Impact of short-term meditation and expectation on executive brain functions.
Martin Prätzlich, Joe Kossowsky, J. Gaab, Peter Krummenacher
Behavioural Brain Research 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.10.012 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized, single-blind, deceptive, between-subject proof-of-concept study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | Healthy meditation-naive volunteers |
| Interventions | Focused attention meditation Sham meditation Positive suggestions Negative suggestions |
| Duration | 3 consecutive days, 20 min/session |
| Measures | Stroop task, d2 task, figural fluency, verbal fluency |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Positive suggestions about meditation's effects increased performance on interference control and verbal fluency, while negative suggestions impeded improvement, indicating that expectations substantially influence these executive function measures. The authors argue that a credible expectation control group is necessary to disentangle context effects from meditation effects, and that suggestions can modulate meditation's small effect on verbal fluency. |
Abstract
Meditation improves executive functions such as attention and working memory processes. However, it remains unclear to what extent contextual effects contribute to these improvements, since the role of meditation-associated expectations has not been investigated so far. In a randomized, single-blind, deceptive, between-subject design we compared the impact of short-term meditation (MG) on executive functioning with an expectation (ECG) and a passive control group (CG) as well as the effect of positive and negative outcome expectations. Fifty-nine healthy meditation-naïve volunteers participated on three consecutive days (20 min/session). Five groups were examined: 2 MGs, 2 ECGs and 1 CG. While one MG and one ECG were given positive suggestions concerning the effect of meditation on attention, the other two groups were given negative suggestions. MGs practised a focused attention meditation technique; ECGs were told that they were practising meditation but were given instructions for a sham meditation. CG participants sat in silence with their eyes closed. Interference control (Stroop task), selective sustained attention (d2 task), figural and verbal fluency measures of executive functions were assessed. Results indicate that suggestions have a substantial impact on interference control and verbal fluency, with positive suggestions leading to an increase in performance, whereas negative suggestions impeded improvement. This proof of concept study demonstrates the importance of the implementation of a credible ECG to elucidate context effects in meditation processes. It also indicates that suggestions can modulate the small effect of meditation on verbal fluency.
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 16
- Neurophysiological mechanisms of focused attention meditation: A scoping systematic review Imaging Neuroscience 2025
- Mindfulness meditation can improve both focal and non-focal prospective memory performance. Memory April 2025
- Outcome Expectancies, Effects, and Mechanisms of Brief Training in Mindfulness Meditation vs. Loving-Kindness Meditation vs a Control Condition for Pain Management: A Randomized Pilot Study. Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy September 1, 2024
- Brief Meditation on Test Anxiety of Eighth Grade Chinese Students: Chain-Mediating Roles of Mindfulness and Self-Efficacy School Mental Health May 20, 2024
- Effects of brief focused-attention and loving-kindness meditation on tacit social coordination, on-task thought, and other-orientation PsyArXiv February 15, 2024
and 11 more in the library
Cites 26
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness Neuroreport November 7, 2005
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences November 23, 2011
and 21 more in the library