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Mark Wilson

2 papers in the library · publishing 2019

Papers

A pilot study of mindful walking training on physical activity and health outcomes among adults with inadequate activity.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine June 1, 2019 Lu Shi, Ralph S Welsh, Snehal Lopes et al.

A four-week mindful walking intervention (one hour per week) was compared with instructions to increase physical activity among 38 adults who were not getting enough exercise. Both groups received a wrist-worn step counter. Physical activity and depression improved in both groups, but there was no significant difference between them. Device-measured step counts did not differ between groups, though both averaged close to 8,000 steps per day. The mindful walking group showed a significantly larger reduction in perceived stress immediately after the intervention, but this difference was not maintained at one-month follow-up. The short duration and small sample may have limited the results.

Neurocognitive Mechanisms of the Flow State

David Harris, Samuel James Vine, Mark Wilson preprint

Flow, often described as focused concentration or task absorption, is best explained through attentional mechanisms, which can resolve puzzles like how a difficult task feels effortless. Brain-imaging research reveals that flow involves higher-order attentional networks and reduced activity in brain regions linked to self-referential processing. However, tensions exist, including a dissociation between physiological and experiential measures and equivocal neuroimaging findings regarding hypofrontality. While neuroscientific investigation of flow is preliminary, these insights have implications for understanding and enhancing sporting performance.