Holzel et al.

• Theories of Obedience and Milgram’s Research are topics in Social Psychology.
• Factors Affecting Obedience and Asch’s Research are topics in Social Psychology.
• Circadian Rhythms and Infradian Rhythms are topics in Biological Psychology.
• Correlational Research and Brain Scanning Techniques are methods in Social Psychology.
• Twin Studies and Spearman’s Rank Studies are methods in Social Psychology.
• Practical Cognitive Psychology includes the Multi-Store Model of Memory and the Working Memory Model.
• Experimental Methods and Experimental Designs are methods in Cognitive Psychology.
• Hypotheses, Controls, and Validity & Reliability are levels of measurement in Cognitive Psychology.
• Case Studies are a method in Cognitive Psychology.
• The researchers used a measurement method called voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess changes in gray matter concentration in the brain.
• The study provides evidence that mindfulness practice can lead to changes in the brain that may have important implications for mental health and well-being.
• A larger sample size would increase the statistical power of the study and improve the generalizability of the findings.
• The study used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to measure changes in gray matter concentration in the brain, a well-established method for measuring changes in gray matter concentration.
• The study did not use randomization to assign participants to the MBSR group or the control group, instead, participants were self-selected into the groups.
• Blinding the researchers to the group assignment of the participants would have reduced the risk of experimenter bias and increased the internal validity of the study.
• The study also suggests that mindfulness practice can lead to improvements in mindfulness subscales, such as acting with awareness, observing, and non-judging.
• The study’s findings have potential implications for society as a whole, suggesting that integrating mindfulness practices into various settings could benefit individuals and communities.
• The use of a standardized program strengthens the external validity of the study by increasing the generalizability of the findings to other populations and settings.
• The use of VBM strengthens the validity of the study’s findings by providing a reliable and objective measure of changes in gray matter concentration.
• One strength of the study is the use of a control group, which allowed the researchers to compare changes in gray matter concentration between the MBSR group and the control group.
• Participation in an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program was associated with changes in gray matter concentration in brain regions involved in learning and memory processes, emotion regulation, self-referential processing, and perspective taking.
• The use of a control group strengthens the internal validity of the study by ruling out alternative explanations for the observed changes in gray matter concentration.
• The researchers used a pre-post design, meaning that they measured gray matter concentration in the participants’ brains before and after they completed the MBSR program.
• The study aimed to investigate whether participation in an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course (MBSR) could lead to changes in gray matter concentration in the brain.
• Neuroimaging studies have revealed alterations in brain areas responsible for attention, emotion regulation, and self-awareness, such as increased gray matter density in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
• The MBSR group showed a significant increase in gray matter concentration in the left hippocampus compared to the control group.
• The participants were included in the study if they self-reported as physically and psychologically healthy and not taking any medications.
• The researchers used a method called voxel-based morphometry to measure changes in gray matter concentration in the brains of participants who completed an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program.
• These changes support the concept of neuroplasticity, suggesting that the brain is adaptable and can be reshaped by experiences like meditation.
• The researchers used a variety of controls to ensure that any changes in gray matter concentration were due to the MBSR program and not other factors.
• These regions include: Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC), Left Temporo-Parietal Junction (TPJ), Cerebellar Vermis/Brainstem, and Lateral Cerebellum.
• No significant changes in gray matter concentration were observed in the control group for these regions, except for a decrease in the PCC cluster.
• The courses included physician- and self-referred individuals from across New England who were seeking stress reduction.
• The participants were recruited from four MBSR courses held at the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
• Exploratory whole brain analysis revealed four clusters with significantly greater gray matter concentration at the post time-point compared to the pre time-point in the MBSR group.
• The researchers collected data using MRI scans to measure gray matter concentration in the participants’ brains.
• The study included 18 healthy, right-handed individuals who were enrolled in the MBSR program.
• The neurological changes underscore the tangible impact of mindfulness practices on the brain’s structure and function, reinforcing their potential as a tool for enhancing mental health and cognitive functioning.
• The researchers also collected demographic information about the participants, including age, gender, ethnicity, and education level.
• The researchers also compared the participants’ brain scans to a control group of 17 individuals who did not complete the MBSR program.