Abstract
Objectives
Mindfulness practice can enhance different aspects of attentional functions, such as the ability to sustain the attentional focus over time. However, it is still unclear whether this practice might indeed impact higher cognitive functions, such as control mechanisms that allow the appropriate and flexible allocation of attentional resources. In this longitudinal study, changes associated with a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program were investigated, with a focus on proactive and reactive cognitive control mechanisms, namely, the ability to maintain task-relevant information and to prepare in advance the response, and the ability to promptly adjust overlearned behaviors in response to conflicting stimuli.
Methods
Two groups of participants took part in the study: 26 participants who completed a formal MBSR training (mean age = 43 years, females = 21) and 23 participants who performed a control training (mean age = 47.2 years, females = 20). They were tested on a modified AX-continuous performance task (AX-CPT), before and after eight weeks of training. The electroencephalographic (EEG) signal was recorded during task execution, and amplitude modulations of event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with cues and probes were examined.
Results
After the training, the MBSR group exhibited a significant reduction of errors on high conflicting trials. Concurrently, the Contingent Negative Variation (CNV), an ERP index of anticipatory processes elicited by task cues, became more pronounced in the post-training session in the MBSR group only. In addition, an attenuated probe-locked N2 and an increased P3a component emerged.
Conclusions
Taken together, the behavioral and electrophysiological results suggest that the mindfulness practice enhanced the ability to implement both proactive and reactive cognitive control processes.
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Acknowledgments
We wish to thank all participants for their extremely kind collaboration. We would particularly thank Dr. Franco Cucchio, the mindfulness trainer of Motus Mundi Centre for Mindfulness. Motus Mundi is an Italian center membership CommonGoodTM of the CFM-Centre of Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society in Medical School, Massachusetts University (https://www.motusmundi.it/home). We also want to thank Ettore Ambrosini for his precious support and his suggestions during the data analysis.
Funding
This work was funded by the European Research Council under the European Union’s 7th Framework Program (FP7/2007–2013), Grant Agreement n. 313692 awarded to AV.
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FI and VT: designed and executed the study, performed the data analysis, and wrote the paper. CC: collaborated with the design and editing of the final manuscript. AV: supervised all research steps and wrote and revised the manuscript. Francesca Incagli and Vincenza Tarantino share first author credit.
Francesca Incagli and Vincenza Tarantino contributed equally to this work.
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This study was approved by the Bioethical Committee of the Azienda Ospedaliera of Padova (Prot. N. 2758P) and was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki (World Medical Association 2013).
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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
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Incagli, F., Tarantino, V., Crescentini, C. et al. The Effects of 8-Week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on Cognitive Control: an EEG Study. Mindfulness 11, 756–770 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01288-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01288-3