Mindfulness practices affect key brain circuits and networks relevant to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The executive attention, sustained attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity circuits are all engaged by mindfulness, as are the central executive, default mode, and salience networks. The authors suggest that more research is needed to identify the neuropsychological mechanisms by which mindfulness alleviates ADHD symptoms.
A five-minute interactive virtual reality mindfulness session that uses real-time heart rate variability biofeedback to dynamically change the virtual environment (e.g., fog clearing, sounds, visual shifts) significantly reduced anxiety, improved mindfulness states, and increased heart rate variability in university students with recent anxiety symptoms. Traditional audio-based mindfulness and a no-intervention control group showed no significant changes in heart rate variability. The findings suggest that brief, responsive VR mindfulness training can effectively enhance psychological and physiological well-being.
Brief mindfulness meditation training improved prosocial driving behavior in a virtual reality urban traffic scene. The positive effect persisted throughout the experiment, suggesting that even short mindfulness practice can make people friendlier while driving. This extends previous laboratory findings to a more realistic driving scenario, supporting the claim that mindfulness promotes prosocial behavior.