Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: Evidence of brief mental training
Consciousness and Cognition
Short Title:
Mindfulness meditation improves cognition
Format:
Journal Article
Publication Year:
n.d.
Pages:
597-605
Sources ID:
21575
Visibility:
Private
Zotero Collections:
Contemplation by Applied Subject, Cognition and Contemplation, Psychology and Contemplation, Science and Contemplation
Abstract:
(Show)
Although research has found that long-term mindfulness meditation practice promotes executive functioning and the ability to sustain attention, the effects of brief mindfulness meditation training have not been fully explored. We examined whether brief meditation training affects cognition and mood when compared to an active control group. After four sessions of either meditation training or listening to a recorded book, participants with no prior meditation experience were assessed with measures of mood, verbal fluency, visual coding, and working memory. Both interventions were effective at improving mood but only brief meditation training reduced fatigue, anxiety, and increased mindfulness. Moreover, brief mindfulness training significantly improved visuo-spatial processing, working memory, and executive functioning. Our findings suggest that 4 days of meditation training can enhance the ability to sustain attention; benefits that have previously been reported with long-term meditators.