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Matiz A, Fabbro F, Crescentini C. Mindfulness Through Storytelling for Mental Health of Primary School Children: Impact on Acceptability and Its Associations with Personality. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:1757-1774. [PMID: 38686324 PMCID: PMC11057635 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s441494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Acceptability of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) in primary school settings seems to represent a critical factor influencing the intervention effects on children's mental health. This study aims at assessing the acceptability of an MBP delivered through the technique of storytelling, as well as identifying which participants' personality characteristics can influence it. Participants and Methods Italian children in grades 3-to-5 (n = 147, 47.6% girls) participated in a 24-session MBP, which included 225 minutes of formal mindfulness practices and was delivered by the pupils' school teachers. Children's personality traits were assessed with the junior Temperament and Character Inventory (jTCI), while their subjective experiences and acceptability of the program were investigated using a survey containing open-ended and closed-ended questions. Results Program acceptability was 2.9 ± 0.7 on a 0-4 scale. Higher jTCI scores of persistence, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence were related to higher ratings in liking the program, finding it useful and engaging themselves in it. Moreover, 57.8% of the children generalized the mindfulness practices in daily life and 93.9% of them declared they would recommend the program to their friends/parents. Five main themes emerged from children's answers on what they learned: "help for difficulties (emotional, mental, and physical)", "calm, relax, tranquility", "resilience, positiveness, personal growth", "self-exploration, interoception", and "attention, concentration, and here-and-now". Conclusion Program acceptability was generally higher than in similar programs in the literature, and children reported personal gains in various areas related to psychological well-being. The study also suggests which children's personality traits should be considered when proposing an MBP in order to improve its acceptability and utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Matiz
- Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Fabbro
- Institute of Mechanical Intelligence, School of Advanced Studies Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Cristiano Crescentini
- Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Institute of Mechanical Intelligence, School of Advanced Studies Sant’Anna, Pisa, Italy
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Yequan H, Jingyun G, Yu G, Yan C, Zhechuang L, Xuechuan D, Xiaolin N. A focusing method on refraction topography measurement. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16440. [PMID: 37777596 PMCID: PMC10542780 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42950-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper introduces a novel focusing method Refraction Topography (RT) for wide-angle refraction measurement. The agreement of the test results obtained using RT is evaluated against simulation results and expected refraction. RT develops a refraction algorithm on fundus images at various focusing statuses. Unlike conventional techniques for peripheral refraction measurement, RT requires the subject to stare at a stationary fixation target. The refraction algorithm calculates the focus measure for multiple images at the Point of Interest and formulates them into a focus profile. The maximum focus measure correlates with the optimal focus position. Refraction Characterization Function (RCF) is proposed to translate the focus position into refraction determination, thus forming the refraction topography. The refraction characterization of RT optical system is performed using Isabel schematic eye. Three test eyes of - 15 D, 0 D, and + 15 D are defined, and expected refraction is obtained through simulation on an independent test schematic eye. Both simulation results and experimental results are obtained by combining the test eyes and RT system. Test results are compared with simulation results and expected refraction. The study demonstrates agreement among the test results, simulation results, and expected refraction on three test eyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huang Yequan
- School of Instrumentation Science and Opto-Electronics Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
| | - Guo Jingyun
- Shenzhen Thondar Technology Co. Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guo Yu
- Shenzhen Thondar Technology Co. Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cui Yan
- Shenzhen Thondar Technology Co. Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Zhechuang
- Shenzhen Thondar Technology Co. Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dong Xuechuan
- Shenzhen Thondar Technology Co. Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ning Xiaolin
- School of Instrumentation Science and Opto-Electronics Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
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Krishna D, Prasanna K, Angadi B, Singh BK, Anurag S, Deepeshwar S. Heartfulness Meditation Alters Electroencephalogram Oscillations: An Electroencephalogram Study. Int J Yoga 2022; 15:205-214. [PMID: 36949832 PMCID: PMC10026341 DOI: 10.4103/ijoy.ijoy_138_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Heartfulness meditation (HM) has been shown to have positive impacts on cognition and well-being, which makes it important to look into the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the phenomenon. Aim A cross-sectional study was conducted on HM meditators and nonmeditators to assess frontal electrical activities of the brain and self-reported anxiety and mindfulness. Settings and Design The present study employed a cross-sectional design. Methods Sixty-one participants were recruited, 28 heartfulness meditators (average age male: 31.54 ± 4.2 years and female: 30.04 ± 7.1 years) and 33 nonmeditators (average age male: 25 ± 8.5 years and female: 23.45 ± 6.5 years). An electroencephalogram (EEG) was employed to assess brain activity during baseline (5 min), meditation (10 min), transmission (10 min) and post (5 min). Self-reported mindfulness and anxiety were also collected in the present study. The EEG power spectral density (PSD) and coherence were processed using MATLAB. The statistical analysis was performed using an independent sample t-test for trait mindfulness and anxiety, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) for state mindfulness and anxiety, and Two-way multivariate ANOVA for EEG spectral frequency and coherence. Results The results showed higher state and trait mindfulness, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively, and lower state and trait anxiety, P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively. The PSD outcomes showed higher theta (P < 0.001) and alpha (P < 0.01); lower beta (P < 0.001) and delta (P < 0.05) power in HM meditators compared to nonmeditators. Similarly, higher coherence was found in the theta (P < 0.01), alpha (P < 0.05), and beta (P < 0.01) bands in HM meditators. Conclusions These findings suggest that HM practice may result in wakeful relaxation and internalized attention that can influence cognition and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwivedi Krishna
- Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Basavaraj Angadi
- Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
| | - Bikesh Kumar Singh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Shrivastava Anurag
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Singh Deepeshwar
- Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
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Ng HYH, Wu CW, Huang FY, Cheng YT, Guu SF, Huang CM, Hsu CF, Chao YP, Jung TP, Chuang CH. Mindfulness Training Associated With Resting-State Electroencephalograms Dynamics in Novice Practitioners via Mindful Breathing and Body-Scan. Front Psychol 2021; 12:748584. [PMID: 34777144 PMCID: PMC8581621 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.748584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Mindfulness-based stress reduction has been proven to improve mental health and quality of life. This study examined how mindfulness training and various types of mindfulness practices altered brain activity. Methods: Specifically, the spectral powers of scalp electroencephalography of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) group (n=17) who underwent an 8-week MBSR training-including mindful breathing and body-scan-were evaluated and compared with those of the waitlist controls (n=14). Results: Empirical results indicated that the post-intervention effect of MBSR significantly elevated the resting-state beta powers and reduced resting-state delta powers in both practices; such changes were not observed in the waitlist control. Compared with mindful breathing, body-scanning resulted in an overall decline in electroencephalograms (EEG) spectral powers at both delta and low-gamma bands among trained participants. Conclusion: Together with our preliminary data of expert mediators, the aforementioned spectral changes were salient after intervention, but mitigated along with expertise. Additionally, after receiving training, the MBSR group's mindfulness and emotion regulation levels improved significantly, which were correlated with the EEG spectral changes in the theta, alpha, and low-beta bands. The results supported that MBSR might function as a unique internal processing tool that involves increased vigilant capability and induces alterations similar to other cognitive training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hei-Yin Hydra Ng
- Research Center for Education and Mind Sciences, College of Education, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, College of Education, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Changwei W. Wu
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Brain and Consciousness Research Center, Shuang Ho Hospital-Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Ying Huang
- Department of Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Cheng
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shiao-Fei Guu
- Graduate Institute of Mind, Brain and Consciousness, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Mao Huang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fen Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Child Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Chao
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tzyy-Ping Jung
- Research Center for Education and Mind Sciences, College of Education, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Institute for Neural Computation and Institute of Engineering in Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Chun-Hsiang Chuang
- Research Center for Education and Mind Sciences, College of Education, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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Matiz A, Crescentini C, Bergamasco M, Budai R, Fabbro F. Inter-brain co-activations during mindfulness meditation. Implications for devotional and clinical settings. Conscious Cogn 2021; 95:103210. [PMID: 34562699 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2021.103210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation usually takes place as personal, introspective activity. It is not known if this practice activates the brain differently when done alone or with someone else. Sixteen couples of expert meditators performed mindfulness-oriented meditation (MOM) and instructed mind-wandering (IMW) tasks in two conditions: once sitting in the same room (SR) and once in two different rooms (DR). Spontaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) data was collected during 7-minute recording sessions in the four experimental settings (MOM/SR, MOM/DR, IMW/SR, IMW/DR). Power in band was computed in separate clusters of independent components of the EEG signals. In addition to significant task effects, found in frontolimbic (MOM > IMW in gamma) and frontoparietal locations (MOM < IMW in theta), significant condition effects were found in frontal (SR > DR in delta) and in temporo-occipital regions (SR > DR in theta and alpha). Moreover, a significant interaction between task and condition revealed higher gamma activity in limbic areas during MOM/SR vs. MOM/DR settings. This effect was not attributable to gender, age nor the meditation expertise of participants. We thus show that the brains of two people work differently when they are doing something together or alone; some of these differences are specific to mindfulness meditation. Implications for devotional and clinical settings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Matiz
- Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Udine, Italy; Perceptual Robotics (PERCRO) Laboratory, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Cristiano Crescentini
- Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
| | - Massimo Bergamasco
- Perceptual Robotics (PERCRO) Laboratory, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Budai
- Department of Neuroscience, University-Hospital "S. Maria della Misericordia", Udine, Italy.
| | - Franco Fabbro
- Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, Udine, Italy; Perceptual Robotics (PERCRO) Laboratory, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
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The Impact of Mindfulness Meditation on the Wandering Mind: a Systematic Review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 131:313-330. [PMID: 34560133 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Through the practice of Mindfulness Meditation (MM), meditators become familiar with the observation of ongoing spontaneous thoughts, while maintaining an attitude of openness and equanimity. The aim of this systematic review is to present a synthesis of available findings of the short and long-term effects of MM on mind wandering (MW). We included studies that considered both first-person and behavioral/physiological measures of MW. The search resulted in 2035 papers, 24 of which were eligible. Reviewed studies revealed a high heterogeneity in designs, outcome measures and interventions. Most of the pre-post intervention studies showed that a protracted practice of MM (at least 2 weeks) reduced MW, limiting its negative effects on different cognitive tasks. Cross-sectional studies highlighted differences between expert meditators and naïve individuals: meditators self-reported less MW and showed decreased Default Mode Network activity, during meditation and resting-state. Further studies are needed to replicate available findings and to more deeply explore how MW is influenced by meditation, also considering its qualitative characteristics that remain largely unexplored.
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Sprawson I, Wood J, Mantzios M. “And Now Close Your Eyes or Lower Your Gaze”: Exploring Novice Meditators and Their Attentional Processes During Meditation. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE ENHANCEMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s41465-020-00175-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBrief mindfulness meditation practices are associated with a wealth of benefits; however, factors that may influence the success of meditation sessions have rarely been explored. The present study explored the effects of the visual environment as a factor of successful meditation. Eye-tracking techniques were employed to objectively measure attention within three attention-deviating conditions with basic meditation instructions, and the potential influence of personality traits as assessed through administering the HEXACO-60-PI, a self-report measure, to participants. Statistically significant results were uncovered regarding decreased fixation durations and increased state mindfulness scores of participants within the blank screen conditions over the two eyes-open conditions. No significant effect was found regarding fixation counts, which decreased within the blank screen condition. The findings regarding reduced state anxiety did not reach significance and there were no significant differences regarding the six personality types between conditions. The present study offers a step towards understanding how brief mindfulness meditation sessions can be optimised.
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Chang KM, Chueh MTW. Using Eye Tracking to Assess Gaze Concentration in Meditation. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19071612. [PMID: 30987241 PMCID: PMC6479577 DOI: 10.3390/s19071612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
An important component of Heart Chan Meditation is gaze concentration training. Here, we determine whether eye tracking can be used to assess gaze concentration ability. Study participants (n = 306) were requested to focus their gaze on the innermost of three concentric circles for 1 min while their eye movements were recorded. Results suggest that participants with high scores on gaze concentration accuracy and precision had lower systolic blood pressure and higher sleep quality, suggesting that eye tracking may be effective to assess and train gaze concentration within Heart Chan Meditation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang-Ming Chang
- Department of Photonics and Communication Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
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