Metacognitive Mechanisms of the Attentional Training Technique

The Attentional Training Technique (ATT) has been shown to enhance attentional control and reduce maladaptive cognitive patterns but lacks a well-defined computational explanation. This paper applies a metacognitive skill model within the ACT-R cognitive architecture to clarify the procedural mechanisms underlying ATT. Grounded in proceduralization theory, we propose that ATT transforms declarative attentional strategies into automatic procedural skills, enhancing metacognitive control and emotional regulation. This framework advances our understanding of the computational and cognitive mechanisms supporting ATT, its applications in psychotherapy, and the process of metacognitive skill learning.