title: Mindfulness training improves working memory capacity and GRE performance while reducing mind wandering.
abstract: Given that the ability to attend to a task without distraction underlies performance in a wide variety of contexts, training one's ability to stay on task should result in a similarly broad enhancement of performance. In a randomized controlled investigation, we examined whether a 2-week mindfulness-training course would decrease mind wandering and improve cognitive performance. Mindfulness training improved both GRE reading-comprehension scores and working memory capacity while simultaneously reducing the occurrence of distracting thoughts during completion of the GRE and the measure of working memory. Improvements in performance following mindfulness training were mediated by reduced mind wandering among participants who were prone to distraction at pretesting. Our results suggest that cultivating mindfulness is an effective and efficient technique for improving cognitive function, with wide-reaching consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. mrazek@psych.ucsb.edu
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mrazek
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: Dawa Tarchin
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Schooler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D064866:Mindfulness / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011932:Reading; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attention; cognitive ability; memory; mind wandering; mindfulness; reading; reading comprehension; working memory capacity