Mindfulness training affects attention--or is it attentional effort?

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Mindfulness Research

Background:

• Mindfulness meditation is proposed to enhance attention, but empirical evidence is debated.
• Previous studies often lack controls for test effort and stress reduction effects per se.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the unique effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on attentional performance.
• To control for test effort and general stress reduction in evaluating MBSR's impact on attention.
• To compare MBSR with non-mindfulness stress reduction (NMSR) and incentive/non-incentive controls.

Main Methods:

• A blinded, randomized controlled trial with 48 novices assigned to MBSR, NMSR, or inactive control groups.
• Inclusion of incentive and non-incentive subgroups within the inactive control condition.
• Assessment using 5 attention paradigms, self-report measures, and salivary cortisol levels pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• MBSR significantly improved selective attention, conscious perception thresholds, and visual working memory capacity.
• Attentional improvements in MBSR were superior to NMSR and financial incentives on specific measures.
• MBSR effectively reduced perceived and physiological stress, alongside increased mindfulness levels.

Conclusions:

• MBSR may offer unique attentional benefits beyond general stress reduction or increased test effort.
• Findings suggest potential confounding by test effort in prior MBSR attention studies.
• Further research should utilize non-reaction-time measures and outcomes less influenced by effort to clarify MBSR's specific cognitive effects.