Note to self. Even short mindfulness training improves Working Memory Capacity (WMC):
Quach, Dianna, Kristen E. Jastrowski Mano, and Kristi Alexander. “A randomized controlled trial examining the effect of mindfulness meditation on working memory capacity in adolescents.” Journal of Adolescent Health 58.5 (2016): 489-496. Randomized controlled trial with 54 participant assigned to the mindfulness program. High school students from low socio-economic background. 4-week program with two group sessions per week and a daily 15-30 minutes of individual practice, recorded in personal logs. WMC measured with AOSPAN significantly improved (p < 0.001).
Mrazek, Michael D., et al. “Mindfulness training improves working memory capacity and GRE performance while reducing mind wandering.” Psychological science 24.5 (2013): 776-781. Randomized controlled trial with 26 participant assigned to the mindfulness program. Undergrad students. 2-week program with four group sessions per week and daily 10 minutes of individual practice. WMC measured with OSPAN significantly improved (p < 0.001).
In both cases the (A)OSPAN task requires the subject to memorize a few letters while solving simple mathematical equations under time constraints.
TODO: How important is WMC? Are there studies showing meditation resulting in those benefits of improved WMC?
TODO: Are the improvements present also in people without deficiency?
TODO: Learn more about ANOVA/MANOVA (the statistical framework used in all the studies in the field) and figure out whether Zeidan, Fadel, et al. “Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: Evidence of brief mental trainingq.” (2010) contradicts the above results.
Note to self. Even short mindfulness training improves Working Memory Capacity (WMC):
Quach, Dianna, Kristen E. Jastrowski Mano, and Kristi Alexander. “A randomized controlled trial examining the effect of mindfulness meditation on working memory capacity in adolescents.” Journal of Adolescent Health 58.5 (2016): 489-496. Randomized controlled trial with 54 participant assigned to the mindfulness program. High school students from low socio-economic background. 4-week program with two group sessions per week and a daily 15-30 minutes of individual practice, recorded in personal logs. WMC measured with AOSPAN significantly improved (p < 0.001).
Mrazek, Michael D., et al. “Mindfulness training improves working memory capacity and GRE performance while reducing mind wandering.” Psychological science 24.5 (2013): 776-781. Randomized controlled trial with 26 participant assigned to the mindfulness program. Undergrad students. 2-week program with four group sessions per week and daily 10 minutes of individual practice. WMC measured with OSPAN significantly improved (p < 0.001).
In both cases the (A)OSPAN task requires the subject to memorize a few letters while solving simple mathematical equations under time constraints.
TODO: How important is WMC? Are there studies showing meditation resulting in those benefits of improved WMC?
TODO: Are the improvements present also in people without deficiency?
TODO: Learn more about ANOVA/MANOVA (the statistical framework used in all the studies in the field) and figure out whether Zeidan, Fadel, et al. “Mindfulness meditation improves cognition: Evidence of brief mental trainingq.” (2010) contradicts the above results.