Metacognitive threshold: a computational account
Brendan Conway-Smith, Robert L. West
arXiv Preprint Archive October 14, 2023
Summary
Our brains have a fascinating "awareness threshold" that determines what mental experiences we consciously notice. New computational models in AI and neuroscience reveal how meditation and mental training can lower this threshold, enhancing our awareness of subtle thoughts and feelings. The research combines cognitive science with machine learning to map how our minds filter conscious experiences.
Abstract
This paper will explore ways of computationally accounting for the metacognitive threshold -- the minimum amount of stimulus needed for a mental state to be perceived -- and discuss potential cognitive mechanisms by which this threshold can be influenced through metacognitive training and meditation.