Cognitive modeling of mindfulness therapy by autogenic training

In this paper, the effect of a mindfulness therapy based on a Network-Oriented Modeling approach is addressed. The considered therapy is Autogenic Training that can be used when under stress; it has as two main goals to achieve feeling heavy and warm body parts (limbs). Mantras have been used in therapies since long ago to make stressed individuals more relaxed, and they are also used in Autogenic Training. The presented cognitive temporal-causal network model addresses the modeling of Autogenic Training asking this into account. In the first phase a strong stress-inducing stimulus causes the individual to develop an extreme stressful emotion. In the second phase, the therapy with the two goals is shown to make the stressed individual relaxed. Hebbian learning is used to increase the influence of the therapy.