Thoughtseeds as Latent Causes: A Dual-Process Computational Phenomenology of Focused-Attention Meditation
July 16, 2026 Prakash Chandra Kavi, D. Friedman, Gustavo Patow
A computational model of focused-attention meditation simulates four mental states: focusing on the breath, mind-wandering, becoming aware of distraction, and redirecting attention. The model uses a three-layer architecture inspired by active inference and the Global Neuronal Workspace theory. The deepest layer represents brain network activity; a middle layer encodes mental content and action tendencies; the top layer acts as a metacognitive monitor that gates these tendencies. Meta-awareness, the signal that ignites this workspace, arises from a competition between mental contents and is used to select actions that minimize expected free energy. Simulations of both expert and novice meditators produce patterns consistent with empirical findings, offering a bridge between subjective experience and brain measurements.