Does mindfulness training modulate the influence of spatial attention on the processing of intracutaneous electrical stimuli?
Rob H. J. van der Lubbe, Elian de Kleine, Karlein M. G. Schreurs, Ernst Thomas Bohlmeijer
PLoS One August 9, 2018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201689 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized or controlled EEG study with two training-session schedules (pre-post vs. post-post eight weeks later) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Participants who took part in MBSR training and EEG sessions |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training |
| Duration | Two EEG sessions; one group before and after training, another group after training and eight weeks later |
| Measures | self-reported mindfulness, behavioral measures, lateralized alpha power, event-related potentials (N130, N180, P340) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 7 |
| Key points | MBSR training clearly increased self-reported mindfulness but showed no influence on behavioral measures, lateralized alpha power, or ERP components (N130, N180, P340) during an endogenous spatial orienting task. Spatial attention itself modulated alpha power and several ERP components. Individual differences in training time modulated some effects but did not influence attentional orienting. |
Abstract
Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) training has been proposed to improve attentional skills by modulating thalamo-cortical loops that affect the sensitivity of relevant cortical areas like the somatosensory cortex. This modulation may be reflected in the electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythm, and could affect the processing of subsequently applied intracutaneous electrical stimuli. Participants took part in an MBSR training and participated in two EEG sessions. EEG was measured in variants of an endogenous orienting paradigm in which attention had to be directed to the left or right forearm. After the orienting interval, the electrical stimulus was applied, equally likely on the attended or the unattended forearm. One group of participants took part in the EEG session before and after the training, while the other group took part after the training, and another time, eight weeks later. The influence of the MBSR training and spatial attention were examined with behavioral measures, lateralized alpha power within the orienting interval, and with event-related potentials (ERPs) evoked by the electrical stimuli. Self-reported mindfulness was clearly affected by the training, but no influence was found on other behavioral measures. Alpha power was clearly lateralized due to spatial attention and several ERP components (N130, N180, P340) were modulated by spatial attention but no support was found for an influence of the MBSR training. Finally, analyses revealed that individual differences in training time modulated some of the observed effects, but no support was found for an influence on attentional orienting.
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
Cited by 2
- A brief mindfulness intervention improves electrophysiological markers of attention in meditation-naïve individuals: the moderating role of inattention symptoms. Frontiers in Psychology August 21, 2025
- A Critical Analysis on Characterizing the Meditation Experience Through the Electroencephalogram Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience August 7, 2020
Cites 12
- Mental Training Affects Distribution of Limited Brain Resources PLoS Biology May 4, 2007
- A systematic review of the neurophysiology of mindfulness on EEG oscillations Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 2015
- Mental Training Enhances Attentional Stability: Neural and Behavioral Evidence Journal of Neuroscience October 21, 2009
- Mindfulness starts with the body: somatosensory attention and top-down modulation of cortical alpha rhythms in mindfulness meditation Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2013
- Meditation Effects on the Control of Involuntary Contingent Reorienting Revealed With Electroencephalographic and Behavioral Evidence. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 2018
and 7 more in the library