Neural Effects of Mindfulness Training on Attention

正念训练对注意力的神经影响

• 批准号: 7034000
• 负责人: Amishi Parag Jha
• 金额: $ 19.64万
• 依托单位: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-09-01 至 2008-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/7034000
• 关键词: alternative medicine; attention; behavior test; behavioral /social science research tag; clinical research; cognition; cortisol; functional magnetic resonance imaging; human subject; meditation; neuroregulation; nutrition education; patient oriented research; questionnaires; stress management

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We aim to investigate the cognitive and neural consequences of mindfulness meditation training (MMT), which has been reported to result in enduring health improvements. MMT has its roots in Eastern religious practice and its availability and popularity as a complimentary therapy for stress, chronic pain, and disordered eating. Mindfulness meditation has been described as "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally". Although attention is a key component of meditation, little is known about the cognitive and neural changes within the human attention system that result from MMT. In the proposed studies, we aim to examine the effects of MMT on the human attention system using behavioral and functional MRI (fMRI) measures. In all studies, MMT comprises participation in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. This group will be compared to a nutrition education control group. All behavioral and fMRI tests will be performed at 2 timepoints, 1 immediately preceding and 1 immediately following participation in the course. At both timepoints, subjects will perform the Attention Network Task (ANT), which has been used to identify neural substrates of the alerting, orienting, and conflict monitoring attention networks. In addition, salivary cortisol and psychometric questionnaires will be given to index stress levels. Our working hypothesis is that MMT strengthens the orienting component of attention; which comprises, disengage, and move operations. MMT may also improve coordinated functioning of all 3 networks. There are 3 main predictions: 1) MMT may result in greater improvements in behavioral measures of orienting relative to alerting and conflict monitoring. 2)The neural substrates of each attention network.(alerting, orienting, and conflict monitoring) may demonstrate improved processing efficiency following MMT, with the most pronounced effects in the orienting network; 3) MMT will result in stress reduction that may correlate with behavioral and neural changes in these attention networks. This project has 2 potential long-term benefits: 1) Refinement of current techniques and therapies using MMT; 2) Introduction of MMT as a neuroenhancement tool that may improve the functioning of attention.

描述（由申请人提供）：我们旨在调查正念冥想训练（MMT）的认知和神经后果，据报道这会导致持久健康改善。 MMT源于东方宗教实践，其可用性和受欢迎程度是一种免费的压力，慢性疼痛和饮食不足的疗法。正念冥想被描述为“以一种特定的方式关注：目的，目前和非判断力”。尽管注意力是冥想的关键组成部分，但对MMT引起的人类注意力系统内的认知和神经变化知之甚少。在拟议的研究中，我们旨在使用行为和功能性MRI（fMRI）措施来检查MMT对人类注意力系统的影响。在所有研究中，MMT包括参加为期8周的基于正念的压力减轻（MBSR）课程。该小组将与营养教育对照组进行比较。所有行为和功能磁共振成像测试将在参加课程后的2个时间点，1个时间点，1个时间点进行1个。在两个时间点上，受试者将执行注意力网络任务（ANT），该任务已用于识别警报，定向和冲突监视注意力网络的神经基板。此外，唾液皮质醇和心理测量调查表将符合指数应力水平。我们的工作假设是MMT增强了注意力的方向成分。包括，脱离和移动操作。 MMT还可以改善所有3个网络的协调功能。有3个主要预测：1）MMT可能会导致相对于警报和冲突监控的定向的行为度量更大。 2）每个注意力网络的神经底物。（警报，定向和冲突监测）可能会在MMT之后表现出提高的处理效率，并且在方向网络中效果最为明显； 3）MMT将导致压力减轻，这可能与这些注意力网络的行为和神经变化相关。该项目具有2种潜在的长期益处：1）使用MMT对当前技术和疗法的改进； 2）引入MMT作为一种神经性工具，可以提高注意力的功能。