Mindfulness Improves Attention Resource Allocation During Response Inhibition in Older Adults

Benjamin Isbel; Jim Lagopoulos; Daniel F Hermens; Kayla B Stefanidis; Mathew J Summers

doi:10.1007/s12671-020-01364-z

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Mindfulness Improves Attention Resource Allocation During Response Inhibition in Older Adults

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Mindfulness Improves Attention Resource Allocation During Response Inhibition in Older Adults

Benjamin Isbel, Jim Lagopoulos, Daniel F Hermens, Kayla B Stefanidis and Mathew J Summers

Mindfulness, Vol.11(6), pp.1500-1510

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01364-z

Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection

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Abstract

Mindfulness

Attention

Inhibitory control

Event-related potential

Cognitive training

Ageing

EEG

Sustainedattention to response task

Healthy Brain Ageing

Thompson Institute Special Collection

UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages

Objectives: A core process trained during mindfulness is inhibitory control. A decline in inhibitory control is thought to underlie age-related cognitive declines. Electroencephalographic event-related potentials (ERPs) index both the speed and allocation of attentional resources, making them useful in assessing cognition in ageing. While mindfulness has been shown to improve attentional control, studies examining ageing cohorts are lacking. Here, we examine ERP changes during an inhibitory control task in older adults to assess the ability of mindfulness to enhance cognition in ageing. Methods: A longitudinal RCT was conducted to examine the effect of an 8-week mindfulness training (MT) intervention on the N2 and P3 ERP components during the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) in healthy older adults aged over 60 years (n = 48). An active control computer-based attention training (CT) program (n = 27) designed to activate similar attentional components to mindfulness was used to determine if outcomes resulted from attention training or mindfulness-specific factors. Results While both the MT and CT groups displayed improved SART performance following the interventions (as indexed by errors of commission and reaction time coefficient of variation), only the MT group showed significant reductions in frontal P3 latency during response inhibition. Conclusions: The results suggest that mindfulness may enhance the speed and efficiency of attentional processes, thus providing protective benefits against age-related cognitive decline.

Details

Title: Mindfulness Improves Attention Resource Allocation During Response Inhibition in Older Adults
Authors: Benjamin Isbel (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Thompson Institute
Jim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Thompson Institute
Daniel F Hermens (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Thompson Institute
Kayla B Stefanidis (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Thompson Institute
Mathew J Summers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Thompson Institute
Publication details: Mindfulness, Vol.11(6), pp.1500-1510
Publisher: Springer New York LLC
Date published: 2020
DOI: 10.1007/s12671-020-01364-z
ISSN: 1868-8527
Organisation Unit: Road Safety Research Collaboration; School of Health; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; Thompson Institute; School of Health - Psychology; School of Law and Society; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450823302621
Output Type: Journal article

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