Biological - Holzel Flashcards
1
Q
What is the background of the study
A
- mindfulness: practise of purposely bringing ones attention to the present moment experience without evaluation
- Goal of mindfulness is to wake up inner workings of our mental, emotional, physical processes
- Helps reduce stress + anxiety
- Studies comparing individuals practising different forms of meditation reveal differences in grey matter in various brain areas linked to meditation
2
Q
What is the aim of the study?
A
- To investigate the potential long term effect of a mindfulness based stress reduction programme on brain grey matter density
3
Q
Describe the sample
A
- ppts recruited from ppl enrolled in MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction) programme
- Uni of Massachusetts USA
- Enrolled to help w stress levels either choosen to attend / referred by doctor
- physically / psychologically healthy
- Right handed
- No meditation classes in past 6 months
- max of 4 classes in last 5 years
- 10 in lifetime
- 22-55 yrs old (mean age of 38yrs)
- ppt who completed study given discounted MBSR course fee
4
Q
Describe the experimental group
A
- 6 males
- 10 females
- mean age of 38 years
- 13 caucasians
- 1 asian
- 1 african american
- 1 multi ethnic
- Average of 17.7 yrs of education
- (SD = 1.9)
5
Q
Describe the control group
A
- 11 males
- 6 females
- mean age of 39 yrs
-13 caucasians - 2 asian
- 1 hispanic
- 2 african american
- Average of 17.3yrs of education
- (SD = 1.8)
6
Q
Describe the research methodology
A
- study is an experiment > researchers looking for causal relationship between MBSR + grey matter conc in brain structure
- some measurements taken in controlled setting (MRI scans) but other parts in natrual setting (MBSR exercises preformed by ppts)
- main part was experiment > one part was correlation as researchers wanted to know if relationship between amount of time spent on mindfulness exercises + increase in grey matter
- LONGITUDINAL design as data collected over period of 8 weeks
7
Q
What was the IV
A
- whether ppts recieved MBSR / or not
- if recieved meditation or not
8
Q
What is the DV
A
- Grey matter conc in specific brain structures
- Time spent on mindfulness exercises between weekly sessions which was recorded in daily diary
9
Q
Describe the FFMQ
A
- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire
- Self report
- 39 ques scale
- Observing
- Describing
- Acting with awareness
- Non judging of inner experience
- Non reactivity to inner experience
5 point likert scale
Negative statements are reversed on the scale
10
Q
What the timings for the procedure
A
- MBSR program was 8 weekly group meetings for 2 and half hours
- Plus one full day 6.5hrs on 5th week of course
11
Q
What were the 3 parts of the MBSR programme?
A
- BODY SCAN: slowly becoming aware of sensations in each area of body in turn gradually developing awareness of whole body / mind
- MINDFUL YOGA: gentle / stretching, co-ordinated, slow movements and breathing w a focus on moment to moment experience
- SITTING MEDITATION: awareness of sensation of breathing + sensory information (sight, smell, touch, taste)
12
Q
Describe the sitting meditation
A
- ppts recieved audio recordings
- 45 min guided mindfulness exercises
- Instructed to practise daily at home
- Facilitate minfulness into daily life taught to practise mindfulness in everyday activities such as eating, walking, washing dishes
13
Q
What are the details for scanning
A
- ppts scanned at Martinos Center for biomedical imaging
- Charlestown MA
- Scanned 2 weeks before + after
- Control scanned 2x
- Approx 2 months apart
- Average time of 56.25 days (SD: 4.5 days) in between scanning sessions for the MBSR grp
- Average time of 65.67 days (SD: 11.22 days) between scanning sessions for the control grp
14
Q
Data for formal homework exercises
A
- Mean: 22.6hrs
- SD: 6.3hrs
- Average: 27 mins day
15
Q
Data for body scan practise
A
- Mean: 699 mins
- SD: 217 min
- Range: 103 - 775 min
