Neural Effects of Mindfulness Training on Attention

NCT00379210 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: R21AT002761-01A110012037
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to examine behavioral and neural changes resulting from Mindfulness Meditation Training (MMT), and to use this knowledge in advancing our understanding of the mechanisms of attention.

Conditions

No Condition; Focus is Neural Effects of Mindfulness Training on Attention

Keywords

Attention; ERP; event-related potentials; fMRI; functional magnetic resonance imaging; MBSR; Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; Mindfulness Meditation Training; MMT

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Reaction Times on the Sustained Attention to Response Task.

  Single digits (0-9) are flashed on the screen one by one. The number 3 is the target and all other digits are non-targets. The participant is asked to press the space bar for nontargets and withhold from pressing the space bar for the target.

  9 weeks

Study Arms (2)

1

EXPERIMENTAL

Meditation training group-- received Mindfulness Based Stress Management from the Penn Program for Stress Management. The meditation practice initially emphasized attention to a single focus. For most concentrative exercises, this focus was the breath. The sensations of breathing were to be examined closely, and when attention wandered it was to be redirected back to the breath. In other exercises, the focus of attention was to be directed to sensations within specific body parts (body scan exercise) and sensations of walking (walking meditation). During the 5th week of classes, the mindfulness training was expanded to include some explicit training in receptive attention.

Behavioral: Mindfulness Meditation Training (MMT)

2

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Nutrition education group An active comparison condition involving nutrition education was offered. This course matched the mindfulness course in all dimensions including course duration, homework, psychosocial support, and teacher expertise. The course was taught by a nurse who had expertise in nutrition and offered a program described in the book, Nutrition for Life by Lisa Hark.

Behavioral: Nutrition Education course

Interventions

Mindfulness Meditation Training (MMT) BEHAVIORAL

8-week training course in mindfulness meditation

Also known as: MBSR, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

1

Nutrition Education course BEHAVIORAL

8-week course in nutrition

2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Men and women (all races and ethnicities) between 18 and 40 years old
• Women of childbearing age with a negative pregnancy test within 48 hours of scanning
• In good health
• Right-handed
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• English as a first language
• Able to understand and provide signed informed consent
• No history of metal in their body or other reasons why they could not undergo an Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• No history of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, encephalopathy or encephalitis, minimal-cognitive impairment or dementia, movement disorder such as Parkinson's disease, head trauma causing loss of consciousness, cancer involving the central nervous system

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnant or breast-feeding women
• Individuals with implanted metal or electronic devices that would prevent them from MRI scanning.
• Individuals with a history of neurologic dysfunction that would prevent performance on attentional tasks including: history of transient ischemic attacks, history of cerebral infarction, history of Binswanger's disease (or a history of hypertensive encephalopathy), history of intracranial hemorrhage, history of head trauma with loss of consciousness, history of encephalitis, history of extended exposure to any known neurotoxin, history of acquired cognitive impairment, history of normal pressure hydrocephalus, history of a cancer metastatic to the central nervous system, history of Parkinson's or other basal ganglia disease, history of Guillain-Barré syndrome or chronic or relapsing polyneuropathy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pennsylvania: lead
• National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

Location

Related Links

• Laboratory of Dr. Amishi Jha

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mindfulness; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Behavior Therapy; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Amishi Jha
• Organization: University of Pennsylvania

apjha@psych.upenn.edu

215-898-8011

Study Officials

• Amishi P Jha, Ph.D.

  University of Pennsylvania

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 20, 2006
• First Posted: September 21, 2006
• Study Start: September 1, 2006
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2009
• Study Completion: August 1, 2009
• Last Updated: January 26, 2012
• Results First Posted: January 26, 2012

Record last verified: 2007-11

Locations

US (1)