(b) holzel et al Flashcards
psychology investigated
mindfullness, localisation of function
mindfullness
stress-reduction technique used to improve wellbeing. focus only on the present
mindfullness mediation
can develop awareness of the present moment and encourage compassionate and non-judgemental attitudes
localisation of function
the idea that specific brain structures are responsible for specific behaviours/cognitive processes
mindfullness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
8-week programme to teach 3 techniques (body scanning, mindful yoga, sitting meditation)
body scanning
attention sequentially guided to sensations in each area of the mind/body
mindful yoga
gentle, coordinated, slow stretching and breathing. focus on present-moment experences. full awareness of ‘now,’ self-compassion, the bodys potential and limitations
sitting meditation
developing awareness of breathing, sensory information and emotions. gradually developing awareness of all aspects of consciousness, and our own presense in the world
sensory information
smell, touch, taste, sight
how they measured mindfulness
- FFMQ
- MRI scan
- VBM
five facets of mindfullness questionnaire (FFMQ)
- 39-item psychometric test
- answers given in a 5-point likert scale, from 1 (never) to 5 (often)
- measures 5 key areas of mindfullness
- observing
- describing
- acting with awareness
- non-judging of inner experience
- non-reactive to inner experience
- each facet is positively correlated with wellbeing
MRI scan
a non-invasive, imaging technology that produces detailed, 3D images passing a strong magnetic field through body tissues
voxel-based morphometry (VBM)
a neuro-imaging process to measure the concentration of grey matter
grey matter
made of neuron cell bodies
white matter
made of myelinated neurons
aims
to identify objectively measurable changes in brain regions as a result of an 8-week MBSR programme
IVs and DVs,
sampling method,
experimental design
IV: - participation in MBSR (8-week programme/no program(waitlist))
DV: - time spent on mindfullness excercises at home, recorded in a diary
- changes in brain structure measured by MRI/VBM
- FFMQ
- opportunity sample, recruited from 4 MBSR courses at the Centre of Mindfullness, in the US
- independent measures, longitudinal design
sample
- 33 ppts
- all right handed
- 25-55 years old
- all agreed to do an 8-week MBSR program and complete daily “homework”
- course fee was reduced as an incentive.
inclusion criteria
- healthy (apart from problems with stress)
- no medication
- fine with MRI scans
- limited meditation experience
groups the sample was split to
groups were split into 2 levels of the IV
- experimental (MBSR)
- 16 ppts (10F/6M)
- control (waitlist)
- 17 ppts (6F/11M)
procedure (before MBSR sessions)
experimental (MBSR):
- first MRI scan was done (2 weeks before the 8-week program)
control (waitlist):
- first MRI scan (next scan will be around 2 months later)
- all ppts did the FFMQ
procedure (during MBSR sessions)
experimental (MBSR):
(lab setting)
- weekly 2.5 hr sessions
- one 6.5 hr session
- took place at the Centre of Mindfulness at the Uni of Massachusetts Medical School
(field setting)
- were also given a 45 minute audio recording of guided mindfullness exercises (eg. yoga, body scan, meditation)
- to be completed daily (HW)
- kept a diary for this
- also told to practice mindfulness informally at home/doing HW
control (waitlist):
- waiting
procedure (after MBSR sessions)
experimental (MBSR):
- MRI scans were taken (2 weeks after last MBSR session)
control (waitlist):
- second MRI scan was done (at a similar time to experimental group)
- all ppts did the FFMQ again
results
amount of mindfulness practice:
- experimental group spent 22 minutes per day (on avg) on MBSR exercises
changes in mindfulness - FFMQ
- comparisons of experimental groups changes in FFMQ scores compared to control groups changes in FFMQ scores over the 8 weeks:
five facets:
- observing: improved in MBSR group compared to control
- describing: no change
- acting with awareness:improved in MBSR group compared to control
- non-judging of inner experience:improved in MBSR group compared to control
- non-reactive to inner experience: no change
grey matter change in hippocampus and insula
- small cluster in left hippocampus with increased grey matter in MBSR group
- no difference in this area of the pre-program MRI scans between experimental and control
- no other significant brain changes in other brain regions
- no correlation between brain region changes and amount of mindulness/FFMQ changes
conclusions
longitudinal changes in brain grey matter concentration were associated with following an 8-week MBSR course compared to a control group
ethical issues
GOOD
- written, informed consent from all ppts
- researcher ensured all ppts were free of metallic implants, which can be affected by MRI scanner magnetic activity
BAD
- distress, discomfort caused during MRI scan
—> GOOD: but, claustraphobic ppts allowed to withdraw
- control “waitlist” patients get no help with stress problems for 10 weeks
—> OK: the ppts in the “waitlist” group recieved the MBSR therapy after the study was complete
evaluation strengths
- High reliability, replicability and standardisation (in lab setting aspects of this study)
—> eg. same MRI procedure and FFMQ both taken two weeks before and after MBSR programme. Same 45 min audio tape given to MBSR group. Helps to ensure consistency between participant trials. - MRIs and use of VBM are objective, quantitative measures of brain
changes.
—> Brain images are ‘normalised’ to make them comparable to each other. Easy to analyse statistically and compare MBSR and control groups for changes in grey matter volume. - Independent measures design used with different groups in MBSR and controls groups.
—> This eliminates order effects and allows
comparison of IV levels. If a group had done MBSR, then control procedures then their brain may have already been altered from the first IV level.
evaluation weakenesses
- Low control over mindfulness activities completed at home for MBSR group.
—> lowers standardisation and consistency of participant experience and makes replicability difficult, as uncontrolled variables such as distractions at home or level of engagement in process could be causing differences between participants results. - The sample only had right-handed people from the United states
– This could make generalisations difficult. This is because left-handed people may use their brain differently to right-handed people when undertaking mindfulness activities. Therefore, the findings about brain changes as a result of mindfulness may only apply to right-handed people.
applications to daily life
- could benefit employers with employees who are feeling stressed, by adding daily MBSR
- counsellors/schools can use them to help reduce stress in students
- using brain scans to examine grey matter concentration in therapy/people with problems/head injuries
- yoga instructors can introduce elements of mindfulness into their classes to decrease stress and improve wellbeing
nature-nurture
nature: shows structural brain changes are possible (biological), also grey matter only changes in specific regions
nurture: external stimuli (MBSR sessions/HW) changed brain structures
