A Computational Theory of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from the “Bayesian Brain” Perspective
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was developed to combine methods from cognitive behavioral therapy and meditative techniques, with the specific goal of preventing relapse in recurrent depression. While supported by empirical evidence from multiple clinical trials, the cognitive mechanisms...
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doaj-d0b968d5c7bd4b49bc6d39265161c7042020-11-25T02:33:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402020-05-011110.3389/fpsyt.2020.00404524367A Computational Theory of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from the “Bayesian Brain” PerspectiveZina-Mary Manjaly0Zina-Mary Manjaly1Sandra Iglesias2Department of Neurology, Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandTranslational Neuromodeling Unit (TNU), Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandMindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was developed to combine methods from cognitive behavioral therapy and meditative techniques, with the specific goal of preventing relapse in recurrent depression. While supported by empirical evidence from multiple clinical trials, the cognitive mechanisms behind the effectiveness of MBCT are not well understood in computational (information processing) or biological terms.This article introduces a testable theory about the computational mechanisms behind MBCT that is grounded in “Bayesian brain” concepts of perception from cognitive neuroscience, such as predictive coding. These concepts regard the brain as embodying a model of its environment (including the external world and the body) which predicts future sensory inputs and is updated by prediction errors, depending on how precise these error signals are.This article offers a concrete proposal how core concepts of MBCT—(i) the being mode (accepting whatever sensations arise, without judging or changing them), (ii) decentering (experiencing thoughts and percepts simply as events in the mind that arise and pass), and (iii) cognitive reactivity (changes in mood reactivate negative beliefs)—could be understood in terms of perceptual and metacognitive processes that draw on specific computational mechanisms of the “Bayesian brain.” Importantly, the proposed theory can be tested experimentally, using a combination of behavioral paradigms, computational modelling, and neuroimaging. The novel theoretical perspective on MBCT described in this paper may offer opportunities for finessing the conceptual and practical aspects of MBCT.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00404/fullMindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)being modedecenteringcognitive reactivityBayesian brainpredictive coding |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Zina-Mary Manjaly Zina-Mary Manjaly Sandra Iglesias |
spellingShingle |
Zina-Mary Manjaly Zina-Mary Manjaly Sandra Iglesias A Computational Theory of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from the “Bayesian Brain” Perspective Frontiers in Psychiatry Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) being mode decentering cognitive reactivity Bayesian brain predictive coding |
author_facet |
Zina-Mary Manjaly Zina-Mary Manjaly Sandra Iglesias |
author_sort |
Zina-Mary Manjaly |
title |
A Computational Theory of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from the “Bayesian Brain” Perspective |
title_short |
A Computational Theory of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from the “Bayesian Brain” Perspective |
title_full |
A Computational Theory of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from the “Bayesian Brain” Perspective |
title_fullStr |
A Computational Theory of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from the “Bayesian Brain” Perspective |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Computational Theory of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy from the “Bayesian Brain” Perspective |
title_sort |
computational theory of mindfulness based cognitive therapy from the “bayesian brain” perspective |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Psychiatry |
issn |
1664-0640 |
publishDate |
2020-05-01 |
description |
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was developed to combine methods from cognitive behavioral therapy and meditative techniques, with the specific goal of preventing relapse in recurrent depression. While supported by empirical evidence from multiple clinical trials, the cognitive mechanisms behind the effectiveness of MBCT are not well understood in computational (information processing) or biological terms.This article introduces a testable theory about the computational mechanisms behind MBCT that is grounded in “Bayesian brain” concepts of perception from cognitive neuroscience, such as predictive coding. These concepts regard the brain as embodying a model of its environment (including the external world and the body) which predicts future sensory inputs and is updated by prediction errors, depending on how precise these error signals are.This article offers a concrete proposal how core concepts of MBCT—(i) the being mode (accepting whatever sensations arise, without judging or changing them), (ii) decentering (experiencing thoughts and percepts simply as events in the mind that arise and pass), and (iii) cognitive reactivity (changes in mood reactivate negative beliefs)—could be understood in terms of perceptual and metacognitive processes that draw on specific computational mechanisms of the “Bayesian brain.” Importantly, the proposed theory can be tested experimentally, using a combination of behavioral paradigms, computational modelling, and neuroimaging. The novel theoretical perspective on MBCT described in this paper may offer opportunities for finessing the conceptual and practical aspects of MBCT. |
topic |
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) being mode decentering cognitive reactivity Bayesian brain predictive coding |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00404/full |
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