Mindfulness and brainscans

Question 1

[Mindfulness and brainscans] The psychology being investigated?

Answer 1

Localisation of function
mindfulness

Question 2

[Mindfulness and brainscans] Aim?

Answer 2

To investigate whether an increase in mindfulness leads to an increase in grey matter concentration

Question 3

[Mindfulness and brainscans] Research Method?

Answer 3

Lab experiment, longitudinal study, questionnaire

Question 4

[Mindfulness and brainscans] IV?

Answer 4

Exposure to an 8 week MBSR course

Question 5

[Mindfulness and brainscans] Exercises?

Answer 5

o Body scan
o Mindful yoga
o Sitting Mediation

Question 6

[Mindfulness and brainscans] Experimental design

Answer 6

Independent measures design

Question 7

[Mindfulness and brainscans] DV?

Answer 7

Change in grey matter

Question 8

[Mindfulness and brainscans] controls

Answer 8

o not on mediation
o limited experience with mediation classes
o Safe for MRI scans

Question 9

[Mindfulness and brainscans] Sample

Answer 9

o 33
o control group: 10 females and 7 males
o experimental group: 10 females and 6 males
o 22-55

Question 10

[Mindfulness and brainscans] Scales?

Answer 10

o observing
o describing
o acting with awareness
o non-judging
o non-reactivity

Question 11

[Mindfulness and brainscans] Regions of interest?

Answer 11

o Bilateral hippocampus
o Bilateral insulae

Question 12

[Mindfulness and brainscans] Results

Answer 12

o An average of 27 minutes a day spent on the H.W
o None of the three variables were significantly correlated
o MBSR group’s on 3 sub-scales increased after the course.[Acting with awareness, observing, non-judging]
o Small reductions in the grey matter of the control group.
o Changes: no changes in the left hippocampus detected, In the right change detected but did not correlate with FFMQ and H.W
o Whole brain analysis: changes in 4 areas: posterior cingulate cortex, the left temporo-parietal junction, the lateral cerebelum and the brain stem. No correlation with H.W and FFMQ.