Interindividual differences in mindfulness are linked to sleep-electroencephalographic characteristics

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Trait mindfulness, the inherent tendency to be present, is linked to better subjective sleep quality.
• Objective, electroencephalogram (EEG)-based sleep measures have not been extensively studied in relation to trait mindfulness.
• Understanding this relationship can illuminate the physiological underpinnings of mindfulness and sleep.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if objective EEG-based sleep parameters explain individual differences in trait mindfulness.
• To explore the association between trait mindfulness and specific sleep stages and brainwave activity.
• To validate previous findings on trait mindfulness and subjective sleep quality using objective measures.

Main Methods:

• Collected whole-night polysomnographic data from 52 healthy adults using portable high-density EEG.
• Assessed trait mindfulness using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire short form (FFMQ-SF).
• Analyzed correlations between FFMQ-SF scores and objective sleep parameters, including sleep stages and EEG power spectra.

Main Results:

• Trait mindfulness showed a trend-level positive correlation with the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
• Lower REM beta/gamma power and NREM beta power were associated with higher trait mindfulness.
• Previous findings linking higher trait mindfulness to better subjective sleep quality were replicated.

Conclusions:

• REM sleep's role in emotional processing may be influenced by mindfulness.
• Reduced REM high-frequency activity might indicate reduced adrenergic activity, aiding emotional regulation.
• Increased NREM high-frequency activity, linked to hyperarousal in insomnia, may be inversely related to trait mindfulness, suggesting a protective effect.