Abstract
AbstractInhibitory control can be divided into motor and cognitive inhibition. The current research is the first study exploring the impact of brief mindfulness training on motor inhibition, measured by a stop signal task in participants without any meditation experience. Motor inhibition performance was compared before and immediately after three different conditions; a brief mindfulness induction, a resting state and an active control session in which participants listened to their favorite music. Post-test learning effect on go-reaction times was seen for the resting and mindfulness conditions, but was absent in the music session, possibly due to emotional arousal might have led slower responses. Brief mindfulness training did not significantly alter inhibitory control, although marginal improvement in stop signal reaction time following the mindfulness induction was observed. Motor inhibition appears unresponsive to either short-term or long-term mindfulness practice. Future mindfulness studies should explore a broad spectrum of cognitive functions and populations.
Highlights
Inhibitory control of an ongoing action is critical for survival
Ad hoc paired-tests showed the mindfulness condition resulted in lower stop signal reaction time (SSRT) that approached significance for post-test versus pre-test [t(27) = 1.868, p = 0.073] (Figure 4)
Post-test Go-RTs in mindfulness and resting condition showed an expected practice effect (Ando et al, 2002). No such speed enhancement was seen for the preferred music condition
Summary
Inhibitory control of an ongoing action is critical for survival. Moffitt et al (2011) reported children with low self-control scores experience various socioeconomic problems later in life. A potentially useful task for this is the go-stop paradigm (Heeren et al, 2009). This has limitations, including confounds with short-term memory and a potentially high probability of having to withhold a response. The stop signal task (Logan, 1994), has only imperative signals, such as arrows, with stop trials differing from go signals in that the imperative signal is followed by a visible indicator as the stop signal. Performance on this task is explained by a ‘horse-race’ model that assumes that there is a competition between pre-potent go and stopping responses to reach the threshold and determining the response
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