Attentional Experience, Autonomic Function and Network Dynamics During the ISAAA Observational Stage of Mindfulness Training
Abstract
Objectives. To characterize attentional experience, pulse rate variability (PRV), and interpersonal pulse-rate networks during the observational stage of Interoceptive Sensitivity for Attentional–Autonomic Alignment (ISAAA) training. Methods. In an uncontrolled five-day meditation camp, 48 participants provided linked pre- and post-camp questionnaires. Post-camp wrist photoplethysmography recorded five minutes of rest followed by four five-minute practice blocks (n = 14). Exploratory analyses related three questionnaire scores to proportional rest-to-meditation RMSSD change (n = 12) and examined interpersonal pulse-rate networks (n = 14). Results. On the Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS), Curiosity increased by 2.70 points (95% CI [1.45, 3.95], dz = .63, p < .001, Holm-adjusted) and Decentering by 2.82 points ([1.80, 3.84], dz = .81, p < .001, Holm-adjusted); both remained Holm-significant across six alternative pre-post linkage reconstructions. RMSSD block means were lower during practice than at rest (50.36–68.80 vs. 96.70 ms), with no detected difference across practice blocks (p = .2773). Pulse rate showed no detectable change. Emotional Awareness correlated with the meditation/rest RMSSD ratio (ρ = −.68, p = .015, did not survive correction). Mean absolute interpersonal correlation was .070 at rest and .057 during the first practice block; no network comparison was significant. Conclusions. Stage 1 training was accompanied by increased curiosity and decentering. The physiological pattern is compatible with engaged observation, indicating a potential attention-autonomic correlation, while the baseline and processing need more data on a firm autonomic interpretation. Interpersonal networks provide an exploratory group-level perspective without establishing increased synchrony or social connection.
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BibTeX
@misc{junling2026attentional,
title = {{Attentional Experience, Autonomic Function and Network Dynamics During the ISAAA Observational Stage of Mindfulness Training}},
author = {GAO JUNLING and Hank Leung and Kin Cheung (George) Lee and Bonnie Wai Yan Wu and Qiqi Chen and Andrew Bakaki and Hin Hung Sik},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/m367n_v1},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/m367n_v1/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Attentional Experience, Autonomic Function and Network Dynamics During the ISAAA Observational Stage of Mindfulness Training
AU - GAO JUNLING
AU - Hank Leung
AU - Kin Cheung (George) Lee
AU - Bonnie Wai Yan Wu
AU - Qiqi Chen
AU - Andrew Bakaki
AU - Hin Hung Sik
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/m367n_v1
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/m367n_v1/
AB - Objectives. To characterize attentional experience, pulse rate variability (PRV), and interpersonal pulse-rate networks during the observational stage of Interoceptive Sensitivity for Attentional–Autonomic Alignment (ISAAA) training. Methods. In an uncontrolled five-day meditation camp, 48 participants provided linked pre- and post-camp questionnaires. Post-camp wrist photoplethysmography recorded five minutes of rest followed by four five-minute practice blocks (n = 14). Exploratory analyses related three questionnaire scores to proportional rest-to-meditation RMSSD change (n = 12) and examined interpersonal pulse-rate networks (n = 14). Results. On the Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS), Curiosity increased by 2.70 points (95% CI [1.45, 3.95], dz = .63, p < .001, Holm-adjusted) and Decentering by 2.82 points ([1.80, 3.84], dz = .81, p < .001, Holm-adjusted); both remained Holm-significant across six alternative pre-post linkage reconstructions. RMSSD block means were lower during practice than at rest (50.36–68.80 vs. 96.70 ms), with no detected difference across practice blocks (p = .2773). Pulse rate showed no detectable change. Emotional Awareness correlated with the meditation/rest RMSSD ratio (ρ = −.68, p = .015, did not survive correction). Mean absolute interpersonal correlation was .070 at rest and .057 during the first practice block; no network comparison was significant. Conclusions. Stage 1 training was accompanied by increased curiosity and decentering. The physiological pattern is compatible with engaged observation, indicating a potential attention-autonomic correlation, while the baseline and processing need more data on a firm autonomic interpretation. Interpersonal networks provide an exploratory group-level perspective without establishing increased synchrony or social connection.
ER -