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08-02-2019 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Mindfulness Induces Changes in Anterior Alpha Asymmetry in Healthy Older Adults

Auteurs: Ben Isbel, Jim Lagopoulos, Daniel F. Hermens, Mathew J. Summers

Gepubliceerd in: Mindfulness | Uitgave 7/2019

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Abstract

Objectives

Anterior alpha asymmetry is an EEG measure of relative left- or right-sided prefrontal cortical activity that has been associated with affective style, such that greater relative left-sided activity is associated with positive affect and approach-related behaviours. While mindfulness has been shown to enhance attention and affect, here we investigate the underlying neurobiological changes supporting these outcomes by assessing anterior alpha asymmetry.

Methods

A longitudinal RCT was conducted to investigate the effect of an 8-week mindfulness training (MT) intervention on anterior alpha asymmetry and affect in a group of healthy adults aged over 60 years (n = 41). An active control computer-based attention training (CT) program (n = 26) designed to activate similar attentional components to mindfulness was used to determine if outcomes resulted from attention training or mindfulness-specific factors. The Sustained Attention to Response Task was used to assess attentional performance, while a breath counting task was used to classify mindfulness participants into high (MT-HIGH; n = 19) and low (MT-LOW; n = 22) proficiency groups.

Results

While all groups displayed improved attentional performance, only the MT-HIGH and MT-LOW groups showed significant increases in positive affect as measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The MT-HIGH group showed significantly increased relative left-sided activity at both Fp1/Fp2 and F3/F4 electrode pairs, while no significant changes were observed in the MT-LOW and CT groups.

Conclusions

These results suggest that 8 weeks of mindfulness training is capable of inducing changes in resting anterior alpha asymmetry, but these results are dependent upon the level of proficiency achieved.
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Metagegevens
Titel
Mindfulness Induces Changes in Anterior Alpha Asymmetry in Healthy Older Adults
Auteurs
Ben Isbel
Jim Lagopoulos
Daniel F. Hermens
Mathew J. Summers
Publicatiedatum
08-02-2019
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Mindfulness / Uitgave 7/2019
Print ISSN: 1868-8527
Elektronisch ISSN: 1868-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01106-w