holzel et al

Question 1

psychology being investigated

Answer 1

1. Mindfulness
2. Localisation of function

Question 2

Background

Answer 2

-Meditators have significantly more grey matter in the hippocampus and insula
than non-meditators. 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.

Question 3

aims

Answer 3

1. To investigate changes in GMC following an eight-week MBSR programme.
2. To identify specific brain structures that undergo change following the 8 week MBSR programme.

Question 4

research method

Answer 4

1. longitudinal experiment
2. correlations: The researchers analysed the correlation between the amount of time that
   participants engaged in mindfulness practice (time in minutes) and increases in GMC.

Question 5

research technique

Answer 5

1. Repeated measures - brain scans were conducted at the beginning and end of
   an eight-week period.
2. Independent measures - findings from the MBSR group were compared
   with a control group.

Question 6

data collection techniques

Answer 6

1. MRI:
   - Scans were conducted 2 weeks before the first MBSR session and at the end of
   the programme
   » A 3D digital brain model was created for each participant, using 128 sagittal images.
2. Self-reports:
   - The Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) was used to measure 5 key
   aspects of mindfulness that were found to be positively correlated with
   wellbeing.
   - Participants rate 39 statements from 1 (‘never or very rarely true’) to 5 (‘very
   often or always true’).

Question 7

Independent Variables

Answer 7

-MBSR: the experimental group (6 males, 10 females; mean age: 38) attended 2.5-
hour weekly group meetings for eight weeks and one 6.5-hour training day.
– Sessions included yoga, sitting meditation and body scanning.
-The control group (11 males, 6 females; mean age: 39) did not attend these
meetings (independent measures) but were on a waiting list for future MBSR.
-MRI brain scans before and after the first MBSR session and at the end of the
8 week study period.

Question 8

Dependent variables

Answer 8

-VBM was used to measure grey matter concentration throughout
the brain (specifically in the hippocampi and insulae)(quantitative data).
-Mindfulness was measured using the FFMQ (quantitative data).

Co-variable: time spent on mindfulness exercises between training
sessions (daily diaries used to collect self-reported data).

Question 9

Sample

Answer 9

Size: 33; experimental group: 6 males, 10 females; control group: 11 males,
6 females.

Demographic: right-handed, healthy adults, age 25–55, no regular medication,
limited meditation experience.

Sampling technique: opportunity sample recruited from four MBSR courses held at a
mindfulness centre in New England, USA; all were referred or self-referred for stress

Question 10

procedure

Answer 10

Stage 1: participants received MRI scans and completed the FFMQ 2 weeks
before the first MBSR meeting.

Stage 2: 8 weeks of MBSR for the experimental group only, who were also
given a 45-minute audio recording of mindfulness exercises to practice at home.

Stage 3: participants received MRI scans and completed the FFMQ two weeks
after the final MBSR meeting.

Question 11

controls

Answer 11

1. Participant variables controlled by:
   - repeated measures design
   - checking that there were no significant differences between the 2 groups
   in terms of key variables eg. age
2. Order effects were controlled by using a ‘no MBSR’ control group to determine
   how much of the change in GMC at scan 2 was due to the independent variable (the MBSR programme).

Question 12

ethical issues

Answer 12

1. Informed consent- agreeing to aim
   to participate in all meetings, complete ‘homework’ exercises and record duration
2. Protection from psychological and physical harm- Participants with claustrophobia and/or metallic implants were excluded to
   protect them due to the MRI scanner

Question 13

results

Answer 13

1. Avg. time spent on mindfulness
   - 27 minutes per day
   - 22.6 hours over 8 weeks
2. After MBSR exp group showed:
   -significant improvement in 3 of the five facets of mindfulness
   ~ acting with
   awareness
   ~ observing
   ~ non-judging

• a significant increase in GMC in the:
  ~ left hippocampus
  ~ posterior cingulate cortex
  ~ temporoparietal junction
  ~ cerebellum
• no significant correlation between GMC and time spent on mindfulness exercises
  or the 5 facets of mindfulness.

3. The control group showed:
   - no significant improvement in any of the five facets of mindfulness
   - a significant decrease in GMC in the PCC

Question 14

conclusions

Answer 14

• Regular mindfulness practice can lead to localised structural changes in GMC, in structures including the left hippocampus and PCC.
• Changes in these structures may show the wellbeing benefits of mindfulness,
  as they have been previously linked to learning, memory, emotion etc.
• Previous research on the insulae was unconfirmed. Changes in this structure may
  take more than 8 weeks.

Question 15

evaluation

Answer 15

1. Reliability
   -lack of standardisation (W)
   -internal consistency of the FFMQ (S)
2. Validity
   -experimental method and design (S)
   -confounding variables (W)
   -self report data (W)
3. Objectivity and subjectivity
   -use of quantitative data (S)
4. Generalisations
   -generalising beyond the sample (W)
   -generalising to everyday life (S)

Question 16

issues and debates

Answer 16

1. Application to everyday life: Integration of regular opportunities for mindfulness in the workplace could improve wellbeing. This may also lead to increased productivity and fewer
   days lost to ill health.
2. Nature versus nurture:
   -nature: localised increases in GMC were correlated with changes in 3 facets of mindfulness.
   -nurture: environmental experiences (e.g. MBSR group attendance) affect wellbeing.