Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory
Published on: May 11, 2020
Recovery from stress: an experimental examination of focused attention meditation in novices
Amy R Borchardt1,2, Peggy M Zoccola3
1Department of Psychology, Mercer University, 1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA, 31207, USA. borchardt_ar@mercer.edu.
Abstract:
Identifying strategies that aid in recovery from stress may benefit cardiovascular health. Ninety-nine undergraduate meditation novices were randomly assigned to meditate, listen to an audio book, or sit quietly after a standardized stressor. During recovery, meditators' heart rate variability and skin conductance levels returned to baseline, whereas only heart rate variability returned to baseline for the audio book and control groups. Positive and negative affect were no different than baseline following meditation, whereas, both audio book and control groups had lower positive affect and higher negative affect following the intervention. Findings suggest that the sympathetic nervous system is uniquely affected by meditation, and novices may benefit emotionally from meditating after a stressor. Further research is needed to determine meditation's utility in recovering from stress.
More Related Videos
09:48Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
Published on: September 11, 2017
11:13The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Related Concept Videos
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
Responses to Salt Stress
Coping Strategies: Problem Focused
For example, consider a student who struggles to understand their...
Focusing of Light in the Eye
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress