Psychological, cognitive and motor effects of mindfulness meditation : study in different populations

La méditation de pleine conscience (MPC) est une pratique mentale, impliquant des mécanismes cognitifs et émotionnels, qui consiste à porter son attention sur le moment présent (pensées, sensations, émotions), sans attente, sans filtre et sans jugement. Des résultats encourageants sont en faveur de bénéfices comportementaux de la MPC dans les domaines psychologique, cognitif et moteur. Cependant, des zones d'ombre persistent concernant leurs modérateurs, leurs mécanismes d'action, et l'efficacité de la modalité de pratique en ligne. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'apporter une meilleure compréhension des effets comportementaux de la MPC en cherchant à lever ces verrous scientifiques à travers une investigation chez différentes populations saines (adultes, étudiants, pratiquants ou novices en MPC). Premièrement, nous avons étudié l'efficacité de la MPC en ligne sur la santé mentale et les capacités attentionnelles d'étudiants pendant la crise sanitaire de la COVID-19. Deuxièmement, nous avons investigué les effets aigus de la MPC sur les capacités cognitives de pratiquants et novices en MPC. Pour finir, également chez des pratiquants et novices, nous avons étudié les effets aigus de la MPC sur le contrôle moteur, en cherchant à déterminer s'ils pouvaient être médiés par ses bénéfices cognitifs. Ce travail apporte des preuves de l'efficacité à court et moyen termes de la MPC dans les domaines psychologique, cognitif et moteur, tout en suggérant certains modérateurs de ses effets. De plus, à travers l'étude du lien cognition-motricité, il apporte les premières données concernant les potentiels mécanismes d'action de la MPC dans le domaine moteur.Mindfulness meditation (MM) is a mental practice that involves cognitive and emotional processes. It consists in focusing attention on the present moment (thoughts, feelings, emotions) without expectations, filters or judgment. Currently, encouraging results are in favor of its behavioral benefits in psychological, cognitive and motor domains. Nevertheless, uncertainties remain regarding their moderators, their underlying mechanisms of action, and the efficacy of online practice. Accordingly, this PhD thesis aimed to provide a better understanding of the behavioral effects of MM by overcoming these scientific bottlenecks through an investigation in different healthy populations (adults, students, meditators or novices in MM). First, we studied the efficacy of an online MM intervention on students' mental health and attentional abilities during the COVID-19 sanitary crisis. Secondly, we investigated the acute effects of MM on cognitive abilities in meditation-naïve (novices) and meditation-experienced (meditators) participants. Finally, also in meditators and novices, we studied the acute effects of MM on motor control and whether they could be mediated by the cognitive benefits. This doctoral work provides evidence on the efficacy of short- and mid-term MM practice in the psychological, cognitive and motor domains, while suggesting certain moderators. In addition, through the investigation of the link between cognition and motor control, it provides a first insight regarding the potential mechanisms of action of MM in the motor domain

Intentional maintenance of antiphase bimanual pattern at transition frequency: Is it associated with inhibition processes?

This study aimed at demonstrating the intentional modulation of bimanual coordination dynamics at transition frequency and determining whether it is associated with perceptual and/or motor inhibition capacities. Healthy adults (N = 29) performed in a random order: i) bimanual anti-phase (AP) movements at the maximal individual transition frequency, with the instruction to either let go, or intentionally maintain the initial movement pattern and oppose to the spontaneous transition to in-phase (IP) movements, and ii) The Motor and Perceptual Inhibition Test, giving separate scores for perceptual and motor inhibition. Results showed that in the intentional condition participants were able to delay (more movement cycles before the transition) and suppress (more trials without transition) the spontaneous transition from AP to IP. A statistically significant, though weak, correlation was found between motor performance and perceptual inhibition scores. We interpreted our findings as an indicator of the presence of an inhibitory mechanism underlying intentional dynamics that is partially associated to perceptual inhibition in healthy adults. This could have implications in populations with compromised inhibitory capacities, which might entail motor repercussions, and suggests the possibility of using bimanual coordination as means to stimulate both cognitive and motor capacities

Mindfulness meditation and bimanual coordination control: study of acute effects and the mediating role of cognition

International audienceMindfulness meditation (MM) involves and benefits cognitive functioning, especially attention and inhibition processes, which are also implicated in the control of complex motor skills, such as bimanual coordination. Thus, MM practice could potentially enhance bimanual coordination control through its cognitive benefits. Accordingly, in this study, we investigated the acute effects of a brief MM session on bimanual coordination dynamics, attention, and inhibition abilities, as well as the mediation link between MM’s cognitive and motor improvements. Methods Healthy meditation-naïve (novices, n = 29) and meditation-experienced participants (meditators, n = 26) were randomly assigned to either an active control intervention (attentive listening to a documentary podcast) or a MM intervention (breathing and open monitoring exercise), both lasting 15 min. In the motor domain, pre- and post-tests assessed participants’ ability to intentionally maintain the anti-phase coordination pattern at maximal movement frequency and resist the spontaneous transition to the in-phase pattern. In the cognitive domain, the participants’ attentional, perceptual inhibition and motor inhibition abilities were assessed. Results Following both interventions, meditators and novices improved the stability of their anti-phase coordination pattern ( p = 0.034, η p 2 = 0.10) and their attentional performance ( p ’s < 0.001, η p 2 > 0.40). Only following the MM intervention, meditators and novices improved their ability to intentionally maintain the anti-phase pattern by delaying or even suppressing the spontaneous transition to in-phase ( p ’s < 0.05, η p 2 ≥ 0.11), and improved concomitantly their motor inhibition scores ( p = 0.011, η p 2 = 0.13). No effects were found on perceptual inhibition. The increase in motor inhibition capacities did not however statistically mediate the observed acute effects of MM on bimanual coordination control. Conclusion We showed that a single MM session may have acute benefits in the motor domain regardless of the familiarity with MM practice. Although these benefits were concomitant to enhanced attentional and motor inhibition abilities, no formal mediation link could be established between the observed motor and cognitive benefits. This study paves the way for the investigation of the mechanisms underlying MM effects on motor control, as well as longer-term benefits

A single session of mindfulness meditation may acutely enhance cognitive performance regardless of meditation experience

The present study investigated acute cognitive effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) compared to an active control intervention in meditators (n = 22) and novices (n = 20) using a within-subject design. We analyzed reaction times in a digitized Stroop task at baseline, after a 10-minute MM session with a fundamental breathing exercise, and after a 10-minute attentive listening intervention. Interventions order was randomized and a 10 min delay was respected before testing. Relative to baseline, meditators and novices showed faster reaction times after both interventions, but more so after MM for the congruent and incongruent Stroop task conditions that are associated with attention, inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Although the two interventions showed cognitive effects independent of previous meditation experience, MM appeared to induce larger benefits. Our findings are encouraging and support MM’s potential as a means to enhance cognitive performance on the short-term without the need of any previous practice

Intentional Switching Between Bimanual Coordination Patterns in Older Adults: Is It Mediated by Inhibition Processes?

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