title: Enhanced response inhibition during intensive meditation training predicts improvements in self-reported adaptive socioemotional functioning.
abstract: We examined the impact of training-induced improvements in self-regulation, operationalized in terms of response inhibition, on longitudinal changes in self-reported adaptive socioemotional functioning. Data were collected from participants undergoing 3 months of intensive meditation training in an isolated retreat setting (Retreat 1) and a wait-list control group that later underwent identical training (Retreat 2). A 32-min response inhibition task (RIT) was designed to assess sustained self-regulatory control. Adaptive functioning (AF) was operationalized as a single latent factor underlying self-report measures of anxious and avoidant attachment, mindfulness, ego resilience, empathy, the five major personality traits (extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience), difficulties in emotion regulation, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being. Participants in Retreat 1 improved in RIT performance and AF over time whereas the controls did not. The control participants later also improved on both dimensions during their own retreat (Retreat 2). These improved levels of RIT performance and AF were sustained in follow-up assessments conducted approximately 5 months after the training. Longitudinal dynamic models with combined data from both retreats showed that improvement in RIT performance during training influenced the change in AF over time, which is consistent with a key claim in the Buddhist literature that enhanced capacity for self-regulation is an important precursor of changes in emotional well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California.
authors.forename: Baljinder K
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5064-7783
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Sahdra
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California.
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: MacLean
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California.
authors.forename: Phillip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Shaver
authors.affiliation: Center for Mind and Brain, University of California.
authors.forename: Erika L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.affiliation: Center for Mind and Brain, University of California.
authors.forename: Tonya L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: Center for Mind and Brain, University of California.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zanesco
authors.affiliation: Center for Mind and Brain, University of California.
authors.forename: Brandon G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3397-7921
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Aichele
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Science, University of California.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bridwell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California.
authors.forename: George R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Mangun
authors.affiliation: Ariel University Center.
authors.forename: Shiri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lavy
authors.affiliation: Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies.
authors.forename: B Alan
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis Medical Center.
authors.forename: Clifford D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Saron
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult