Effects of short mindful breathing meditations on executive functioning in two randomized controlled double-blinded experiments.
Acta Psychol (Amst) August 15, 2023
Two randomized controlled double-blinded experiments found that brief mindful breathing meditation sessions improved executive functioning compared to control conditions. The first experiment showed that a 15-minute mindful breathing exercise enhanced performance on tasks measuring cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. The second experiment replicated these findings, indicating that even short durations of mindfulness practice can positively affect higher-order cognitive processes. The authors suggest that mindful breathing may serve as an accessible intervention for boosting executive functions in healthy adults.