Dispositional mindfulness attenuates the emotional attentional blink.
Dominique Makowski, Marco Sperduti, Samantha Lavallée, Serge Nicolas, Pascale Piolino
Consciousness and Cognition 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2018.11.004 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Attention Cognitive flexibility Emotion Memory |
| Key findings | Dispositional mindfulness, particularly the Non-reacting facet, is associated with faster disengagement of attention from emotional stimuli. |
Abstract
Emotional stimuli have been shown to automatically hijack attention, hindering the detection of forthcoming targets. Mindfulness is defined as a present moment non-judgemental attentional stance that can be cultivated by meditation practices, but that may present interindividual variability in the general population. The mechanisms underlying modification in emotional reactivity linked to mindfulness are still a matter of debate. In particular, it is not clear whether mindfulness is associated with a diminished emotional response, or with faster recovery. We presented participants with target pictures embedded in a rapid visual presentation stream. The targets could be preceded by negative, neutral or scrambled critical distractors. We showed that dispositional mindfulness, in particular the Non-reacting facet, was related to faster disengagement of attention from emotional stimuli. These results could have implications for mood disorders characterised by an exaggerated attentional bias toward emotional stimuli, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Undergraduate students | 2006 | Observational cohort | |
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Participants with extensive Insight meditation experience and matched controls | 2005 | Observational cohort | n = 20 |
| Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Experienced meditators and matched meditation-naive controls | 2011 | Observational cohort | |
| Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude gamma synchrony during mental practice Long-term Buddhist practitioners and controls | 2004 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 5
- The Effects of Self-Guided Meditation and Napping on Memory Consolidation in Humans January 30, 2020
- Awake bruxism and dispositional mindfulness: psychophysiological and behavioral correlates in a real-time ecological assessment Odontology June 2, 2026
- The Effect of a 10-minute Mindfulness Induction on the Emotional Attentional Blink Research Square July 21, 2026
- How do mindfulness and compassion programs improve mental health and well-being? The role of attentional processing of emotional information. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry December 1, 2023
- The Effect of a Short Mindfulness Meditation on Somatosensory Attention Mindfulness August 1, 2022
Cites 15
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Neural Correlates of Dispositional Mindfulness During Affect Labeling Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2007
- Mental Training Affects Distribution of Limited Brain Resources PLoS Biology May 4, 2007
and 10 more in the library