Tangible Embodiment and Working-Memory Allocation in Mindfulness

Determine how embodying the intended object of meditation through a tangible device affects working-memory allocation and whether this reduces cognitive resources available for unintended objects and distraction during mindfulness practice.

Background

The Embodied Sensory Expansion model proposes that tangible devices can make the intended object of focused-attention meditation more perceptually salient. The paper further hypothesizes that this embodiment may occupy working-memory resources, thereby reducing the resources available for distracting or unintended mental objects.

The authors explicitly characterize this relationship as theoretical and call for quantitative empirical evaluation. Establishing the relationship would clarify a proposed cognitive mechanism through which tangible interaction could support attentional stability during mindfulness practice.

References

This proposition emerged qualitatively from both our consultation activity and findings from the scoping review (see ). However, this relationship remains largely theoretical, and further quantitative empirical evaluation is needed to strengthen the understanding of how tangible interactions intersect with working memory processes in mindfulness practice.

— Grounding Mindfulness in Embodied Tangibles: A Scoping Review & Theoretical Framework for HCI Design  (2608.19673 - Ratnayake et al., 20 Aug 2026) in Section 5.1, paragraph “Research Gaps--Embodied Sensory Expansion model”