passive’ state, or in other words, is presented with no or very limited cognitive demands. This results in ‘mind wandering’ that can segue into non-perseverative (creative thought) or perseverative thought (rumination, worry). A resting brain is due to a level of demand, not a kind of demand, as in somatic rest, and the latter may encompass different levels of demand or cognitive states with the same affective outcomes. In other words, affect is not dependent upon neurologic resting states, or the default mode network, as the affective outcomes of meditation are commonly replicated in cognitively active behaviors that are concomitant with somatic rest.
It is remarkable that in the literature of meditation, the neurophysiology of rest is not defined, with a similar neglect to how neuro-muscular activity is actively shaped by experience or learning, and how it in turn modulates affect. The importance of meditation is very real, and the meditative community is understandably averse to equating it with rest since it makes meditation less ‘special’ or less marketable. But that is my argument nonetheless, which in the end provides a better advocacy of meditation by denying that meditation elicits a unique physiological process or state, which like the concept of ‘phlogiston’, or the imaginary element that enabled fire, impedes rather than furthers scientific inquiry.
From ‘the book of rest, the odd psychology of doing nothing’ by ajmarr on scribd
Could you provide some literature about the two kinds of rest? I don't see why the default mode network is considered as a kind of rest. As far as I know, resting-state fMRI requires subjects should either close their eyes or fix their eyes on a point without any task to perform. There are no clear instructions of what they should do with their mind or thoughts. The default mode network is particularly activated during such resting state, but is not completely deactivated during the performance of cognitive behaviors.
To shift into a deeper "default mode" the "I" has to dissolve, even if its just temporarily.
is there anywhere part 2 of this speech?
The brain is always dwelling on something, but I might not always notice or remember nonsensical trains of thought, as I sometimes lose self-awareness at times when I don't pay attention to the self.
When the Default Mode Network goes online, What is my brain doing when I'm doing nothing?
It might be driving my car back and forth to work, perhaps.
Well, that sounds really safe and solid-not.
Could one say that this might be a biological analogy to a self-driving car?
Now I understand what's happening when I get distracted by something and suddenly start to act or move clumsily. It's my default mode network shutting down when an unexpected novel situation arises. The clumsiness comes from the fact that I need to pay attention to something that wasn't within prediction while navigating at the same time. Additionally, I haven't practiced the skills needed to do what the default mode network normally handles.
Could that be it?
The first viewer... Yippeee!