Mindfulness training modifies subsystems of attention

Mindfulness training modifies subsystems of attention

2007, 7 (2), 109-119 | AMISHI P. JHA, JASON KROMPINGER, AND MICHAEL J. BAIME
This study investigates the impact of mindfulness training on specific aspects of attention, focusing on three distinct but overlapping attentional subsystems: alerting, orienting, and conflict monitoring. The study compares two types of mindfulness training programs—mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and intensive mindfulness retreats—with control groups that receive no mindfulness training. Participants were tested before and after the training programs using the Attention Network Test (ANT). The results show that the retreat group, with prior meditation experience, demonstrated improved conflict monitoring performance at Time 1, while the MBSR group showed enhanced orienting performance at Time 2. The retreat group also showed improved alerting performance, indicating enhanced receptive attention. These findings suggest that mindfulness training can improve attention-related behavioral responses by enhancing specific subcomponents of attention. The study highlights the potential of mindfulness training to enhance voluntary attentional selection and the emergence of receptive attention. However, the study also raises questions about the mechanisms underlying these changes and suggests the need for further research to explore the behavioral and neural mechanisms of mindfulness training.This study investigates the impact of mindfulness training on specific aspects of attention, focusing on three distinct but overlapping attentional subsystems: alerting, orienting, and conflict monitoring. The study compares two types of mindfulness training programs—mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and intensive mindfulness retreats—with control groups that receive no mindfulness training. Participants were tested before and after the training programs using the Attention Network Test (ANT). The results show that the retreat group, with prior meditation experience, demonstrated improved conflict monitoring performance at Time 1, while the MBSR group showed enhanced orienting performance at Time 2. The retreat group also showed improved alerting performance, indicating enhanced receptive attention. These findings suggest that mindfulness training can improve attention-related behavioral responses by enhancing specific subcomponents of attention. The study highlights the potential of mindfulness training to enhance voluntary attentional selection and the emergence of receptive attention. However, the study also raises questions about the mechanisms underlying these changes and suggests the need for further research to explore the behavioral and neural mechanisms of mindfulness training.
Reach us at info@study.space