Psychology holzel et al

Question 1

What is mindfulness

Answer 1

A state achieved through MEDITATION that aims to increase awareness of the present - moment experience and enables a person to look at themselves in a compassionate non judgemental way

Question 2

What is MRI

Answer 2

magnetic resonance image

Question 3

Types of MRI

Answer 3

Structural
Shows the detailed picture of the shape of the brain

Functional
Shows the activity level in different areas of the brain

Question 4

Background

Answer 4

Cross sectional research findings
Induviduals meditate vs did not meditate have differences in grey matter in various brain areas

Question 5

Aim

Answer 5

Identify changes in specific brain regions and the whole brain
By comparing grey matter concentration before and after mindfulness course

Question 6

Sample

Answer 6

Enrolled in MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction) course at university of massachusetts to help with stress reduction either because they had chose to attend or had been referred by the doctor

Question 7

Sample (experimental group)

Answer 7

1. Physically and psychologically healthy
2. limited experience with the program
3. mean age : 38 years old
4. race : 13 caucasian, 1 asian, 1 african american, 1 multi-ethnic

Question 8

sample (control group)

Answer 8

1. physically and psychologically healthy
2. the same ability eligibility criteria for admission to the mindfulness course, hence they are described as a ‘wait-list’ control group
3. mean age : 39 years old
4. race : 13 caucasian, 2 asians, 2 african americans, 1 hispanic

Question 9

procedure

Answer 9

1. completed FFMQ (five facet mindfulness questionnaire)
2. get MRI scans on 2 occasions:
   exp grp : 2 weeks before and aft the 8 week MBSR intervention
   cntrl grp : gap of approx 66 days between 2 scans
3. MRI scans 2 ways
   regions of interests : hippocampus n bilateral insulae
   whole brain analysis : explore other regions potentially affected by the mindfulness intervention
4. reported the time they spent on formal homework exercises over the 8 weeks

Question 10

results

Answer 10

MBSR group participants significantly increased their mindfulness scores on three sub-scales of FFMQ (acting with awareness, observing, and non judging)

when compared to the control group, the changes were significantly greater

left hippocampus : no differnces
region of interest : there is difference for MBSR
Whole brain analysis : mbsr group showed significant increase in grey matter concentration