Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
2-2021
Abstract
Mindfulness training has been extensively researched and found to elicit positive effects on cognitive performance, including working memory capacity. Benefits to cognitive function have been extended to brief mindfulness training as well. However, not much is known about its effect on working memory capacity. The current study examined the effects of a single 15-min session of mindful attention to breathing compared to a 15-min session of mind-wandering exercise in a within-subjects experimental design (Study 1; N = 82) and a between-subjects experimental design (Study 2; N = 424). Contrary to our hypotheses, in both experiments, we did not find any evidence that participants in the mindfulness condition outperform the control condition on an operation span task (Study 1) and a symmetry span task (Study 2). These results suggest that a single session of mindful practice may not be sufficient to enhance working memory capacity.
Keywords
brief mindfulness intervention, working memory capacity, focused breathing, operation span task, symmetry span task
Discipline
Developmental Psychology | Psychology
Research Areas
Psychology
Publication
Brain Sciences
Volume
11
Issue
2
First Page
1
Last Page
12
ISSN
2076-3425
Identifier
10.3390/brainsci11020175
Publisher
MDPI
Citation
QUEK, Frosch Y. X., MAJEED, Nadyanna M., KOTHARI, Meenakshi, LUA, Verity Y. Q., ONG, Hee Seng, & HARTANTO, Andree.(2021). Brief mindfulness breathing exercises and working memory capacity: Findings from two experimental approaches. Brain Sciences, 11(2), 1-12.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3445
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020175