The effects of short interventions of focused-attention vs. self-compassion mindfulness meditation on undergraduate students: Evidence from self-report, classroom performance, and ERPs.

Short mindfulness meditation interventions produce different effects depending on their focus. A brief focused-attention meditation improved classroom exam performance and increased a neural marker of attention (the P300 ERP component) compared to a self-compassion meditation or a control condition. Self-compassion meditation enhanced self-reported state self-compassion but did not affect exam scores or the neural attention measure. The findings suggest that even brief, single-session mindfulness practices can influence cognition and emotion in distinct ways.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The effects of short interventions of focused-attention vs. self-compassion mindfulness meditation on undergraduate students: Evidence from self-report, classroom performance, and ERPs.