The Effects of Mindfulness on Cognitive Control and Meaning in Life in College Students
Disciplines
Behavioral Neurobiology | Biological Psychology | Cognitive Neuroscience | Cognitive Psychology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
This study examines the relationship between cognitive control, mindfulness, and perceived meaning in life. Research demonstrates a strong relationship between activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and performance on various cognitive functions as measured by the Erikson Flanker task (Botvinick, et al., 2001) and that increased activity in the ACC is associated with better emotional well-being and self-reflection (Tang, et al., 2015). Mindfulness, defined as nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, may enhance these ACC-mediated processes. The purpose of this experiment is to examine whether a guided mindfulness activity can improve performance on an ACC-related task and self-reported meaning in life. We predict that participants who engage in a mindfulness activity will demonstrate faster reaction time and improved accuracy on the Flanker task, demonstrating enhanced efficiency of the ACC, and report higher scores on the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) compared to the control group. Approximately 34 participants will be assigned to a mindfulness or control condition in a between-subjects design. All participants will complete the Flanker task and MLQ at baseline and again one week later. During that time, the mindfulness group will complete a meditation activity, while the control group receives no intervention. It is predicted that the mindfulness group will demonstrate greater improvement in both measures, suggesting enhanced cognitive control and perceived meaning. If supported, these findings would support the role of mindfulness in enhancing ACC-related cognitive control and meaning in life, implicating a greater role of the ACC in these measures for future research.
Use of AI Disclaimer
no
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS – Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Ebony Glover
The Effects of Mindfulness on Cognitive Control and Meaning in Life in College Students
This study examines the relationship between cognitive control, mindfulness, and perceived meaning in life. Research demonstrates a strong relationship between activity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and performance on various cognitive functions as measured by the Erikson Flanker task (Botvinick, et al., 2001) and that increased activity in the ACC is associated with better emotional well-being and self-reflection (Tang, et al., 2015). Mindfulness, defined as nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, may enhance these ACC-mediated processes. The purpose of this experiment is to examine whether a guided mindfulness activity can improve performance on an ACC-related task and self-reported meaning in life. We predict that participants who engage in a mindfulness activity will demonstrate faster reaction time and improved accuracy on the Flanker task, demonstrating enhanced efficiency of the ACC, and report higher scores on the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) compared to the control group. Approximately 34 participants will be assigned to a mindfulness or control condition in a between-subjects design. All participants will complete the Flanker task and MLQ at baseline and again one week later. During that time, the mindfulness group will complete a meditation activity, while the control group receives no intervention. It is predicted that the mindfulness group will demonstrate greater improvement in both measures, suggesting enhanced cognitive control and perceived meaning. If supported, these findings would support the role of mindfulness in enhancing ACC-related cognitive control and meaning in life, implicating a greater role of the ACC in these measures for future research.