Mindfulness predicts efficient cognitive control: an EEG study of theta-band neural oscillations

Abstract

Mindfulness is the state of nonjudgmental attention to experiences in the present moment. It is related to a number of psychological benefits, including enhanced attention and emotion regulation. Researchers have increasingly focused on the mechanisms that contribute to these benefits, which has led to numerous findings that mindfulness is related to improved cognitive control. Results from recent event-related potential studies of mindfulness indicate that mindfulness may improve cognitive control in part through enhancements in frontal midline theta - neuronal oscillations occurring between 4-8 Hz that are thought to reflect the medial prefrontal cortex signaling the need for cognitive control. The present study aimed to test whether trait mindfulness predicted stronger frontal midline theta activity during an attentionally-demanding task (the flanker task). Depression and worry were also assessed. Mindfulness and depression were both related to reduced frontal midline theta activity, but only depression was associated with poorer performance. Findings suggest that while mindfulness is related to greater efficiency of cognitive control signaling, depression is related to poorer cognitive functioning.