Attentional and affective consequences of technology supported mindfulness training: a randomised, active control, efficacy trial

• Published in: BMC Psychology Vol. 4; no. 1; p. 60
• Main Authors: Bhayee, Sheffy, Tomaszewski, Patricia, Lee, Daniel H, Moffat, Graeme, Pino, Lou, Moreno, Sylvain, Farb, Norman A S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 29.11.2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Adult; Affect; Attention; Electroencephalography; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Male; Mental health; Mindfulness - instrumentation; Mindfulness - methods; Mindfulness meditation; Neurofeedback - instrumentation; Neurofeedback - methods; Quality of Life; Reaction Time; Stress, Psychological - prevention & control; Stroop Test; Training; Treatment Outcome; Canada
• ISSN: 2050-7283; 2050-7283
• DOI: 10.1186/s40359-016-0168-6

Mindfulness training (MT) programs represent an approach to attention training with well-validated mental health benefits. However, research supporting MT efficacy is based predominantly on weekly-meeting, facilitator-led, group-intervention formats. It is unknown whether participants might benefit from neurofeedback-assisted, technology-supported MT (N-tsMT), in which meditation is delivered individually, without the need for a facilitator, travel to a training site, or the presence of a supportive group environment. Mirroring the validation of group MT interventions, the first step in addressing this question requires identifying whether N-tsMT promotes measurable benefits. Here, we report on an initial investigation of a commercial N-tsMT system. In a randomized, active control trial, community-dwelling healthy adult participants carried out 6 weeks of daily practice, receiving either N-tsMT (n = 13), or a control condition of daily online math training (n = 13). Training effects were assessed on target measures of attention and well-being. Participants also completed daily post-training surveys assessing effects on mood, body awareness, calm, effort, and stress. Analysis revealed training effects specific to N-tsMT, with attentional improvements in overall reaction time on a Stroop task, and well-being improvements via reduced somatic symptoms on the Brief Symptom Inventory. Attention and well-being improvements were correlated, and effects were greatest for the most neurotic participants. However, secondary, exploratory measures of attention and well-being did not show training-specific effects. N-tsMT was associated with greater body awareness and calm, and initially greater effort that later converged with effort in the control condition. Preliminary findings indicate that N-tsMT promotes modest benefits for attention and subjective well-being in a healthy community sample relative to an active control condition. However, the findings would benefit from replication in a larger sample, and more intensive practice or more comprehensive MT instruction might be required to promote the broader benefits typically reported in group format, facilitated MT. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN43629398 . Retrospectively registered on June 16, 2016.