Effects Of Mind Training On Image Stimulation - Induced Emotional Response

Many researches have investigated the relationship between mindfulness as a trait/ability, as a mental state/psychological process, or as a way of intervention with other mental factors. And it has been proved that mindfulness is related to less psychological pressure and emotional distress, as well as high level of well-being and positive emotions. Researchers start to focus on how mindfulness produce these outcomes and take the effect of mindfulness on emotional responses to stimuli as a potential mechanism. The present research aimed to explore the relationship between trait mindfulness and the tendency of emotional response, and how mindfulness training affected it. Emotional pictures were selected as stimuli and presented in both non-masked and masked condition to induce salient and unconscious emotional responses. Subjects from general population were asked to rate their emotional state immediately after each picture presented. The study includes two parts:Study1attempted to investigate the relationship between trait mindfulness and emotional response.104participates were recruited including39male and65female, between ages20and50. Participates finished Five Factors Mindfulness Questionnaire and Emotional Rating Task with a computer separately in laboratory. Corelation analysis showed that the rating of valence of emotional response after positive, neutral and negative pictures were positively correlated to FFMQ in both non-masked and masked condition. Particularly, the corelation was stronger in unconscious (masked) condition. The relationship between emotional response and factors of FFMQ was analysis and discussed.Study2aimed to explore the effect of8-weeks mindfulness training on emotional reactivity. A randomized controlled trial was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to mindfulness training group and waiting control group. Participants finished FFMQ and Emotional Rating Task during the week before and after mindfulness training and43participants’results were finally analysis, including25in mindfulness training group and18in waiting control group. Analysis of covariance showed that compared to control group, mindfulness training group showed improved FFMQ scores after8-weeks training (F=7.15,p<0.05). There no change in valence of emotional response rating. Whereas the rating of arousal after negative picture showed a reduction tendency in non-masked condition (F=2.85, p<0.10) and a significant reduction in masked condition (F=2.85, p<0.10).To sum up, the present study indicated that trait mindfulness was correlated to valence of emotional responses. The emotional responses of participants with high trait mindfulness were more positive. While mindfulness training altered the arousal of negative affective feelings, reducing emotional intensity. And the effect was more salient when the emotional response was implicit.