Biological Approach 3 - Holzel et al.

Question 1

When was Holzel et al.?

Answer 1

2011

Question 2

What is Phrenology?

Answer 2

The (false) science that people’s skull shape determines their personality, etc.

Question 3

In the past, how was the brain studied?

Answer 3

Autopsies or brain surgery.

Question 4

How are brains studied today?

Answer 4

Brain scans.

Question 5

What do brain scans measure?

Answer 5

Structure and function.

Question 6

What specific part of the brain is being studied in Holzel?

Answer 6

The hippocampal region.

Question 7

What is the hippocampus responsible for?

Answer 7

Memory, spatial awareness, controlling emotions.

Question 8

What is plasticity?

Answer 8

The ability to create new neurons and connections in the brain.

Question 9

What is mindfulness?

Answer 9

A person becoming more aware of their current experience, thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations.

Question 10

What type of brain scan is used in this study?

Answer 10

MRI

Question 11

Why is the MRI used?

Answer 11

It is able to detect small structural changes in the concentration of grey matter over time.

Question 12

Why have previous studies done about mindfulness and grey matter concentration been iffy?

Answer 12

Because they were cross-sectional and differences between the groups could have been pre-existing and not necessarily a result of mindfulness.

Question 13

What is a cross-sectional study?

Answer 13

One that compares different groups of people.

Question 14

What was the aim of Holzel?

Answer 14

To identify changes in specific brain regions and the whole brain by comparing grey matter concentration before and after a mindfulness course.

Question 15

How did Holzel fix the cross-sectional problem in previous studies for his own?

Answer 15

He used a longitudinal design.

Question 16

What was the IV?

Answer 16

Exposure to an 8 week mindfulness-based intervention (Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction MBSR).

Question 17

How long were the mindfulness sessions each week?

Answer 17

2.5 hours

Question 18

In what week was there a full day session?

Answer 18

Week 6

Question 19

What are three exercises included in the MBSR?

Answer 19

Body scan
Sitting meditation
Mindful yoga

Question 20

What is the Body Scan exercise?

Answer 20

Attention is guided in a sequence throughout the whole body to see the body as a ‘complete whole’.

Question 21

What is the Mindful Yoga exercise?

Answer 21

Gentle stretching and slow movements, and breathing exercises which aim to raise awareness of the body’s moment-to-moment experience.

Question 22

What is the Sitting Meditation exercise?

Answer 22

Focuses on the sensation of breathing, and progresses to sounds, sights, tastes, and other body sensations, as well as thoughts and emotions.

Question 23

What was given to participants to practice at home?

Answer 23

A 45 minute recording.

Question 24

How often were the participants supposed to practice at home?

Answer 24

Every day

Question 25

What was the experimental design?

Answer 25

Independent measures design.

Question 26

What was the DV?

Answer 26

The change in grey matter assessed in MRI scans.

Question 27

What other method was used to measure and compare mindfulness in the participants?

Answer 27

A questionnaire to measure 5 mindfulness scales.

Question 28

Where was the sample from?

Answer 28

People already enrolled in an MBSR course at the University of Massachusetts.

Question 29

Why had participants enrolled in the MBSR course?

Answer 29

They chose to or had been referred by their doctor.

Question 30

Was the sample healthy?

Answer 30

Yes, psychologically and physiologically. No metal in their bodies so they could take MRI scans and no medication was being taken.

Question 31

How many meditation classes could the sample have had?

Answer 31

0 in the last 6 months 4 in the last 5 years 10 in their lifetime

Question 32

What was the age range of the sample?

Answer 32

25-55

Question 33

What was the initial experimental sample size and gender balance?

Answer 33

8 males and 10 females

Question 34

What was the final experimental sample?

Answer 34

6 males and 10 females

Question 35

Why did 2 males leave the study?

Answer 35

They left after the first MRI session because of discomfort.

Question 36

What was the mean age of the remaining sample?

Answer 36

38.1 (SD 4.1 years)

Question 37

What was the ethnic diversity of the sample?

Answer 37

13 Caucasians, 1 Asian, 1 African American, and 1 multi-ethnic

Question 38

What was the sample size of the control group?

Answer 38

7 males and 10 females

Question 39

What was the mean age of the control group?

Answer 39

39 (AD 9.2 years)

Question 40

What was the ethnic diversity of the control group?

Answer 40

13 Caucasians, 2 Asians, 2 African Americans, 1 Hispanic

Question 41

Did the sample and control group differ in terms of educational level?

Answer 41

No

Question 42

Did participants give written consent?

Answer 42

Yes

Question 43

What benefits did the participants get?

Answer 43

A reduced course fee

Question 44

What does FFMQ stand for?

Answer 44

Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire

Question 45

How many items were on the FFMQ?

Answer 45

39

Question 46

What five facets did the FFMQ measure?

Answer 46

Observing Describing Acting with Awareness Non-judging Non-reactivity

Question 47

What does Acting with Awareness mean?

Answer 47

Being attentive to current actions rather than responding automatically or absentmindedly.

Question 48

How often was the FFMQ completed?

Answer 48

Once before and once after the experiment by both groups.

Question 49

How many participants in each group provided usable data for both time points for the FFMQ?

Answer 49

14

Question 50

How many brain scans did each participant have?

Answer 50

2

Question 51

When were the MRI scans?

Answer 51

In the 2 week period before the course and the 2 week period after the course. Average of 56 days between the scans for experimental group and 66 days for control group.

Question 52

What were the two ways that the data from the brain scans was used?

Answer 52

1 - To produce a 'region of interest' (RoI) analysis, of particular brain areas 2 - to provide a 'whole brain analysis'

Question 53

What were two regions of interest?

Answer 53

The bilateral hippocampi Bilateral insulae

Question 54

What was the average time and MBSR participant spent on mindfulness homework?

Answer 54

22.6 hours 27 minutes a day

Question 55

Were any of the three measures significantly correlated?

Answer 55

No

Question 56

Which 3 sub-scales of the FFMQ significantly increased for the experimental group compared to the control group?

Answer 56

Acting with awareness Observing Non-judgement

Question 57

Were there differences between the groups in grey matter concentration in the left hippocampus at the start of the study?

Answer 57

No

Question 58

Were there changes in grey matter concentrations for the control group between their tests?

Answer 58

No

Question 59

Were there changes in grey matter concentration in the left hippocampus for the experimental group?

Answer 59

Yes

Question 60

Did any changes in grey matter concentration correlate with amount of hw or changes in FFMQ scores?

Answer 60

No

Question 61

Were there changes in the whole brain analysis?

Answer 61

Yes

Question 62

What four regions of the brain also increased in grey matter concentration post-course?

Answer 62

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

Question 63

Were there any decreases in grey matter concentration?

Answer 63

Not for MBSR, but some small reductions for the control group.

Question 64

What are 2 conclusions from this study?

Answer 64

1. The results from the regions of interest findings show that structural changes in the left hippocampus arise within an 8-week period of participation in a mindfulness course. 2. The temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) is important in the way we see ourself, and when it is impaired, it can become faulty. This links to mindfulness training in perceiving the body as a complete whole.

Question 65

What is the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) used for?

Answer 65

The way we judge the relevance of stimuli to ourself.

Question 66

What are 6 strengths of this study?

Answer 66

Longitudinal study High validity High ethics Control group Quantitative and objective data No demand characteristics

Question 67

What are 4 weaknesses of this study?

Answer 67

Low ecological validity Interpretation of MRI scans could be problematic No correlation between grey matter concentration increase and amount of practice Control group had to wait 8 weeks before getting help (ethics)