Reduced interference in working memory following mindfulness training is associated with increases in hippocampal volume.
Proactive interference occurs when previously relevant information interferes with retaining newer material. Overcoming proactive interference has been linked to the hippocampus and deemed critical for cognitive functioning. However, little is known about whether and how this ability can be improved...
| Published in: | Brain Imaging & Behavior Vol. 13; no. 2; pp. 366 - 377 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Springer Nature
Apr2019
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=136128846&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 136128846 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 19317557 3GSC jtl: Brain Imaging & Behavior issn: 19317557 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Apr2019 vid: 13 iid: 2 pid: 237 pub: Springer Nature place: New York, New York artinfo: ui: 136128846 136128846 NLM29549665 10.1007/s11682-018-9858-4 NLM29549665 136128846 ppf: 366 ppct: 11 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P tig: atl: Reduced interference in working memory following mindfulness training is associated with increases in hippocampal volume. aug: au: Greenberg, Jonathan Romero, Victoria L. Elkin-Frankston, Seth Bezdek, Matthew A. Schumacher, Eric H. Lazar, Sara W. affil: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA sug: subj: Mindfulness Methods Hippocampus Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods Memory, Short Term Attention Adult Female Male Scales Adult: 19-44 years Female Male ab: Proactive interference occurs when previously relevant information interferes with retaining newer material. Overcoming proactive interference has been linked to the hippocampus and deemed critical for cognitive functioning. However, little is known about whether and how this ability can be improved or about the neural correlates of such improvement. Mindfulness training emphasizes focusing on the present moment and minimizing distraction from competing thoughts and memories. It improves working memory and increases hippocampal density. The current study examined whether mindfulness training reduces proactive interference in working memory and whether such improvements are associated with changes in hippocampal volume. 79 participants were randomized to a 4-week web-based mindfulness training program or a similarly structured creative writing active control program. The mindfulness group exhibited lower proactive interference error rates compared to the active control group following training. No group differences were found in hippocampal volume, yet proactive interference improvements following mindfulness training were significantly associated with volume increases in the left hippocampus. These results provide the first evidence to suggest that (1) mindfulness training can protect against proactive interference, and (2) that these benefits are related to hippocampal volumetric increases. Clinical implications regarding the application of mindfulness training in conditions characterized by impairments to working memory and reduced hippocampal volume such as aging, depression, PTSD, and childhood adversity are discussed. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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