holzel et al Flashcards
What is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) primarily known for improving?
a) Physical strength
b) Social skills
c) Psychological well-being
d) Resilience
c) Psychological well-being
What did Hölzel et al. predict regarding grey matter concentration in the brain regions of interest?
a) Decrease in the bilateral hippocampi and the bilateral insulae
b) Increase in the bilateral hippocampi and the bilateral insulae
c) Increase in the anterior cingluate cortex
d) Decrease in the anterior cingluate cortex
b) Increase in the bilateral hippocampi and the bilateral insulae
Hölzel et al. conducted a lab experiment with a ________ design to investigate the effects of mindfulness meditation on brain grey matter concentration
longitudinal
TRUE OR FALSE
In Hölzel et al.’s study, the independent variable (IV) had two levels - one for participants who underwent Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training and another for those who did not receive MBSR training.
true
TRUE OR FALSE
The study aimed to explore the relationship between brain structure and mindfulness meditation through the use of electroencephalograms (EEGs).
FALSE
The study did not use EEGs to explore the relationship between brain structures and mindfulness meditation. Rather, it used physiological tests (MRI) to examine brain structures.
EEGs measure electrical activity in the brain, while MRIs provide detailed images of brain anatomy.
How were participants recruited for the study?
a) Random assignment
b) Volunteer basis
c) Convenience/Opportunity sampling
d) Stratified sampling
c) Convenience/Opportunity sampling
To be part of the study, participants had to self-report that they were physically and psychologically healthy and were not taking any ________.
Medications
TRUE OR FALSE
Participants with metallic implants or claustrophobia were excluded from the study due to potential complications with MRI scanning.
true
Why did two participants not return for the second MRI session?
a) Lack of interest
b) Discomfort in the first MRI
c) Time constraints
d) Technical issues
b) Discomfort in the first MRI
TRUE OR FALSE
In the study, participants had the opportunity to experience both the experimental (MBSR) and control conditions, indicating a repeated measures design
FALSE
The statement is false because the study utilized an independent measures design, meaning that each participant was assigned to either the experimental (MBSR) group or the control group, not both. Participants did not experience both conditions, ensuring independence between the two groups.
What aspect of MBSR training involves guided attention through the body, observing sensations with non-judgemental awareness?
a) Mindful yoga
b) Sitting meditation
c) Body scanning
d) Mindfulness in everyday activities
body scanning
Which of the following measures is not included in the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)?
a) Describing
b) Acting with emotion
c) Observing
d) Non-judging of inner experience
b) Acting with emotion.
The FFMQ measures five facets of mindfulness: observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience.
What is the purpose of mindful yoga in MBSR training?
a) Coordinating movements with breath
b) Bringing awareness to breathing sensations
c) Noting and labelling stimuli
d) Observing internal or external stimuli
a) Coordinating movements with breath
The MRI images were analyzed through ________ tools, allowing researchers to examine grey and white matter in small slices of the brain.
voxel-based morphometry
Which brain region showed a significant increase in grey matter concentration for the MBSR group after the mindfulness training?
a) Right hippocampus
b) Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)
c) Bilateral insulae
d) Frontal lobe
b) Posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)
What process is the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) mainly responsible for?
Emotions and memories
According to the study’s weaknesses, what issue is associated with the FFMQ being a self-report with 39 questions?
a) High reliability
b) Low ecological validity
c) Participant boredom and social desirability
d) Lack of informed consent
c) Participant boredom and social desirability
Lack of standardization in the homework practice reduced the ________ of the results.
reliability
How did researchers protect their participants from physical and psychological harm?
Researchers made sure the participants did not have any metallic implants that could have been affected by the magnets in the MRI scanner, which protected them from physical harm. Participants who had claustrophobia were not included in the study, which protected them from psychological harm.
TRUE OR FALSE
The study by Hölzel et al. supports the nature side of the debate since it looks at the brain, its structures, and the way it works, which is controlled by our genes.
true
