Mindfulness training enhances face working memory: evidence from the drift-diffusion model
npj Science of Learning December 9, 2025 Hui Kou, Wei Luo, Xiaodong Li et al.
A five-week emotion-targeted mindfulness training program improved working memory for facial expressions of happiness, sadness, anger, and neutrality, but not fear, in a study of 120 participants. The improvements lasted at least one month. Drift-diffusion modeling revealed that the training increased the efficiency of information processing (drift rate) across all emotional categories, and these increases correlated with accuracy gains. The findings suggest mindfulness training enhances both the accuracy and speed of visual working memory processing, independent of the specific emotion displayed.