Comparing the temporal dynamics of top-down mindfulness and bottom-up reward systems in optimizing cognitive functioning
Preslava Hristova, Silvy Collin
PsyArXiv October 13, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/rejqg_v1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Mixed longitudinal design |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness meditation Explicit reward |
| Measures | Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Stroop task, N-back task, Rapid Visual Presentation task |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness meditation significantly improved working memory on the N-back task, a gain not seen with reward-based manipulation. On the Stroop task, both mindfulness and explicit reward produced faster reaction times with reduced accuracy, which the authors interpret as a speed-accuracy trade-off rather than genuine executive-control improvement. Mindfulness raised Mindful Attention Awareness Scale scores but did not lower perceived stress. |
Abstract
Optimizing human cognitive functioning requires a delicate balance between top-down self-regulation and bottom-up motivational reinforcement. However, the precise temporal trade-offs between these opposing trajectories (specifically, immediate reward-driven gains versus gradual mindfulness-based structural adaptation) remain poorly understood. Using a mixed longitudinal design, we assessed cognitive and psychological outcomes using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Stroop task (executive control), N-back task (working memory), and Rapid Visual Presentation task (sustained attention). Results showed that mindfulness meditation significantly improved working memory (in an N-back task). Interestingly, the Stroop task showed declined accuracy, but with faster reaction times, suggesting a speed-accuracy trade-off rather than genuine improvement for executive control. Moreover, while mindfulness did lead to an increase in the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, it did not decrease perceived stress. The result patterns for the reward condition differed from mindfulness meditation. Explicit reward resulted in faster reaction times on the Stroop task, but these were accompanied by reduced accuracy, suggesting a speed–accuracy trade-off rather than genuine cognitive improvement for executive control (in line with mindfulness meditation). Reward did not lead to any significant changes over time in other cognitive tasks. Thus, the improvements in working memory over time were specific to mindfulness meditation and not shown for reward-based manipulations. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of distinguishing genuine cognitive improvements from changes in response strategies.
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 |