Overarching States of Mind

Publication date: Available online 6 February 2020Source: Trends in Cognitive SciencesAuthor(s): Noa Herz, Shira Baror, Moshe BarWe all have our varying mental emphases, inclinations, and biases. These individual dispositions are dynamic in that they can change over time and context. We propose that these changing states of mind (SoMs) are holistic in that they exert all-encompassing and coordinated effects simultaneously on our perception, attention, thought, affect, and behavior. Given the breadth of their reach, understanding how SoMs operate is essential. We provide evidence and a framework for the concept of SoM, and we propose a unifying principle for the underlying cortical mechanism whereby SoM is determined by the balance between top-down (TD) and bottom-up (BU) processing. This novel global account gives rise to unique hypotheses and opens new horizons for understanding the human mind.

Source: Trends in Cognitive Sciences - February 8, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research