Computational Mindfulness

Philip Z Maymin,Stella P Maymin

doi:10.22158/sssr.v2n3p88

Abstract

We take a computational approach to investigating highly abstract concepts including mindfulness, brain waves, and quantum mechanics. Using Langerian non-meditative mindfulness, defined as the active process of noticing new things, we find that when tested on the authors as subjects in two different ways, induced mindfulness is consistently distinguishable from induced mindlessness, and results in a calmer time series of brain waves as measured on an electroencephalogram. Additional results include a statistical Granger causality analysis of scholarly mindfulness research showing that Langerian mindfulness research causes future mindfulness research but not vice versa, and preliminary results from another study showing substantial differences in responses among subjects induced to view their own faces either mindfully or mindlessly.

Highlights

Known as the “mother of mindfulness,” Ellen Langer has defined mindfulness (Langer, 1978; 1989; 2000) as the “very simple process of actively noticing new things.” Langerian mindfulness requires no meditation or training, and can be achieved instantly by virtually anyone, yet the benefits are enormous, including reductions in chronic pain, depression, anxiety, addiction, and stress, and improvements in immune system response, working memory, inter-personal relationships, vision, longevity, youthfulness, and well-being
The highly significant p-value of less than 0.01% means that we can definitively reject the null hypothesis of no causality in favor of the alternative hypothesis that Langerian mindfulness research causes all mindfulness research
We can conclude that Langerian mindfulness research causes all future mindfulness research

Summary

Introduction

Known as the “mother of mindfulness,” Ellen Langer has defined mindfulness (Langer, 1978; 1989; 2000) as the “very simple process of actively noticing new things.” Langerian mindfulness requires no meditation or training, and can be achieved instantly by virtually anyone, yet the benefits are enormous, including reductions in chronic pain, depression, anxiety, addiction, and stress, and improvements in immune system response, working memory, inter-personal relationships, vision, longevity, youthfulness, and well-being. We seek to induce Langerian mindfulness using a vision task and exposure to quantum fluctuations and evaluate the resulting brainwaves as measured by an electroencephalograph (EEG) machine. 1.1 History of Mindfulness Research Mindfulness has grown exponentially over time and has become a household word. The plot of both Langerian mindfulness research and overall mindfulness research reveals a common trend. The highly significant p-value of less than 0.01% means that we can definitively reject the null hypothesis of no causality in favor of the alternative hypothesis that Langerian mindfulness research causes all mindfulness research. The reverse test is highly non-significant, with a p-value greater than 90%. We can conclude that Langerian mindfulness research causes all future mindfulness research

Methods

Results

Conclusion