Does Mindfulness Meditation Training Enhance Executive Control? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials in Adults
Mindfulness March 18, 2019 L. Cásedas, Vincenzo Pirruccio, M. Vadillo et al. preprint
A meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials found that mindfulness meditation training produces a small-to-medium improvement in executive control (overall effect size g = 0.34). The effect was moderate for working memory (g = 0.42) and inhibitory control (g = 0.42), but negligible for cognitive flexibility (g = 0.09). No evidence of publication bias was detected. The findings provide preliminary, moderate support for mindfulness meditation as an enhancer of executive control, though the authors note limitations in the included studies.