Table 2.

A Model of Attention Training Methods: Integrating Emotion Regulation Strategies and Attentional Networks

Attentional Training Methodologies1		Emotion Regulation Strategies
Higher	Concentration Meditationa (C)	Sustained attention on object	Selective attention to object	Disengage distracters; reengage object
	Insight Meditationb (C)	Sustained awareness w/out focus	---	Disengage distracters; non- reactive labeling of distracters
Moderate	Loving-Kindness Meditationc (R/C)	Sustained attention to positive emotion	Selective attention to positive emotion	Disengage distracters; reengage object
	ATTd (D/C)	Vigilance for neutral sound	Selective attention to neutral sound	Alternate attention b/w sounds; Attend to multiple sounds
Lower	Dot-Probe Training (D)	Vigilance for positive information	Selective visual attention to positive information	Disengage negative and neutral information
	Visual Search Training (D)	Vigilance for positive information	Selective visual attention to positive information	Avoidance of negative information
Effort (to execute)	Attentional2 Network	Alerting	Orienting	Executive
	Similar Constructs3	Awareness, alertness, vigilance, sustained attention	Scanning, selective attention	Selective, focused, alternating, and divided attention
Cognitive Effort (to acquire)4		Lower	Moderate	Higher

Note.

¹Within the model training types can be categorized as reflecting Gross’s (1998) attentional deployment emotion regulation strategies of concentration (C), distraction (D), and rumination (R).

²This model focuses on the primary attentional network/s recruited, although components of all networks may be recruited during training tasks (see Posner & Petersen, 1990).

³Delineates additional nomenclature corresponding to the alerting, orienting, and executive networks (see Raz & Buhle, 2006).

⁴Cognitive effort to acquire refers to effort required to learn a new strategy while effort to execute refers to effort required to employ a learned strategy.

^aAlso known as Shamatha or Focused Attention Meditation. The object of meditation is most commonly one’s breath.

^bAlso known as Vipassana or Open Monitoring Meditation.

^cAlso known as Metta Meditation.

^dAuditory attention training derived from clinical psychology