Temporal Cognition Changes Following Mindfulness, but Not Transcendental Meditation Practice

According to the cognitive-timer model, time estimation is dependent on the interplay between arousal level and attention. This anticipates that higher attention and lower arousal, two features of meditation, will result in a longer time production (P). We tested this hypothesis by using a time production task in two forms of meditation: Mindfulness Meditation (MM, n = 36) and Transcendental Meditation (TM, n = 10), with suitable age- matched controls (n = 12 and n = 9, respectively). The MM group was comprised of three groups (n = 12 each) with varying expertise level, to enable studying a meditation proficiency effect. We tested trait and state effects by using a pre – post meditation design. All three MM groups exhibited longer P compared to their control, as predicted. This was found to be a trait effect, as condition or MM expertise did not affect the results. No significant changes in P were found following prolonged TM practi