Evaluating the effects of brief mindfulness practice on attentional control and episodic memory

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mindfulness refers to a mental state of present awareness that involves non-judgmental acceptance of current cognitions and emotions. Building on reported clinical benefits (e.g. reduced anxiety/depression), minfulness engagement may similarly facilitate attention and memory processes as practitioners repetitively inhibit distracting thoughts and direct attention to the present moment. Experiment 1 gauged the relationships between trait mindfulness and practice frequency and performance on attention and episodic memory tasks. Experiment 2 evaluated attention and memory performance following a brief mindfulness intervention consisting of two 5-minute mindfulness sessions. No consistent relationships were found between trait mindfulness and practice frequency and attention and memory performance in Experiment 1. Further, brief engagements in mindfulness failed to benefit attention and memory versus a control group in Experiment 2. Engagement in brief mindfulness sessions do not appear to produce short-term improvements in attention and memory, suggesting that cognitive benefits following mindfulness may only emerge following long-term practice.