Abstract :
The effect of mindfulness meditation (MM) on
attentional control in emotional contexts was examined. In
Study 1, MM practitioners (N = 28) categorized tones
presented 1 or 4 s following the onset of affective pictures.
Reaction times (RTs) to tones for affective minus neutral
pictures provided an index of emotional interference. Participants
with more MM experience showed less
interference from affective pictures and reported higher
mindfulness and psychological well-being. Study 2 was a
controlled, randomized experimental study in which participants
(N = 82) received MM training, relaxation
meditation (RM) training, or no intervention (waiting-list
control; WLC). Behavioral, self-report, and psychophysiological
measures were administered before and after a
7-week intervention period. Although both MM and RM
resulted in smaller skin conductance responses to
unpleasant pictures and increased well-being, reductions in
emotional interference from unpleasant pictures were specific
to MM. These findings indicate that MM attenuates
prolonged reactivity to emotional stimuli.
