Augmenting complex and dynamic performance through mindfulness-based cognitive training: an evaluation of training adherence, trait mindfulness, personality and resting-state EEG
Chloe Dziego, Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky, Matthias Schlesewsky, Ruchi Sinha, Maarten A. Immink, Zachariah Cross
bioRxiv September 26, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.24.559207 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 40 |
| Population | Young, healthy adults aged 18 to 38 |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-based training |
| Duration | One week |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Greater adherence to a one-week mindfulness-based training regime (0 to 21 sessions) was associated with improved performance on a dynamic target motion analyst task in the second testing session, controlling for baseline. The authors report that these enhancements remained relatively consistent across resting-state EEG metrics, personality measures, enjoyment, and timing of adherence, and suggest mindfulness training may yield transferable performance gains. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Human performance applications of mindfulness-based training have demonstrated its utility in enhancing cognitive functioning. Previous studies have illustrated how these interventions can improve performance on traditional cognitive tests, however, little investigation has explored the extent to which mindfulness-based training can optimise performance in more dynamic and complex contexts. Further, from a neuroscientific perspective, the underlying mechanisms responsible for performance enhancements remain largely undescribed. With this in mind, the following study aimed to investigate how a short-term mindfulness intervention (one week) augments performance on a dynamic and complex task (target motion analyst task; TMA) in young, healthy adults ( n = 40, age range = 18 - 38). Linear mixed effect modelling revealed that increased adherence to the mindfulness-based training regime (ranging from 0-21 sessions) was associated with improved performance in the second testing session of the TMA task, controlling for baseline performance. Further analyses of resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) metrics and additional individual factors demonstrated enhancements associated with training adherence remained relatively consistent across varying levels of participants’ resting-state EEG metrics, personality measures (i.e., trait mindfulness, neuroticism, conscientiousness), self-reported enjoyment and timing of intervention adherence. Our results thus indicate that mindfulness-based cognitive training leads to performance enhancements in distantly related tasks, irrespective of several individual differences. We also revealed nuances in the magnitude of cognitive enhancements contingent on the timing of adherence, regardless of total volume of training. Overall, our findings suggest that mindfulness-based training could be used in a myriad of settings to elicit transferable performance enhancements.
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 |