HOLZEL Flashcards
BACKGROUND
Meditators have significantly more grey matter in the hippocampus and insula than non-meditators. For example, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research found the hippocampus to be active during meditation.
Changes in wellbeing may be linked to increases in grey matter concentration (GMC) following mindfulness/meditation practice.
PSYCH BEING INVESTIGATED
AIM
To investigate changes in GMC following an eight-week MBSR programme. To identify specific brain structures that undergo change following the eight-week MBSR programme.
SAMPLE
Sample.33; experimental group: 6 males, 10 females; control group: 11 males, 6 females.
Right-handed, healthy adults, age 25–55, no regular medication, limited meditation experience
Sampling Technique: opportunity sample as all were recruited from four MBSR courses/ paid
volunteer- received discounted MBSR course- also an issue in evaluation
PROCEDURE
Research Method: Longitudinal experiment with mixed design
Design: Mixed- Independent measures and repeated measures (brain scans before and after)
IV: MBSR group vs Control; fMRI brain scans before and after
DV: Voxel Based Morphology (VBM) was used to measure grey matter concentration throughout the brain, but specifically in the hippocampi and insulae (quantitative data). Mindfulness was measured using the FFMQ (quantitative data).
Controls.Participant variables were controlled by using repeated measures design, i.e. testing
the same people twice at the beginning and end of the study – checking that there were no
significant differences between the two groups in terms of key variables, such as age and
educational background. Order effects were controlled by using a ‘no MBSR’ control group to
determine how much of the change in GMC at scan 2 was spontaneous/natural and how much
was due to the independent variable (the MBSR programme).
RESULTS
The average time spent on mindfulness exercises was: » 27 minutes per day
»22.6 hours over 8 weeks (SD = 6.3 hours) Following MBSR training, the experimental group showed: significant improvement in three of the five facets of mindfulness: acting with awareness, observing and non-judging (2) a significant increase in GMC in the: – left hippocampus–posterior cingulate cortex– temporoparietal junction– cerebellum
CONCLUSION
Regular mindfulness practice can lead to localised structural changes in grey matter concentration, in structures including the left hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex.
»Changes in these structures may underpin the wellbeing benefits of mindfulness, as they have been previously linked to learning, memory, emotion regulation and perspective-taking.
»Previous research on the insulae was unconfirmed. Changes in this structure may take more than eight weeks.
GRAVE
:) Reliability – the FFMQ is highly reliable-the correlation between the eight questions on ‘acting with awareness’ was +0.87. :) Objectivity – analysis of quantitative data from VBM is conducted via computer software. :( Validity – changes in GMC in the experimental groups may have resulted from increased social interaction at the MBSR group. This confounding variable was not controlled. :( Generalisations – findings may not be representative of people older or younger than 25–55 or with fewer years of education.
Strengths of Holzel-
Use of a control group – One strength of the study is the use of a control group who did not participate in the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program. This allowed the researchers to compare changes in gray matter concentration between the MBSR group and the control group. This strengthens the internal validity by ruling out alternative explanations for the observed changes in gray matter concentration. Use of voxel-based morphometry – The use of voxel-based morphometry (VBM), a well-established method for measuring changes in gray matter concentration has been used in numerous studies of mindfulness and meditation. This provides a reliable and objective measure of changes in gray matter concentration.
Use of a standardized mindfulness program – The study used the standardised mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, which allows for replication of the study’s findings by other researchers.
Longitudinal design: By creating a longitudinal study, fluctuating participant variables such as mood swings, health, attentiveness would balance out over the 8 week period. Less participant variables/confounding variables results in increased validity
Weakness:
Small sample size – small sample size. The study included only 18 participants who completed the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program and 17 individuals in the control group. Only those participants in the MBSR course in Massachusetts could be considered, and the skewed ethnic of the participants may limit the generalizability to those that have extended education (17.5 yrs) are right handed and are caucasian. The limitation of ethnicity in the sample is also an issue
Lack of randomisation – The study did not use random assignment to assign participants to the MBSR group or the control group. Instead, participants were self-selected into the groups. This increases the risk of selection bias, which occurs when participants in one group differ systematically from participants in another group. A randomized design would have reduced the risk of selection bias and increased the internal validity of the study.
Lack of blinding – A third weakness of the study is the lack of blinding. The researchers who conducted the study were not blinded to the group assignment of the participants. This increases the risk of experimenter bias, which occurs when the researchers’ expectations or beliefs influence the outcome of the study. Blinding the researchers to the group assignment of the participants would have reduced the risk of experimenter bias and increased the internal validity of the study.
Reliability- The Mindfulness program was a very standardized format, with fixed hours, fixed training and fixed homework to be completed. However- Participants had to self report homework completed, which could have resulted in participants enhancing their exercise hours etc.
APP TO EVERYDAY LIFE
Integration of regular opportunities for daily mindfulness in the workplace could lead to improved wellbeing. This may also lead to increased productivity and fewer days lost to ill health.
NATURE VS NURTURE
The impact of both nature and nurture are supported. Nature: localised increases in GMC were correlated with changes in three of the five facets of mindfulness. Nurture:environmental experiences(e.g.MBSRg roup attendance) affect wellbeing.
INDIVIDUAL VS SITUATIONAL
ETHICS
