The Impact of a Single, Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Cognitive and Emotional Reactivity: an EEG Study

Mindfulness training produces behavioral and neuronal enhancements for executive and emotional control processes that strengthen with experience. We aimed to examine how a single 30-min session of mindfulness impacts behavioral and electrophysiological outcomes (event-related potentials; ERPs) of inhibitory control and perception of affectively negative words. Using a mixed within-subject design, 62 university participants provided behavioral and electrophysiological data, and were randomly assigned to two groups: audio-guided mindfulness meditation or relaxation technique of their choice. Participants completed two blocks of computerized tasks (two measuring inhibitory function: Go/NoGo, Simon task; and one assessing affective perception: word rating task), as well as provided self-reported state-induced mindfulness levels before and after the intervention. Regardless of group, Go/NoGo performance accuracy was at ceiling (≥ 91