ABSTRACT The ability to regulate attention is a key function of several cognitive activities, especially mindfulness and working memory capacity (WMC). In each moment, we are bombarded with both relevant and irrelevant sensory information in our immediate environment, and attentional control is needed to minimize distractions and maximize productivity. Attentional control plays an important role in the practice and embodiment of mindfulness, but it also functions with WMC in similar ways. Both mindfulness and WMC require the individual to regulate his or her attention in such a way that new information can be incorporated and old information, if relevant, can be maintained. In order to further understand the underlying attentional control mechanisms pertaining to mindfulness and WMC, we utilized a component of electroencephalographic response data known as the mismatch negativity (MMN), which provides information about automatic attention orienting. Participants completed a mindfulness survey, spatial (SSPAN) and verbal (OSPAN) WMC tests, and were recorded on EEG while watching a silent movie and listening to tones that changed in frequency. We expected mindful individuals and individuals with high WMC to exhibit larger MMN amplitudes than less mindful and low WMC individuals. We also expected a positive correlation between mindfulness and WMC due to their similar functionalities. Our results showed that mindful individuals actually exhibit smaller MMN amplitudes, and there was no correlation between mindfulness and WMC. Our results also showed a positive correlation between SSPAN and the response to the frequency change. / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_27899 |
| Contributors | Obialo, Felicia (Author), Golob, Edward (Thesis advisor) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | 55 |
| Rights | Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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