Figure 4.

Schematic illustration of computational neural modeling predictions on the origin of alpha. Green arrows represent excitatory synaptic connections and red circles inhibitory synaptic connections. We hypothesize that focal changes in alpha can be achieved by modulation of the lemniscal thalamic Ventral-Posterial medial (VPm_) pathway to SI, while diffuse regulation can be achieved through modulation of non-specific Ventral-Medial (VM) thalamic drive. The VM thalamic nucleus is under direct inhibitory control of the Basal Ganglia/Striatum circuit, which is influenced by the prefrontal cortex. These pathways suggests alpha modulation occurs through alteration of prefrontal-basal ganglia—thalamocortical circuits in ST-Mindfulness practitioners (see discussion in “Part-4: Predictions from our Computational Neural Model on Neural Mechanisms Underlying Enhanced Alpha Modulation in ST-Mindfulness,”).