Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Working Memory01:24

Working Memory

551
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
551
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

505
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
505
Altered States of Awareness01:06

Altered States of Awareness

759
Altered states of consciousness represent significant deviations from one's normal mental state. These deviations can range from subtle changes in awareness to profound transformations in perception, thought processes, and sensory experiences. Altered states of consciousness can be triggered by various factors, including drug use, meditation, hypnosis, illness, or even intense fatigue.
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain...
759
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

297
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
297
Self-Regulation01:25

Self-Regulation

111
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
111
Metacognition01:26

Metacognition

412
Metacognition is a conscious process where individuals are aware of their cognitive and executive processes, such as planning before solving a problem or self-monitoring during reading. For instance, a writer may need help with composing a piece. The situation involves a writer who is working on a piece of writing, but while doing so, they realize that something is missing. They notice that their characters lack depth or details. This realization occurs because the writer is reflecting on their...
412

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The motherhood role expectations for young female patients with breast cancer: a qualitative study.

Frontiers in global women's health·2026
Same author

Correction: Association of intestinal mucosal barrier function with intestinal microbiota in Spleen-Kidney Yang Deficiency IBS-D mice.

Frontiers in microbiology·2026
Same author

Outcomes of simplified left atrial appendage occlusion using the WATCHMAN FLX device: the ROSE-FLX study.

Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·2026
Same author

The Effect of Early Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Early Mobilization on Preventing the Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness in Lung Cancer Resection Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Technology in cancer research & treatment·2026
Same author

Preservation of bighead carp heads using black pepper essential oil: biogenic amine inhibition and metabolomic insights.

NPJ science of food·2026
Same author

Mechanisms and therapeutic potential of YTHDF readers: Linking epitranscriptomics to cancer.

Journal of pharmaceutical analysis·2026
Same journal

EXPRESS: Age-related Differences in Recognition Memory for Discourse: The Case of Modified Words, Competitors, and Related Lures.

Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)·2026
Same journal

EXPRESS: Exaggerated Self-Referencing in Body Dysmorphic Disorder.

Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)·2026
Same journal

EXPRESS: Post-Error Adjustments: The role of Response Stimulus Intervals and error placement.

Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)·2026
Same journal

Mitigating the Low Prevalence Effect: Role of Removing Explicit "Target-Absent" Responses in Visual Search.

Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)·2026
Same journal

Visual Selection Is Spatially Constrained During Working Memory Consolidation.

Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)·2026
Same journal

Cross-Phoneme Generalisation of Dimension-Based Statistical Learning for Stop Voicing: Probing Subject Design and Word Frame Effects.

Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory
08:16

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory

Published on: May 11, 2020

8.4K

Meditation-induced cognitive-control states regulate working memory task performance.

Ke Ma1, Na Deng1, Bernhard Hommel2,3

  • 1Key Laboratory of Personality and Cognition, Faculty of Psychological Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|February 12, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Focused-attention meditation (FAM) enhances working memory (WM) performance at moderate task demands. Open-monitoring meditation (OMM) showed no significant impact on WM, suggesting meditation

Keywords:
N-back taskSingle-boutfocused attention meditationmetacontrol stateopen monitoring meditationworking memory

More Related Videos

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
08:17

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Published on: July 19, 2017

7.8K
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

13.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory
08:16

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory

Published on: May 11, 2020

8.4K
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
08:17

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance

Published on: July 19, 2017

7.8K
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
10:38

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

13.9K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Meditation Research

Background:

  • Focused-attention meditation (FAM) and open-monitoring meditation (OMM) are hypothesized to influence metacontrol states, potentially affecting cognitive functions.
  • Working memory (WM) involves monitoring and updating representations, crucial for complex cognitive tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of single-bout FAM and OMM on working memory performance under varying cognitive load.
  • To determine if meditation type and working memory demand interact to influence cognitive control.

Main Methods:

  • Participants underwent single-bout FAM, OMM, or a control condition before completing an N-back task with low (1-back), medium (2-back), and high (3-back) working memory demands.
  • Experiment 1 included all demand levels, while Experiments 2 and 3 replicated specific conditions.

Main Results:

  • FAM significantly improved WM performance in the 2-back (medium demand) condition in Experiment 1.
  • FAM also enhanced WM performance in the 3-back (high demand) condition in Experiment 3, contrary to Experiment 1.
  • OMM did not consistently affect WM performance across conditions and experiments.

Conclusions:

  • Single-bout FAM can enhance working memory performance, but its effectiveness is contingent on the level of cognitive demand.
  • The optimal cognitive load for FAM's beneficial effects on WM appears to be moderate, not excessively high or low.
  • Meditation's impact on cognitive functions like working memory is nuanced and may depend on the specific meditation technique and task demands.