Toward a cognitive view of trait mindfulness: distinct cognitive skills predict its observing and nonreactivity facets.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the cognitive basis of mindfulness facets, specifically examining how distinct facets (observing and nonreactivity) correlate with perceptual abilities and cognitive control flexibility.
Results Summary
Individuals high in the observing facet of mindfulness showed superior perceptual abilities in visual working memory and temporal order tasks, while those high in the nonreactivity facet exhibited greater cognitive control flexibility. The study supports the idea that different mindfulness facets underlie distinct cognitive skills.
Population
College students (N = 297)
Effective Dosage
Not available
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high observing facet of mindfulness | increase | perceptual abilities in visual working memory | college students | - | demonstrated superior | #1 |
high observing facet of mindfulness | increase | perceptual abilities in temporal order tasks | college students | - | demonstrated superior | #2 |
high nonreactivity facet of mindfulness | increase | cognitive control flexibility | college students | - | exhibited greater | #3 |
Dispositional variations in mindfulness and its facets have garnered considerable recent interest in the clinical and personality literatures. Theoretically, high mindful individuals have been characterized as more attuned to momentary sensations and perceptions and/or better able to execute behavior in a controlled manner, yet data of this relatively cognitive type have not been reported. In addition, perceptual attunement and executive control are distinct skills that may underlie, or at least correlate with, distinct facets of mindfulness. In 3 studies involving college students (N = 297), support for the latter idea was found. Individuals high in the observing (but not nonreactivity) facet of mindfulness demonstrated superior perceptual abilities in visual working memory (Study 1) and temporal order (Study 2) tasks. On the other hand, individuals high in the nonreactivity (but not observing) facet of mindfulness exhibited greater cognitive control flexibility (Study 3). Implications for understanding the cognitive basis of mindfulness facets are discussed.