LPP slopes index attention dynamics: Evidence from mindfulness inductions.
Ben Swanson, Yanli Lin, Matt R Judah
Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience June 9, 2026 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-026-01457-7 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Within-subject crossover experiment (re-analysis) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 29 |
| Population | Participants in a within-subject crossover experiment viewing negative and neutral affective images |
| Interventions | Open monitoring (OM) mindfulness induction active control condition |
| Measures | late positive potential (LPP) slope |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Late positive potential Lpp slope |
| Key findings | Focused attention mindfulness induction produced flatter, more positive LPP slopes across both negative and neutral images, suggesting enhanced attentional stability. Open monitoring induction selectively produced flatter slopes on negative but not neutral image trials, which the authors propose may reflect reduced reactive disengagement from aversive stimuli. The authors argue that LPP slopes are sensitive to direct manipulations of attentional control and may serve as a neural marker of attention dynamics. |
Abstract
Substantial evidence suggests that the late positive potential (LPP) indexes motivated attention to salient stimuli. However, traditional measurement of the LPP via mean amplitude may not fully capture rapid attentional dynamics. A nascent line of work has sought to remediate this limitation by measuring the LPP slope (i.e., rate of amplitude change); yet its functional significance and sensitivity to direct experimental manipulation lacks validation. To address this gap, we re-analyzed data from a fully within-subject crossover experiment (N = 29), where attention was manipulated using focused attention (FA) and open monitoring (OM) mindfulness inductions, contrasted against an active control condition, during an affective picture viewing task involving negative and neutral images. As hypothesized, the FA induction produced flatter, more positive slopes across both negative and neutral images, suggesting enhanced attentional stability. Intriguingly, the OM induction selectively produced flatter slopes on negative but not neutral image trials, aligning with prior postulations that OM may reduce reactive disengagement from aversive stimuli. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that LPP slopes are sensitive to direct manipulations of attentional control, providing much needed experimental evidence for their utility as a neural marker of attention dynamics.
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 13
- Neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences June 28, 2007
- Investigating the phenomenological matrix of mindfulness-related practices from a neurocognitive perspective. American Psychologist October 1, 2015
- Focused attention, open monitoring and loving kindness meditation: effects on attention, conflict monitoring, and creativity – A review Frontiers in Psychology September 23, 2014
- Dispositional mindfulness and the attenuation of neural responses to emotional stimuli Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience January 17, 2012
- Meditation alters perceptual rivalry in Tibetan Buddhist monks Current Biology June 1, 2005
and 8 more in the library