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Updated: Jul 24, 2025
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Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
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A mindful approach to controlling intrusive thoughts.
S M Ashton1, A Sambeth2, C W E M Quaedflieg2
1Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. s.ashton@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Scientific Reports
|July 6, 2023
Summary
Mindfulness training may not directly reduce intrusive thoughts, but higher dispositional mindfulness improves memory control. This effect is enhanced by strong baseline inhibitory control, offering insights for treating intrusive thought disorders.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Intrusive thoughts negatively impact well-being.
- Executive control mechanisms can regulate unwanted memories.
- Mindfulness training is known to enhance executive control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if mindfulness training reduces intrusive thoughts.
- To determine if executive functioning moderates this effect.
- To explore the link between mindfulness, memory control, and intrusive thoughts.
Main Methods:
- 148 healthy participants completed a 10-day app-based mindfulness training or an active control.
- Executive functioning (inhibitory control, working memory) was assessed at baseline.
- Intrusions were measured using the Think/No-Think task post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Contrary to hypothesis, both groups showed similar increases in dispositional mindfulness.
- Higher dispositional mindfulness correlated with fewer intrusions and better downregulation over time.
- Baseline inhibitory control moderated the effect of dispositional mindfulness on intrusion control.
Conclusions:
- Mindfulness training's benefits on intrusive thoughts may be mediated by increased dispositional mindfulness.
- Baseline inhibitory control is a key factor in the effectiveness of mindfulness for memory regulation.
- Findings have implications for treating psychopathologies with intrusive thoughts.
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