Holzel Flashcards
What is mindfulness?
A practice of becoming more aware of one’s current experiences, including thoughts, emotions, and sensations, to enhance self-awareness and manage stress effectively.
What area of the brain was studied in this research?
The hippocampus, responsible for memory, spatial awareness, and emotional regulation.
What is neuroplasticity?
The brain’s ability to form new neurons and connections, which can be influenced by mindfulness.
How was brain localization studied in the past?
Through autopsy and brain surgery.
What technology is used today to study brain structure and function?
Brain scanning techniques like MRI and EEG.
What does MRI detect?
Structural changes in grey matter, enabling detailed studies of learning and mindfulness effects on the brain.
What was the aim of Hölzel et al.’s study?
To investigate changes in grey matter concentration before and after an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course.
What problem did this study aim to overcome?
Issues with earlier cross-sectional studies that could not confirm whether observed differences were due to mindfulness or pre-existing factors.
What type of study was conducted?
A longitudinal study comparing pre- and post-MBSR intervention results.
What was the independent variable (IV)?
Exposure to the 8-week MBSR intervention.
What was the dependent variable (DV)?
Changes in grey matter concentration and mindfulness questionnaire scores.
What did the MBSR intervention involve?
Weekly 2.5-hour sessions for 8 weeks.
A full-day session in week 6.
Exercises like body scans, mindful yoga, and sitting meditation.
How did participants practice mindfulness outside sessions?
Using a 45-minute daily guided recording and practicing mindfulness in daily activities like eating or walking.
Who were the participants?
16 experimental participants (mean age: 38 years, diverse ethnicities).
17 control participants (mean age: 39 years).
What were the criteria for participation?
No metal in the body (safe for MRI).
Limited prior meditation experience.
Self-reported physical and mental health.
What assessments were done?
MRI scans (pre and post-intervention).
Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) measuring:
Observing
Describing
Acting with awareness
Non-judging
Non-reactivity.
How was the MRI data analyzed?
Region of Interest (RoI): Focused on specific areas (e.g., hippocampus).
Whole Brain Analysis: Explored other potential changes.
What changes were found in the experimental group?
Increased grey matter concentration in:
Left hippocampus.
Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC).
Left temporo-parietal junction (TPJ).
Cerebellum.
Were these changes observed in the control group?
No significant changes were found in the control group.
What were the changes in mindfulness scores?
Significant increases in:
Acting with awareness.
Observing.
Non-judgement.
What do the findings suggest about mindfulness?
Mindfulness practice can cause structural changes in brain regions involved in:
Learning and memory (hippocampus).
Emotional regulation and self-referential processing (PCC, TPJ).
How might these changes contribute to mindfulness?
By enhancing the ability to recall the past, think about the future, and adopt alternate perspectives.
What are the weaknesses of the study?
Low ecological validity (artificial setting of MRI scans).
No correlation between brain changes and practice amount.
Ethical issue with control group waiting for help.
What does Hölzel et al.’s study contribute to psychology?
Evidence that mindfulness meditation can lead to structural brain changes in areas linked to memory, emotion, and self-referential processing.
