Mindfulness Practice with a Brain-Sensing Device Improved Cognitive Functioning of Elementary School Children: An Exploratory Pilot Study
Brain Sciences January 12, 2022 Boglarka Vekety, H. N. Alexander Logemann, Zsófia K. Takács 24 citations
A pilot study with 31 children aged 9-10 years tested an eight-session mindfulness program that included EEG-feedback, comparing it to a passive control group. Within the training group, calm and focused brain states as well as mind-wandering showed a significant linear change over sessions. Compared to the control group, children in the mindfulness group showed significant improvements in inhibition, information processing, and changes in resting-state brain activity (alpha and theta). Higher baseline alpha activity was linked to less variability in reaction time on a cognitive test. These exploratory findings suggest that mindfulness combined with EEG-feedback may enhance executive functions, with potential implications for self-regulated learning and academic achievement.