Differential Effect of Four Mindfulness Exercises

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Mindfulness can be considered as a family of complex attentional and emotional regulation strategies that promote the cultivation of well-being and emotional balance. The practice of mindfulness produces the development of a consciousness that unfolds moment to moment, open and unprejudiced in the present moment, here and now. Despite its extensive benefits, the practice of mindfulness requires a significant commitment in time and effort, which limits the potential for its dissemination. The studies to narrow the differential effects of the various exercises based on mindfulness, will further enhance their effectiveness and they can guide the practice sequence according to user needs. In this paper we will research mindfulness electroencephalographic correlates of as four different exercise programs included in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and stress reduction program based on mindfulness (MBSR) as well as its effect on several psychological variables.

Detailed Description
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Mindfulness is a way of using attention intentionally, repeatedly reactivating the attentional focus, so that it enhances the ability of sustained attention. It involves a complex process of self-regulation and inhibition of internal and external stimuli interferences. Although the overall effects of meditation on brain bioelectrical signals are still being characterized, there is some consensus on the fact that meditation helps alter brain activity in both state and trait. The specific aim of this study is to assess the differential effect of four different practices of mindfulness in psychological well-being and their corresponding neurophysiological correlates. The hypothesis is that different exercises within the range of mindfulness practices exert different effects in terms of electroencephalographic activity, expecting different band increases in alpha (activity 7-to 2 Hz), beta (activity more than 13 Hz), theta (activity 4-6 Hz) and delta (activity less than 3 Hz) respectively, as well as changes in the lateralization of the activity (left or right hemisphere). We also expect an improvement in the variables such as mindfulness, self-compassion, positive affect, anxiety, depression and sleep quality.

Official Title
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Differential Effect of Four Mindfulness Exercises on Mindfulness, Cerebral Cartography and Heart Ratio Variability

Conditions
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Anxiety, Well-being, Depression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Control group relaxation techniques
* Behavioral: Loving-kindness meditation
* Behavioral: Body scan
* Behavioral: Sitting practice


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: sign of informed consent no previous meditation training experience Exclusion Criteria: mental or neurologic disorder respiratory disease previous brain damage history medication intake that could interfere in the electroencephalographic results

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Control Group: Relaxation Techniques<br>Relaxation techniques which do not involve either formal or informal mindfulness training. Subjects in this group practice Jacobson's progressive muscular relaxation, emotional imagining and Schultz's autogenic training. | Behavioral: Control group relaxation techniques<br>* Jacobson's progressive muscular relaxation, emotional imagining and Schultz's autogenic training.<br>|
| Experimental: Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta)<br>Loving-kindness meditation following Kristin Neff protocol | Behavioral: Loving-kindness meditation<br>* Following Kristin Neff protocol<br>|
| Experimental: Body Scan<br>Body scan as described in standard MBSR protocol | Behavioral: Body scan<br>* Body scan: Attention being directed with detailed awareness to every part of the body for a sustained period of time.<br>|
| Experimental: Sitting Practice<br>Sitting practice as mindfulness meditation described in standard MBSR protocols. | Behavioral: Sitting practice<br>* In the sitting exercise, participants are guided to pay attention to a certain range of still points, starting with attention to breathing. In this exercise attention is fully concentrated on a single object: the sensation attached to breathing. If the mind wanders or is distracted by an external stimulus, attention is gently returned to sensations derived from breathing.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Different facets of Mindfulness | The Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) will be used: It assesses the following facets of mindfulness: Observing, describing, acting with awareness, non judging of inner experience and non-reactivity to inner experience | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Brain function | We will use cerebral cartography | 3 months | 
| Positive and negative affectivity | It will be measured with PANAS questionnaire | 3 months | 
| anxiety and depression | Measured with Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale | 3 months | 
| Insomnia | Measured with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) | 3 months | 
| Self-compassion | Measured with Self-Compassion Scale | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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EEG, mindfulness meditation, alpha rhythm, brain mapping, emotion, attention