The influence of mindfulness induction on attentional control of irrelevant emotional information
Surabhi Lodha, Rashmi Gupta
PsyArXiv October 3, 2023 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/fr3sa (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 323 |
| Population | Undergraduate students |
| Intervention | Mindfulness induction |
| Measures | Stroop interference effect |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Brief mindfulness induction did not alter the effect of emotional faces on attentional control; interference was higher when emotional faces preceded the Stroop target than when they appeared concurrently, regardless of mindfulness condition. Emotional faces affected interference only in waitlist groups, while mindfulness groups showed no such modulation, which the authors interpret as consistent with mindfulness benefiting the cognitive system even through brief practice. |
Abstract
Objectives: This study investigated the effect of mindfulness induction on attentional control in emotional contexts and explored if the time course of emotional information modulated the effects.
Method: A total of 323 undergraduate students were randomized to four groups: mindfulness induction group in Experiment 1 (MI-Prime), waitlist control group in Experiment 1 (WLC-Prime), mindfulness induction group in Experiment 2 (MI-Concur), and waitlist control group in Experiment 2 (WLC-Concur). Participants completed a Stroop task in which a task-irrelevant emotional face (neutral, happy, angry) either preceded the Stroop target (Experiment 1; prime) or appeared with it (Experiment 2; concurrent). The Stroop interference effect served as the measure of attention control.
Results: Mixed-measures ANOVA showed that a significant effect of group (F= 9.15, p < 0.001), with higher interference effect in the MI-Prime group than the MI-Concur group (p < 0.01) and the WLC-Prime group than the WLC-Concur group (p < 0.01). Significant interaction effect between the group and emotions (F = 2.50, p = 0.02) indicated that task-irrelevant emotional faces exhibited differential impact on Stroop interference effects within the WLC groups, but MI groups experienced no modulations. The four groups were similar in trait mindfulness, emotional states, and affect (p > 0.48 for all).
Conclusion: The time course of emotional information modulated attentional control irrespective of mindfulness induction. The findings support the previous research on mindfulness’s potential to benefit the cognitive system even through brief practice.
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 |