The exploration of meditation in the neuroscience of attention and consciousness

Many recent behavioral and neuroscientific studies
have revealed the importance of investigating meditation states and traits to
achieve an increased understanding of cognitive and affective neuroplasticity,
attention and self-awareness, as well as for their increasingly recognized
clinical relevance. The investigation of states and traits related to
meditation has especially pronounced implications for the neuroscience of
attention, consciousness, self-awareness, empathy and theory of mind. In this
article we present the main features of meditation-based mental training and
characterize the current scientific approach to meditation states and traits
with special reference to attention and consciousness, in light of the articles
contributed to this issue.