Effects Of Short-term Mindfulness Training On Response Inhibition And Its Mechanism

Inhibition is an ability to suppress unwanted or inappropriate actions and impulses.As a key component of executive function,inhibition is crucial for flexible and goaldirected behavior.Empirical studies have verified the benefits of mindfulness training in executive function,especially in inhibitory control and we focused on response inhibition in this study.Recently,the relationship between mindfulness and inhibition has been exlplored.However,the mechanism under the relation remains unclear.Based on Monitor and Acceptance Theory(MAT),we investigated the effects of trait mindfulness on response inhibition and its inner mechanism through individuals difference investigation study.And then we conducted short-term interventions and explored the effects fo awareness and acceptance of mindfulness in response inhibitory by dismantling the mindfulness.We also measured the neuro correlates of performance monitoring and consciousness,specially,the error-related negativity(ERN)and error positivity(Pe),the neurophysiological response that occurs of error commission.Study 1 investigated the effect of triat mindfulness and its inner constructionawarenss and acceptance on response inhibition in individilas with no prior mindfulness experience.Stop signal task and STROOP task were adopted to measure the response inhibition while Ospan task was used for measuring working memory capacity(as control).Seventy-nine participants(female=48)recruited from universities and the age ranged from 18 to 27(M=21.02±2.04).Results showed that the level of mindfulness trait have negative correaltation of SSRT(MAAS:r=-.28,p<.05;FFMQ:r=-.22,p<.05),which meant people who have higher mindfulness level have better response inhibition.We grouped the participants into two groups by the scores of PHLMSawareness: high awareness group and low awareness group and conducted a regression analysis by group.The regression coefficients difference was significant [F(1,78)=9.58,p<.01],which meant the moderate effect of group was significant.Awarenss level could moderate the the relationship between acceptance and response inhibition.Higher acceptance level influence response inhibition only in the individulas who have high leve awareness.Based on the results of study 1,we conducted a short-term intervention in study 2 and investigate the effect of mindfulness training on response inhibition.And we also try to explore the mechanism of mindfulness training by measuring awareness and acceptance and the neuro correlates of performance monitoring and recognition.In the short-term intervention,mindfulness components were dismantled into two types of training:(1)training in both awareness and acceptance(Aware+Accept),(2)training in awareness only(Aware-Only).Besides,(3)relaxation trainingg(active control)and(4)neutral materials training(Control)were also conducted.ERN and Pe was recorded at the last day of intervention during the stop signal task.Eighty-one subjects were the final behavioral group(Mindfulness group: n=21,female=11;Awareness group: n=20,female=10;Relaxation group: n=21,female=11;Control group: n=19,female 10).Results showed significant interaction in intervention and intervention methods F(3,77)=2.97,p<.05,?2=0.03.Simple main effects showed SSRT decreased significantly only in mindfulness group,F(1,20)=5.26,p<.05.Seventy-three subjects were conducted in the final ERP analysis Mindfulness group: n=18;Awareness group: n=20;Relaxation group: n=17;Control group: n=18).No difference found in ERN between groups.As for Pe,there were significant differences in amplitude after comiting errors among groups,F(3,69)=2.87,p<.05,?2=0.11.And the amplitude of Pe of mindfulness group was significantly larger than awanreness group,t(36)=2.68,p<.05 Cohen's d=0.96.No significant outcomses was found in paired-comparision in other groups.The main conclusions of our studies:1.Individulas without mindfulness experience have better response inhibition in those who have higher triat mindfulness.Acceptance works based on awarenss:Higher acceetance predictes better response inhibition only in people with high awarenss level.2.Compared with other training,only mindfulness training with awarenss and acceptacness can improve individuals' response inhibition.Training with awareness only cannot improve individulas' response inhibition.3.Training with awarenss and acceptacness improve individulas' recognition on errors: Higher Pe after errors shows the improvement of recognition in mindfulness group.