Does mindfulness training help working memory ‘work’ better?

• Published in: Current opinion in psychology Vol. 28; pp. 273 - 278
• Main Authors: Jha, Amishi P, Denkova, Ekaterina, Zanesco, Anthony P, Witkin, Joanna E, Rooks, Joshua, Rogers, Scott L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2019
• ISSN: 2352-250X; 2352-2518; 2352-250X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.02.012

•MT is conceptualized as a form of cognitive training.•Specific MT practices engage and strengthen component attentional and WM processes.•WM is important for a multitude of cognitive and affective processes.•MT-related strengthening of WM may benefit psychological health outcomes. There has been a proliferation of mindfulness training (MT) programs offered across a multitude of settings, including military, business, sports, education, and medicine. As such, ascertaining training effectiveness and determining best practices for program delivery are of the utmost importance. MT is often introduced to promote an array of desired effects from better mood, better leadership and management skills, to improved workplace or academic performance. Despite the diversity of factors motivating adoption of MTs, it can be argued from a cognitive training perspective that there should be uniformity in the core cognitive processes strengthened via repeated and systematic engagement in MT exercises. Herein, we explore the hypothesis that MT promotes salutary changes in the brain’s working memory (WM) system. We review prior research and highlight aspects of MT programs that may be critical for achieving beneficial WM effects. Further, we suggest that given the centrality of WM in core processes such as emotion regulation, problem solving, and learning, MT programs capable of achieving WM benefits may be best positioned to promote other desired outcomes (e.g. reductions in negative mood). For these reasons, we recommend that more studies include WM metrics in their evaluation of MT programs.