Individual Differences in Dispositional Mindfulness Predict Attentional Networks and Vigilance Performance

Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank Tao Coll-Martín, Fernando G. Luna, and Miguel A. Vadillo for the kind and helpful input provided during the development of this research project.Funding Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada / CBUA. LC was supported by a doctoral fellowship from “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434; fellowship code LCF/BQ/ DE18/11670002). AC was supported by CIBEROBN, an initiative of the ISCIII (ISC III CB06 03/0052) and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) under AMABLE-VR (RTI2018-097835-A-I00). JL was supported by a research projects grant from the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PSI2017-84926-P; PID2020-114790 GB-I00). This paper is part of the doctoral dissertation of the first author under the supervision of the last author.Data Availability The data and R scripts used for analysis are provided at the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/374rs/). The online version of the ANTI-Vea task is available for free use and in multiple languages at https://www. ugr. es/~neuro cog/ ANTI/.Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01850-6.Pretrial Registration Open Science Framework, https://osf.io/gb6c7Objectives Research addressing the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and objective attention performance remains inconclusive, partly because previous studies used sample sizes possibly leading to underpowered designs. Here, we examined this relationship in a large sample using the ANTI-Vea: a novel cognitive-behavioral task that simultaneously assesses the classic attentional networks—phasic alertness, orienting, executive control—and both the executive and arousal components of vigilance. Methods Two hundred nineteen meditation-naïve participants completed the study. Correlational analyses using Kendall’s Tau were performed between FFMQ scores and ANTI-Vea outcomes. Additional subsidiary correlations were performed between the FFMQ and two self-report measures assessing subjective attentional control and mind-wandering. Benjamini- Hochberg was applied to control de type I error rate. Internal consistency reliability indices were estimated for all measures used to aid the interpretation of the correlational results. Results Higher non-reactivity predicted overall faster reaction times and higher accuracy in attentional networks trials. Higher non-reactivity, as well as higher FFMQ total score, predicted faster reaction time and fewer lapses in arousal vigilance trials, the latter also being negatively associated with describe scores. The magnitude of the correlations ranged from τb = .103 to τb = .119. We found no association between FFMQ scores and executive control or executive vigilance. Conclusions Our results indicate that dispositional mindfulness is linked to improved global attentional and arousal vigilance performance, being non-reactivity to inner experience the key facet driving the association. The absence of association to executive processes is discussed based on the high cognitive demands of the ANTI-Vea task.Universidad de Granada/CBUA“La Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434; fellowship code LCF/BQ/ DE18/11670002)CIBEROBN, an initiative of the ISCIII (ISC III CB06 03/0052) and Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spain) under AMABLE-VR (RTI2018-097835-A-I00)Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (PSI2017-84926-P; PID2020-114790 GB-I00

La evaluación de Riesgos psicosociales desde la perspectiva de género: Determinación de los factores y subfactores de riesgo relevantes

Es necesario incluir los aspectos de género en las evaluaciones de los riesgos laborales de tipo psicosocial. Desde esta perspectiva, se ha realizado la evaluación de riesgos psicosociales de un grupo homogéneo de trabajadoras y trabajadores en cuanto a sus condiciones organizativas, lugares de trabajo y tareas. La perspectiva de género arroja resultados diferenciales en unos pocos subfactores de riesgo. Se ha intentado detectar los subfactores más sensibles en la evaluación de los riesgos psicosociales de grupos de mujeres y hombres en trabajos de tipo administrativo. Como herramienta de trabajo se ha utilizado el método FSICO 3.0 de evaluación de riesgos psicosociale

From Distraction to Mindfulness: Latent Structure of the Spanish Mind‑Wandering Deliberate and Spontaneous Scales and Their Relationship to Dispositional Mindfulness and Attentional Control

Objectives Mind-wandering is a form of internal distraction that may occur both deliberately and spontaneously. This study aimed to provide a psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the Mind-Wandering Deliberate and Spontaneous (MW-D/MW-S) scales, as well as to extend prior research investigating their associations with dispositional mindfulness (Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire) and with the ability for attentional control of external distraction (Attentional Control Scale). Method In two large samples (n1 = 795; n2 = 1084), we examined latent structure, item- and dimension-level descriptive statistics, and internal consistency reliability scores of the Spanish MW-D/MW-S scales. Partial correlations were used to evaluate their associations with dispositional mindfulness and attentional control. Multiple linear regression and relative weight analyses were used to investigate whether or not, and to what extent, the facets of mindfulness could be uniquely predicted by internal and external distraction. Results The Spanish MW-D/MW-S scales demonstrated a two-factor structure, high internal consistency reliability scores, and good nomological validity. Dispositional mindfulness was independently explained by internal and external distraction. MW-S was the largest (negative) predictor of the scores of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, being this association particularly strong for the facet Acting with awareness. Conversely, MW-D was mildly associated with increased mindfulness. In addition, attentional control was found moderately negatively associated with MW-S and mildly positively associated with MW-D. Conclusions Our results indicate that the Spanish version of the MW-D/MW-S scales are a useful tool to assess individual differences in deliberate and spontaneous mind-wandering, shed light on the relationship between mindfulness and both internal and external distraction, and accentuate the critical role of intentionality in the study of the mind-wandering phenomena.La Caixa Foundation 100010434 LCF/BQ/DE18/11670002Euro-pean Union-Next Generation EU fundsSpanish Agencia Estatal de Investigacion, Min-isterio de Economia y Competitividad 100010434 Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigacion, Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad LCF/BQ/DE18/11670002Junta de Andalucia FPU17/06169Universidad de Granada / CBUA PID2019-104239 GB-I00/SRA PID2020-114790 GB-I00 PY20_0069

Mindfulness and Enhanced Executive Control: From Training to Trait

From mastering a new skill, to planning our finances, to navigating the complex and dynamic world of interpersonal relationships, we oftentimes face situations in which relying on reactive or automatic behavior would lead us astray. Such situations, instead, require us to apply top-down, voluntary control of our attention and actions. This critical cognitive ability, which comprises the functions of inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, is commonly referred to as executive control. Mindfulness, in turn, is the name given to a family of mental training regimes intended to foster the regulation of attentional and emotional processes (mindfulness training), as well as to the psychological faculty that these practices develop (mindfulness trait). Could the cultivation of mindfulness help us strengthen our executive control? This dissertation was proposed with the aim to shed light onto whether or not, to what extent, and by which mechanisms the construct of mindfulness (training and trait) is linked to enhanced executive control. Three studies along with a broad review and conceptual analysis of the state of the evidence in the field were conducted to address this overarching question. These include (a) a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials testing the effectiveness of mindfulness training in enhancing executive control; (b) a highly-powered individual differences investigation examining the attentional and executive control basis of mindfulness trait using a novel ANTI-Vea task; and, (c) a multi-sample study investigating the interrelationships between self-reported trait mindfulness, external distraction (i.e., executive control of attention), and internal distraction (i.e., mind-wandering). Finally, the main results from these studies are discussed in the light of (d) an extensive meta-review and theoretical analysis of the state of the art of the target literature, which culminates in the proposal of a novel mechanistic account of the relationship between mindfulness and executive control. The empirical and theoretical analysis conducted throughout this dissertation indicates that, based on available evidence, it can be asserted with moderate confidence that mindfulness is linked to enhanced executive control performance. This effect would be circumscribed to the domains of inhibitory control and working memory, while no relationship was revealed for cognitive flexibility. In terms of magnitude, the effect is expected to be rather small under most circumstances. In addition, available evidence suggests that mindfulness brings about this salutary cognitive effect not by enhancing executive control capacity in itself, but by enabling a more efficient use of it, possibly by causal routes that include downregulation of both affective reactivity and unintended mindwandering as core mechanisms. The dissertation concludes with a discussion of potentially fruitful avenues for future meta-analytical and empirical research at the intersection of mindfulness, mind-wandering, and executive control.Desde el aprendizaje de una nueva habilidad o la planificación nuestras finanzas, hasta el manejo del dinámico y complejo mundo de las relaciones interpersonales, a menudo nos enfrentamos a situaciones en las que dejarnos llevar por comportamientos reactivos o automáticos nos llevaría por mal camino. Situaciones que, por el contrario, requieren de un control “top-down”, o voluntario, de nuestra atención y comportamiento. Esta importante habilidad cognitiva, que comprende las funciones de control inhibitorio, memoria de trabajo, y flexibilidad cognitiva, se conoce comúnmente como control ejecutivo. Mindfulness, por su parte, es el nombre que recibe una familia de regímenes de entrenamiento mental destinados a fomentar la regulación de los procesos atencionales y emocionales (mindfulness como entrenamiento), así como la facultad psicológica que estas prácticas desarrollan (mindfulness como rasgo). ¿Podría el cultivo del mindfulness ayudarnos a fortalecer nuestro control ejecutivo? La presente tesis doctoral fue propuesta con el objetivo de dilucidar si, hasta qué punto, y a través de qué mecanismos, el constructo de mindfulness (como entrenamiento y como rasgo) está ligado a un mayor control ejecutivo. Para abordar esta pregunta se llevaron a cabo tres estudios junto con una amplia revisión y análisis conceptual del campo del estudio. Estos incluyen (a) un estudio metaanalítico de ensayos controlados aleatorizados testando la eficacia del entrenamiento en mindfulness en la mejora del control ejecutivo; (b) un estudio de diferencias individuales que examina las bases atencionales y ejecutivas del mindfulness rasgo empleando la novedosa tarea ANTI-Vea; y, (c) un estudio multi-muestra que explora las interrelaciones entre medidas autoreportadas de mindfulness rasgo, distracción externa (i.e., control ejecutivo atencional), y distracción interna (i.e., divagación mental o “mind-wandering”). Finalmente, los resultados principales de estos estudios se discuten a la luz de (d) una extensa meta-revisión y análisis conceptual del estado del arte de la literatura objetivo, que culmina en una propuesta teórica original sobre los mecanismos subyacentes a la relación entre mindfulness y control ejecutivo. El análisis empírico y teórico desarrollado en esta tesis sugiere que, en base a la literatura disponible hasta la fecha, existe moderada evidencia a favor de una relación positiva entre mindfulness y rendimiento ejecutivo. Este efecto se circunscribiría específicamente a los dominios de control inhibitorio y memoria de trabajo, no así a la flexibilidad cognitiva. En términos de magnitud, es esperable que el efecto sea relativamente pequeño en la mayoría de circunstancias. La evidencia disponible sugiere, además, que el mindfulness no trae consigo este saludable efecto cognitivo mejorando la capacidad de control ejecutivo, sino permitiendo una mayor eficiencia en el uso del mismo, posiblemente a través de rutas causales que incluyen la regulación de la reactividad afectiva y el mind-wandering involuntario como mecanismos principales. La tesis concluye con una discusión acerca de potenciales futuras líneas de investigación empírica y metaanalítica sobre mindfulness, mind-wandering, y control ejecutivo.Tesis Univ. Granada."la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434

Does mindfulness meditation training enhance executive control? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in adults

[This is a pre-print of an article published in Mindfulness. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-019-01279-4] Objectives: Over the last years, mindfulness meditation has been claimed to be effective in enhancing several cognitive domains, including executive control. However, these claims have been mostly based on findings pertaining to case-control and cross-sectional studies, which are by nature unable to reveal causal relationships. Aiming to address this issue, we set out to conduct the first quantitative assessment of the literature concerning mindfulness meditation as an enhancer for executive control considering only randomized controlled studies. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis covering experimental studies testing the effect of mindfulness meditation training on at least one executive control function (working memory, inhibitory control, or cognitive flexibility) in adult samples. Four databases were examined, resulting in the identification of 822 candidate references. After a systematic filtering process, a set of 16 studies was retained for evaluation, of which 13 could be included in a subsequent meta-analysis. Results: We found an average effect size of g = 0.34 [0.16, 0.51], indicating a small-to-medium effect of mindfulness meditation training in enhancing executive control. Effect sizes for individual functions were g = 0.42 [0.10, 0.74] for working memory, g = 0.42 [0.20, 0.63] for inhibitory control, and g = 0.09 [-0.13, 0.31] for cognitive flexibility. Funnel plot asymmetry analysis revealed no evidence of publication bias. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings provide preliminary and moderate yet positive evidence supporting the enhancing effects of mindfulness meditation on executive control. Shortcomings of included studies and considerations for future empirical and meta-analytical research are discussed

To Be Attentive, Do Not React: Linking Dispositional Mindfulness to Attentional Networks and Vigilance Performance

Objectives: Research addressing the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and objective attention performance remains inconclusive, partly because previous studies used sample sizes possibly leading to underpowered designs. Here, we examined this relationship in a large sample using the ANTI-Vea: a novel cognitive-behavioral task that simultaneously assesses the classical attentional networks—phasic alertness, orienting, executive control—and both the executive and arousal components of vigilance. Methods: Two hundred nineteen meditation-naïve participants completed the study. Correlational analyses using Kendall’s Tau were performed between FFMQ scores and ANTI-Vea outcomes. Additional subsidiary correlations were performed between the FFMQ and two self-report measures assessing subjective attentional control and mind-wandering. Benjamini-Hochberg was applied to control the Type I error rate. The hypotheses and plan of analyses were preregistered at the Open Science Framework. Results: Higher non-reactivity predicted overall faster reaction times and higher accuracy in attentional networks trials. Higher non-reactivity, as well as higher FFMQ total score, predicted faster reaction time and fewer lapses in arousal vigilance trials, the latter also being negatively associated with describe scores. The magnitude of the correlations ranged from τb = .103 to τb = .119. We found no association between FFMQ scores and executive control or executive vigilance. Conclusions: Our results indicate that dispositional mindfulness is linked to improved global attentional and arousal vigilance performance, being non-reactivity to internal experience the key facet driving the association. The absence of association to executive processes is discussed based on the high cognitive demands of the ANTI-Vea task

From Distraction to Mindfulness: Latent Structure of the Spanish Mind-Wandering Deliberate and Spontaneous Scales and Their Relationship to Dispositional Mindfulness and Attentional Control

Objectives: Mind-wandering is a form of internal distraction that may occur both deliberately and spontaneously. This study aimed to provide a psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the Mind-Wandering Deliberate and Spontaneous (MW-D/MW-S) scales, as well as to extend prior research investigating their associations with dispositional mindfulness (Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire) and with the ability for attentional control of external distraction (Attentional Control Scale). Methods: In two large samples (n1 = 795; n2 = 1084), we examined latent structure, item- and dimension-level descriptive statistics, and internal consistency reliability scores of the Spanish MW-D/MW-S scales. Partial correlations were used to evaluate their associations to dispositional mindfulness and attentional control. Multiple linear regression and relative weight analyses were used to investigate whether or not, and to what extent, the facets of mindfulness could be uniquely predicted by internal and external distraction. Results: The Spanish MW-D/MW-S scales demonstrated a two-factor structure, high internal consistency reliability scores, and good nomological validity. Dispositional mindfulness was independently explained by internal and external distraction. Across facets, MW-S was the largest (negative) predictor of mindfulness, being this association particularly strong for Acting with awareness. Conversely, MW-D was mildly associated to increased mindfulness. In addition, attentional control was found moderately negatively associated with MW-S and mildly positively associated with MW-D. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the Spanish version of the MW-D/MW-S scales are a useful tool to assess individual differences in deliberate and spontaneous mind-wandering, shed light on the relationship between mindfulness and both internal and external distraction, and accentuate the critical role of intentionality in the study of the mind-wandering phenomena

Uncontrolled Eating in Healthy Women Has Limited Influence on Food Reward Sensitivity and Food-Related Inhibitory Control

Uncontrolled eating—in the general population—is characterized by overeating, hedonic hunger and being drawn towards palatable foods. Theoretically, it is the result of a strong food reward signal in relation to a poor ability to exert inhibitory control. How food consumption influences inhibitory control and food reward sensitivity, and how this relates to the continued urge to eat, remains unclear though. We used fMRI (N=40) in order to investigate the neural mechanism underlying food reward sensitivity and food-specific response inhibition (go-nogo task), by comparing women reporting high versus low/average uncontrolled eating across two sessions: during an inter-meal hunger state and after consumption of a high-caloric snack. We found no effects of individual differences in uncontrolled eating, food consumption, nor their interaction on food reward sensitivity. Differences in uncontrolled eating and food consumption did interact in modulating activity in the left superior occipital gyrus during response inhibition of non-food stimuli, an area previously associated with successful nogo- vs. go-trials. Yet, behavioural performance on the go-nogo task was not modulated by uncontrolled eating nor food consumption. Women with a low/average tendency for uncontrolled eating may need more cognitive resources to support successful response inhibition of non-food stimuli during food ‘go’ blocks in an inter-meal hunger state, whereas women with a high tendency for uncontrolled eating showed this after food consumption. Considering current and previous findings, it seems that individual differences in uncontrolled eating in healthy women have only limited influence on food reward sensitivity and food-related inhibitory control, whereas differences in weight status (e.g., obesity) may have more impact