iii. Formalized theory & computational modeling

In recent years, we re-focused our approach to theory development on formalized dynamical systems theory and computational modeling, beginning with the study of internal attention in internally-directed cognition and mental health. This work led to an innovative Attention-2-Thoughts (A2T) model that has permitted us to explore internally-directed cognition across time-scales, and drive new thinking and study into the emergence, phenotypic signatures and (mal)adaptivity of internally-directed cognition. I am very keen about this approach and its potential more broadly for the psychological sciences. We are now working to extend this formalized theory to re-conceptualize, model and study mindfulness as a dynamical system as well. If we are successful, I believe that this approach could have significant impact on the future of mindfulness science.