Open Mind Meditation

Quiet Mind meditations involve dropping below the level of conscious thought. Most research has focused on Transcendental Meditation (TM).  On the surface, TM appears to be a Focus meditation as it involves sustained attention on a mantra.  Unlike a Focus meditation, however, TM involves a two-step process: moving from a state of sustained attention to ‘mental silence.’ This type of meditation has been studied extensively and consistently results in increased alpha1 (8-10 hz) power and communication.

Alpha1 (8-10 Hz) is a slow brainwave pattern and is characterized by a quiet internal focus.
When alpha1 is increased in a given brain region, activity in that area is minimized.  

One of the brain regions consistently impacted by Quiet Mind practices is the Default Mode Network (DMN). The DMN is involved in creating our sense of self – our identity. When we engage in Quiet Mind meditations, this region of the brain becomes quiet and for a short time, we are not thinking about ourselves or how we relate to the world. 

Quiet Mind strategies may be ideal for psychological disorders involving disruptions in a sense of self (disordered identify, illogical perceptions of self).  It is also believed to support the development of cognitive flexibility.  Improved cognitive flexibility can help minimize the tendency to ‘get stuck’ on certain self-perceptions and supports symptom reduction for conditions such as eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or personality disorders.