Neural Effects of Mindfulness Training on Attention

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: No Condition
Focus is Neural Effects of Mindfulness Training on Attention

Interventions: Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation Training (MMT)
Behavioral: Nutrition Education course

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to examine behavioral and neural changes resulting from Mindfulness Meditation Training (MMT), and to use this knowledge in advancing our understanding of the mechanisms of attention.

Detailed Description: Mindfulness Meditation Training (MMT) has been used successfully to decrease stress, pain, and adverse health symptoms in a varied subject population. MMT has been described as "paying attention in a particular way." Although attention is a key component of meditation, little is known about the cognitive and neural changes within the human attention system that result from MMT. In this study, we examine the effects of MMT on the human attention system using neurobehavioral measures. Here MMT comprises participation in a Mindfulness-Based-Stress-Reduction (MBSR) course, while the comparison group participates in a nutrition education course, both 8 weeks long. We compare the performance and neural activity of these groups both before and after participation in the course.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Men and women (all races and ethnicities) between 18 and 40 years old
Women of childbearing age with a negative pregnancy test within 48 hours of scanning
In good health
Right-handed
Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
English as a first language
Able to understand and provide signed informed consent
No history of metal in their body or other reasons why they could not undergo an Magnetic Resonance Imaging
No history of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, encephalopathy or encephalitis, minimal-cognitive impairment or dementia, movement disorder such as Parkinson's disease, head trauma causing loss of consciousness, cancer involving the central nervous system

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant or breast-feeding women
Individuals with implanted metal or electronic devices that would prevent them from MRI scanning.
Individuals with a history of neurologic dysfunction that would prevent performance on attentional tasks including: history of transient ischemic attacks, history of cerebral infarction, history of Binswanger's disease (or a history of hypertensive encephalopathy), history of intracranial hemorrhage, history of head trauma with loss of consciousness, history of encephalitis, history of extended exposure to any known neurotoxin, history of acquired cognitive impairment, history of normal pressure hydrocephalus, history of a cancer metastatic to the central nervous system, history of Parkinson's or other basal ganglia disease, history of Guillain-Barré syndrome or chronic or relapsing polyneuropathy

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	Mindfulness Meditation Training (MMT)	Meditation training group-- received Mindfulness Based Stress Management from the Penn Program for Stress Management. The meditation practice initially emphasized attention to a single focus. For most concentrative exercises, this focus was the breath. The sensations of breathing were to be examined closely, and when attention wandered it was to be redirected back to the breath. In other exercises, the focus of attention was to be directed to sensations within specific body parts (body scan exercise) and sensations of walking (walking meditation). During the 5th week of classes, the mindfulness training was expanded to include some explicit training in receptive attention.
2	Nutrition Education course	Nutrition education group An active comparison condition involving nutrition education was offered. This course matched the mindfulness course in all dimensions including course duration, homework, psychosocial support, and teacher expertise. The course was taught by a nurse who had expertise in nutrition and offered a program described in the book, Nutrition for Life by Lisa Hark.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reaction Times on the Sustained Attention to Response Task.	9 weeks	Single digits (0-9) are flashed on the screen one by one. The number 3 is the target and all other digits are non-targets. The participant is asked to press the space bar for nontargets and withhold from pressing the space bar for the target.

Secondary Outcome Measures