## 4 Discussion

Table 2: M \(\pm\) SD values of indices measured from EDA\({}_{\text{mean}}\) and cardiovascular variables in T1 and T2 between EG and CG. igate unforeseen challenges, and committed to expending greater effort, which has previously been associated with enhanced performance [29; 34] and to reduce stress [22; 35] and decrease in pain sensitivity [70; 71]. Further, brief mindfulness participants experienced lower perceived difficulty during the second task compared to the control group, supporting the notion that brief mindfulness practice fosters improved attention and adaptability [32; 33; 67]. This effect likely arises from psychological changes that enhance self-efficacy and task appraisal. Physiological measures also revealed distinctive patterns: brief mindfulness participants showed a significant reduction in EDA during the mindfulness practice, followed by a marked increase during the second task. While no significant post hoc differences between groups were found, the decrease in EDA during mindfulness practice suggests a reduction in sympathetic nervous activity, indicating a relaxation effect. This is consistent with findings from other studies that have reported similar effects [43; 44; 72], although some have observed contradictory results [45] or no effect [25], highlighting the nuanced ways in which mindfulness practices may influence autonomic responses across different task phases. In our study, the subsequent EDA increase may reflect a heightened readiness to undertake the task, aligning with findings that associate EDA with arousal, importance, and novelty during task execution [43; 73]. In our study, none of the cardiovascular parameters showed significant changes following mindfulness practice. Findings in this area have been inconsistent; for example, some studies found no significant modifications in HR following MBSR training [25; 44]. In contrast, other studies report the cardiovascular effects of mindfulness on HR and HRV [22; 46; 47]. Under stressful conditions, participants practicing mindfulness meditation demonstrated an increased ability to lower stress levels and reduce heart rates. However, this reduction became evident only after the third session, suggesting that the absence of similar findings in our study may be attributed to the shorter duration of mindfulness practice [72]. This variability highlights the potential influence of factors such as individual differences in mindfulness state and trait, as well as the duration and intensity of mindfulness programs, emphasizing the need for further investigation into these physiological outcomes. However, this study is not without limitations. The sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability and statistical power of the findings. A larger sample size would help enhance the robustness of these results. Additionally, while steps were taken to mitigate the influence of experimenter presence during instruction delivery -- such as employing a secondary experimenter to increase objectivity -- this remains a potential source of bias that warrants further consideration. In summary, the study provides empirical support for the immediate benefits of brief mindfulness practices, suggesting that even short sessions can be valuable psycho-educational and clinical tools for enhancing task-related confidence and performance. Future research could expand on this by exploring variations in intervention duration, assessing the applicability of brief mindfulness practices across diverse populations, and examining their efficacy in managing stress or enhancing high-level cognitive processing in preparation for challenging or stressful scenarios, particularly as interventions for managing stress, enhancing high-level cognitive processing, or preparing individuals for challenging or stressful scenarios. In conclusion, brief mindfulness practice influenced psychological outcomes (self-efficacy, task appraisal) and performance, indicating its potential as a tool for enhancing problem-solving capacities.