Poster #23 - Psychophysiological Measures of Recovery Phase After Cognitively Challenging Tasks and Mindfulness: A Preliminary Study

• In Event: 21.063 - MTCC Poster Session Three
  In Poster Session: 21.063-2 - Social and Cognitive Influences on Academic Performance

Abstract

Mindfulness research has shown that this practice is associated with improvement in attention and stress management.​ This preliminary study compares Mindful(M) and Non-Mindful nM) groups(n=15). Psychophysiological measures were used to measure real-time arousal (GSR) and Alpha brain waves (8-12 Hz) (EEG) while participants completed three cognitively challenging tasks with rest/recovery periods. The purpose of the study was to analyze the difference between M and nM groups during task and rest/recovery. Results showed significant differences between M and nM in both measures of arousal and Alpha across tasks. This study has mass implications on the use of mindfulness training in educational and other contexts, and the use of psychophysiology to measure mindfulness.

Authors

• Rose Schnabel, University of Toronto

• Earl Woodruff, OISE/University of Toronto