As 3 Hölzel Et Al

Question 1

What is the aim of the study?

Answer 1

To identify if regular participation in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) leads to measurable changes associated with mindfulness practice and to identify brain structures that change as a result of an eight-week MBSR program

The study examines both behavioral and structural changes in the brain due to MBSR participation.

Question 2

What is the hypothesis of the study?

Answer 2

The hypothesis is that participation in MBSR will lead to measurable changes in traits related to mindfulness practice.

Question 3

What are the inclusion criteria for participants in the MBSR study?

Answer 3

• Physically and psychologically healthy
• Not taking any medications
• No meditation classes in the past six months
• No more than four meditation classes in the past five years
• No more than ten meditation classes in their lifetime
• No contra-indications for MRI scanning
• Aged 25 to 55 years

Question 4

What was the mean age of participants in the experimental group?

Answer 4

Mean age of 37.89 years (SD: 4.04 years)

Question 5

How many participants completed the MBSR study?

Answer 5

A total of 16 participants completed the study after two dropped out due to discomfort during the first MRI scan.

Question 6

What were the gender distributions in the experimental and control groups?

Answer 6

Experimental group: 6 males, 10 females; Control group: 11 males, 6 females.

Question 7

What types of mindfulness exercises were used in the MBSR program?

Answer 7

• Body scan
• Mindful yoga
• Sitting meditation

Question 8

What was the duration of the MBSR program?

Answer 8

The program consisted of eight weekly group meetings lasting two and a half hours each, plus one full day of 6.5 hours.

Question 9

What questionnaire was used to measure mindfulness in participants?

Answer 9

The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)

Question 10

What are the five factors measured by the FFMQ?

Answer 10

• Observing
• Describing
• Acting with awareness
• Non-judging of inner experience
• Non-reactivity to inner experience

Question 11

What were the average times spent on formal homework exercises by MBSR participants?

Answer 11

Mean 22.6 hours (SD: 6.3 hours), average of 27 minutes per day.

Question 12

What significant changes were observed in the MBSR group according to the FFMQ?

Answer 12

Significant increases in scores for acting with awareness, observing, and non-judging.

Question 13

Which brain region showed increased gray matter concentration in the MBSR group?

Answer 13

A small cluster in the left hippocampus showed increased gray matter concentration.

Question 14

What were the four clusters identified in the whole brain analysis with increased gray matter concentration?

Answer 14

• Posterior cingulate cortex
• Left temporo-parietal junction
• Lateral cerebellum
• Cerebellum vermis/brainstem

Question 15

True or False: Changes were found in the insula ROI for the MBSR group.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

What does the conclusion of the study indicate about the adult nervous system?

Answer 16

The adult nervous system has the capacity for plasticity, and the structure of the brain can change in response to training.