Holzel Flashcards
What does mindfulness practice lead to?
Increases in regional brain grey matter density
Specifically, this is linked to the hippocampus and other brain regions.
What is the role of hippocampal volume and plasticity in mindfulness?
Ability to change in size/density in response to mindfulness practice
Negative experiences like long-term stress reduce hippocampal volume, which can be reversed with antidepressants.
What is the purpose of the study by Holzel et al. (2011)?
To investigate changes in specific brain regions and the whole brain due to mindfulness practice
The study used MRI scans to compare grey matter concentration before and after a mindfulness course.
What is the mindfulness course investigated in the study?
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
This course was conducted at the University of Massachusetts.
What type of study design did Holzel et al. use to overcome individual differences?
Longitudinal design
Most previous studies were cross-sectional.
What brain regions showed structural changes after the 8-week MBSR?
Left-hippocampus and other regions involved in learning and memory
Changes also relate to self-concepts and the relevance of stimuli.
What is the function of the hippocampus?
Memory and controlling emotional arousal
Lower volume is linked with emotional stress and depression.
What does the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) relate to?
Relevance of a stimulus to ourselves and our story
PCC is involved in self-referential processing.
What is the role of the temporal parietal junction (TPJ)?
Our self-concept and self-referential processing
It helps in understanding who we are.
True or False: Mindfulness practice has no effect on the brain’s grey matter density.
False
Mindfulness practice is associated with increased grey matter density.
Fill in the blank: Negative experiences like long-term stress are known to reduce _______.
hippocampal volume
This reduction can be reversed using antidepressants.
What is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
A sensitive ‘structural scan’ that detects changes in size and density of a brain region.
MRI works by spinning a magnetic field around a subject, causing protons to spin in a uniform direction and speed.
How does MRI detect brain regions?
By measuring the density and size of each region based on different proton concentrations.
Protons dissipate energy when the magnetic field is stopped, making them detectable.
What is the aim of the study regarding mindfulness?
To determine if mindfulness leads to structural changes in brain parts related to emotional regulation and self-concept, leading to an overall reduction in stress.
Who were the subjects in the study?
Adult subjects enrolled at the MBSR course at the University of Massachusetts, referred by doctors for stress reduction or through personal choice.
What is the composition of the experimental group?
6 males and 10 females (16) with an average age of 38 years.
What is the composition of the control group?
7 males and 10 females (17) with an average age of 39 years.
How were the subjects matched in terms of demographics?
Both groups have similar age brackets and a similar mix of race, mostly white with token minorities.
What type of sample was used for this study?
Volunteer sample, matched.
What ethical considerations were taken in the study?
Subjects were given written informed consent, study approved by the Massachusetts Institutional Review Board, and participants were cleared for MRI scans.
What design was used for the experiment?
A longitudinal design (pre and post testing) with independent measures design.
How were subjects allocated in the study?
Subjects in both groups were pre-allocated according to when they were taking the course.
Fill in the blank: The average age of the experimental group is _______.
38 years.
Fill in the blank: The average age of the control group is _______.
39 years.
