Mindfulness Enhances Episodic Memory Performance: Evidence from a Multimethod Investigation

Abstract

Training in mindfulness, classically described as a receptive attentiveness to present events and experiences, has been shown to improve attention and working memory. Both are key to long-term memory formation, and the present three-study series used multiple methods to examine whether mindfulness would enhance episodic memory, a key form of long-term memory. In Study 1 (N = 143), a self-reported state of mindful attention predicted better recognition performance in the Remember-Know (R-K) paradigm. In Study 2 (N = 93), very brief training in a focused attention form of mindfulness also produced better recognition memory performance on the R-K task relative to a randomized, well-matched active control condition. Study 3 (N = 57) extended these findings by showing that relative to randomized active and inactive control conditions the effect of very brief mindfulness training generalized to free-recall memory performance. This study also found evidence for mediation of the mindfulness training—episodic memory relation by intrinsic motivation. These findings indicate that mindful attention can beneficially impact motivation and episodic memory, with potential implications for educational and occupational performance.

Relationship between Trait Mindfulness and False Memory: A Bilingual Deese-Roediger-McDermott Paradigm

“…Firstly, the present moment attention or awareness is highly relevant to the quality of encoding which is crucial for the correct retrieval. Secondly, MAAS was used in Herndon [12] and Brown & Ryan [5] respectively. Therefore, in order to make our study more comparable with previous studies, the same questionnaire was selected.…”

Meditation, Cognitive Flexibility and Well-Being

“…Accordingly, mindfulness meditation training is increasingly reported to be associated with improved attentionrelated cognitive processes (Chiesa et al 2011), including memory (Jha et al 2007;Brown et al 2016;Raffone and Pantani 2010), sustained attention (Lutz et al 2009;MacLean et al 2010, Jha et al 2007Valentine and Sweet 1999) and conflict monitoring (Jha et al 2007;Tang et al 2007). Interestingly, such positive changes in attentionrelated cognitive processes were even observed after relatively short, but intensive retreats of 4 (Zeidan et al 2010) or 8 days (Chambers et al 2008).…”

Mindfulness training for healthcare professional students: A waitlist controlled pilot study on psychological and work-relevant outcomes

“…Evidence suggests that MBIs in lay populations improve cognitive functioning in the domains that are frequently taxed by the work of HCPs (e.g., memory, sustained attention, and executive funcitoning; Brown et al, 2016;Chambers, Lo, Allen, Chuen, & Lo, 2008;Chiesa, Calati, & Serretti, 2011;Jha, Krompinger, & Baime, 2007;Zeidan, Johnson, Diamond, David, & Goolkasian, 2010). By increasing attention and awareness (Brown & Ryan, 2003), MBIs may enhance divided attention, inhibition of automatic responses, and processing speed -domains measured by the cognitive task in the present study, thereby, improving work-relevant functioning.…”