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Closed-loop digital meditation improves sustained attention in young adults

Author

Listed:
  • David A. Ziegler

    (University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco)

  • Alexander J. Simon

    (University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco)

  • Courtney L. Gallen

    (University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco)

  • Sasha Skinner

    (University of California San Francisco)

  • Jacqueline R. Janowich

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Joshua J. Volponi

    (University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco)

  • Camarin E. Rolle

    (Stanford University School of Medicine)

  • Jyoti Mishra

    (University of California San Diego)

  • Jack Kornfield

    (Spirit Rock Meditation Center)

  • Joaquin A. Anguera

    (University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco)

  • Adam Gazzaley

    (University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco
    University of California San Francisco)

Abstract

Attention is a fundamental cognitive process that is critical for essentially all aspects of higher-order cognition and real-world activities. Younger generations have deeply embraced information technology and multitasking in their personal lives, school and the workplace, creating myriad challenges to their attention. While improving sustained attention in healthy young adults would be beneficial, enhancing this ability has proven notoriously difficult in this age group. Here we show that 6 weeks of engagement with a meditation-inspired, closed-loop software program (MediTrain) delivered on mobile devices led to gains in both sustained attention and working memory in healthy young adults. These improvements were associated with positive changes in key neural signatures of attentional control (frontal theta inter-trial coherence and parietal P3b latency), as measured by electroencephalography. Our findings suggest the utility of delivering aspects of the ancient practice of focused-attention meditation in a modern, technology-based approach and its benefits on enhancing sustained attention.

Suggested Citation

  • David A. Ziegler & Alexander J. Simon & Courtney L. Gallen & Sasha Skinner & Jacqueline R. Janowich & Joshua J. Volponi & Camarin E. Rolle & Jyoti Mishra & Jack Kornfield & Joaquin A. Anguera & Adam G, 2019. "Closed-loop digital meditation improves sustained attention in young adults," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 3(7), pages 746-757, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:3:y:2019:i:7:d:10.1038_s41562-019-0611-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-019-0611-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaolin Liu & Huijuan Shi & Yong Liu & Hong Yuan & Maoping Zheng, 2021. "Mindfulness Meditation Improves Musical Aesthetic Emotion Processing in Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-18, December.

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