Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation

Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation

October 23, 2007 | vol. 104 | no. 43 | Yi-Yuan Tang*, Yinghua Ma*, Junhong Wang*, Yaxin Fan*, Shigang Feng*, Qilin Lu*, Qingbao Yu*, Danni Sui*, Mary K. Rothbart†, Ming Fan*, and Michael I. Posner†‡
This study investigates the effects of a short-term meditation training program, Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT), on attention and self-regulation. The research involved 80 healthy Chinese undergraduates, randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received 5 days of IBMT training, while the control group received relaxation training. The study used various standardized tests to measure attention, mood, and stress levels before and after the training. Key findings include: 1. **Attention and Self-Regulation**: The experimental group showed significantly better performance on the Attention Network Test (ANT) and reported improved mood and reduced stress compared to the control group. 2. **Mood and Stress**: The experimental group had lower scores in negative moods (anger-hostility, depression-dejection, tension-anxiety) and higher scores in positive moods (vigor-activity) post-training. They also showed reduced cortisol levels and increased immunoreactivity, indicating better stress management. 3. **Cognitive Performance**: The experimental group demonstrated improved scores on the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices, suggesting enhanced executive attention and cognitive performance. The study concludes that a short-term IBMT training can effectively improve attention, self-regulation, and stress management, providing a convenient method for studying meditation's effects. The integration of body relaxation, breathing adjustment, mental imagery, and mindfulness training in IBMT may be key to its effectiveness.This study investigates the effects of a short-term meditation training program, Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT), on attention and self-regulation. The research involved 80 healthy Chinese undergraduates, randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group received 5 days of IBMT training, while the control group received relaxation training. The study used various standardized tests to measure attention, mood, and stress levels before and after the training. Key findings include: 1. **Attention and Self-Regulation**: The experimental group showed significantly better performance on the Attention Network Test (ANT) and reported improved mood and reduced stress compared to the control group. 2. **Mood and Stress**: The experimental group had lower scores in negative moods (anger-hostility, depression-dejection, tension-anxiety) and higher scores in positive moods (vigor-activity) post-training. They also showed reduced cortisol levels and increased immunoreactivity, indicating better stress management. 3. **Cognitive Performance**: The experimental group demonstrated improved scores on the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices, suggesting enhanced executive attention and cognitive performance. The study concludes that a short-term IBMT training can effectively improve attention, self-regulation, and stress management, providing a convenient method for studying meditation's effects. The integration of body relaxation, breathing adjustment, mental imagery, and mindfulness training in IBMT may be key to its effectiveness.
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