Mindfulness training enhances face working memory: evidence from the drift-diffusion model
Hui Kou, Wei Luo, Xiaodong Li, Jia Wu, Qianguo Xiao, Taiyong Bi
npj Science of Learning December 9, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41539-025-00389-0 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 120 |
| Population | Adults (no further description provided) |
| Intervention | Emotion-targeted mindfulness training |
| Duration | 5-week intervention, 1-month follow-up |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cognition Task project management Working memory training Cognitive training Face sociological concept Cognitive psychology Developmental psychology |
| Key findings | Five-week emotion-targeted mindfulness training improved working memory accuracy for happy, sad, angry, and neutral faces, but not fearful faces, with gains persisting at one-month follow-up, and drift-diffusion modeling showed increased processing efficiency (drift rate) across all emotions. |
Abstract
The effect of mindfulness training on working memory is unclear. The current study sought to confirm the impact of mindfulness training on working memory for facial stimuli and to reveal the cognitive mechanisms underlying this effect by using drift-diffusion modeling (DDM). Using a delayed match-to-sample task with facial stimuli, we measured memory performance across five emotional categories (happy, sad, fearful, angry, neutral). Sixty participants received five-week emotion-targeted mindfulness training versus 60 waitlist controls. Assessments pre-training, post-training, and at one-month follow-up revealed significantly improved memory accuracy for all emotions except fear, with the effects persisting for one month. More importantly, drift-diffusion modeling showed increased drift rates across emotional categories post-training. Furthermore, accuracy improvements strongly correlated with drift rate enhancements within each emotion category. These findings demonstrate that mindfulness training induces lasting improvements in both accuracy and processing efficiency of visual working memory, independent of facial emotions, clarifying its cognitive mechanisms.
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 27
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness Training Improves Working Memory Capacity and GRE Performance While Reducing Mind Wandering Psychological Science March 28, 2013
- The mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy adherence scale: inter‐rater reliability, adherence to protocol and treatment distinctiveness Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy March 1, 2002
- The Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory: Extensions, Applications, and Challenges at the Attention–Appraisal–Emotion Interface Psychological Inquiry October 2, 2015
- Brief Mindfulness Meditation Improves Emotion Processing Frontiers in Neuroscience October 10, 2019
and 22 more in the library