Breath-Counting Task Enhances the Sensitivity of Fear Acquisition.
Xu Li, Yong Yang, Ranran Wang, Lehong Zhou, Xifu Zheng
Behavioral Sciences February 24, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/bs15030263 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study with randomized group assignment Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Breath-counting task |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Breath-counting task Conditioned fear Fear acquisition |
| Key findings | Breath-counting mindfulness training reduced exaggerated fear responses to safety signals (CS−) during fear acquisition, but did not alter overall fear acquisition effects compared to a control group. |
Abstract
Fear acquisition is an essential survival mechanism for humans; however, the role and mechanisms of mindfulness training in this process remain unclear. This study employed a discriminative fear conditioning paradigm to investigate the effects and mechanisms of short-term mindfulness training, exemplified by the breath-counting task, on fear acquisition. The experiment consisted of three consecutive phases: intervention, habituation, and acquisition. During the intervention phase, each participant was assigned to one of two conditions: the breath-counting task group (experimental group) or the free reading group (control group). The results indicated that the mindfulness group exhibited significantly lower expectancy ratings for shocks to the CS- compared to the control group, while no significant difference was found in the shock ratings for CS+. Regarding skin conductance responses, although the mindfulness group showed a significantly reduced fear response to CS relative to the free reading group, there was no significant difference in overall fear acquisition effects between the two groups. The above findings indicate that breath-counting tasks enhance sensitivity to the acquisition of conditioned fear by reducing exaggerated fear responses to safety signals. The conclusions of this study further elucidate the conflicting results regarding the effects of mindfulness training on fear acquisition and provide novel perspectives for the prevention of anxiety spectrum disorders.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 15
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Mindfulness Interventions Annual Review of Psychology September 30, 2016
- Brief mindfulness training for negative affectivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology June 25, 2018
- A mind you can count on: validating breath counting as a behavioral measure of mindfulness Frontiers in Psychology October 24, 2014
- A Mega-Analysis of the Relationship Between Breath Counting Test Performance and Subscales of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire Mindfulness August 25, 2023
and 10 more in the library